3 A Not So Jolly Gathering
A NOT SO JOLLY GATHERING
Lucy
“ S o, then I called my brother to pick me up, who, by the way, was told not to come to dinner that night.” Lily’s jaw drops in shock. She resembled a fish throughout the story about my visit home for Thanksgiving. “There was no way I was spending one more night under their roof. If they’re going to hold my trust fund over my head, then they can keep it. I’m doing just fine on my own anyway,” I finish.
“Wow, that’s harsh. We’ll get to the fiancé thing in a minute, but first, why didn’t you ever tell me about your family? And more importantly, why are you working as a secretary? Does Sebastian know how overqualified you are?”
“I’m not—”
“No. I did not,” Sebastian answers from the hallway as he rounds the corner, making my head snap in his direction.
“Why didn’t you tell me he was here?” I whisper-shout at Lily. Dammit, I knew I should’ve left out the part about my parents’ harassment over my job. We wanted to catch up after my trip, and I didn’t hesitate when she suggested we meet for wine at her place, which also happens to be Sebastian’s.
“I figured it wasn’t necessary since I’m pretty sure you know his schedule better than I do,” Lily says innocently.
At that, Sebastian chuckles—something I rarely see.
“I assumed you’d be out with your brother since she asked me to come here. Sorry,” I explain as Sebastian stands next to Lily.
“No need to apologize. You’re always welcome. I’m headed out, anyway, so you can enjoy yourselves. Call me when you’re done, sweetheart, and I’ll come home,” he says to Lily before kissing her goodbye. He turns, directing his attention to me. “Don’t think I’m dropping this. We’ll continue this conversation at the office.”
“That won’t be necessary,” I state.
“I’ll be the judge of that,” Sebastian responds before walking out the door.
“Thanks a lot,” I tell Lily when we’re alone.
She snickers. “How did you even land the job? You would think they would have overlooked you for being overqualified, or at least considered you for another position.”
“I didn’t put my MBA on my resumé. The goal was simplicity, and that’s exactly what I got. I’m not looking to complicate my life or become my parents.”
“Are you just being stubborn? Because being successful doesn’t mean you have to behave like your parents.”
I shrug my shoulders. “Maybe. But after this weekend, I’m even more determined to distance myself from them.”
“Good luck with that now that you’re engaged.” Lily laughs.
I groan in frustration. “Oh my God. What am I going to do? They’ve already called and left two messages. One saying things got slightly out of hand—understatement of the century—and another suggesting I bring him with me at Christmas, that they’re officially extending Justin an invitation for the holiday ,” I say in my snootiest impersonation. “God, could they be any more pretentious? What do you think? Do I tuck my tail between my legs and say we broke it off?”
“Or… I have a better idea. What if you bring him home to meet them?” she asks slyly.
“Yeah, right. Except there isn’t anyone to bring.” She’s looking at me with one raised brow. “What? Should I run an ad for a fake fiancé?” I ask.
“Who says he needs to be fake? I mean, maybe the fiancé part, but the guy doesn’t have to be since there really is a Justin, who happens to be a bodyguard and has no family to visit for the holidays—which means he could easily play the part.”
“Hell no. Not happening. He fricking ghosted me after getting me into bed. I’m never speaking to that jerk again.”
“You’re obviously still thinking about him since he’s the one you just happened to come up with for your fake fiancé,” she says pointedly as if she’s onto me.
“Only because I’m not good at improvising, and it was easier to use a real person. Otherwise, I don’t think about him.” That I’ll admit to .
“If you say so.”
“You did it again, Lucy. Another great Christmas party in the books,” Eli says, walking up to the bar where I’m sipping my drink.
“I can’t take all the credit this time since the hotel’s event planner did most of the work. Lily talked me into using her so I could have a good time with everyone else this year.”
Usually, I’m so busy with coordination that I don’t get to enjoy the party itself, but this is way better. Although, my chattiness is warning me to be careful with how much better it gets.
“Well, I’m glad. It’s about time you let loose with the rest of us. Where are Lily and my brother anyway?” he asks as he scans the room.
“You really have to ask?” I laugh. “I’m sure they’ll turn up any minute since they’ve been gone for about ten now,” I say, rolling my eyes and making him groan.
“Damn, those two are obnoxious.” He shakes his head with a smirk on his face.
“Eh, they’re cute. It’s hard to find that kind of connection, let alone with someone you want to spend the rest of your life with. I’m happy for them.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Maybe I’m just jealous.”
“Tell me about it.”
After that, we fall into an easy silence, sipping our drinks at the bar as we people watch.
“Let’s go get our seats for dinner. I think they’re starting the salads, and I’m starving.” Lily breaks our silence abruptly as she bounds up to us with Sebastian on her heels.
“I bet since you probably just worked up an appetite,” Eli teases her as Sebastian smirks.
“Oh, hush, it’s your brother’s fault. Now, come on, let’s eat,” Lily says, pulling me toward the tables.
As we round the corner to the banquet hall, I halt and do a double take. “Wait. What’s he doing here?” I ask apprehensively.
Lily looks up. “Who?”
“Justin!” I whisper, knowing Sebastian and Eli aren’t far behind.
She leans in. “Oh, yeah. Sebastian wanted extra security for the event tonight. He still freaks out at things like this, ’cause… well, you know,” she responds quietly before straightening and turning to the guys. “Sebastian, I’d love another glass of champagne. It might be faster if you get it at the bar. Would you mind? Lucy, do you want Eli to grab you something?” she asks without missing a beat.
“Uh, sure. I’ll take champagne as well.” I know exactly what she’s doing. If I were smart, I would have said no to avoid this conversation.
As I knew she would, Lily starts in when we reach our table. “Lucy, he’s right there. It’s the perfect opportunity to start a conversation and see if he has plans for Christmas.”
“No, Lily, I mean it. I’m sure he wants nothing to do with me, and I certainly don’t want anything to do with him.” I shudder.
“Then what’s your plan? Have you told your parents the engagement’s off?”
“I figured I’d wait until I’m there, so they don’t have time to set me up with anyone else.”
She nods in agreement. “And you’re sure your brother won’t rat you out?”
“He would never. He understands. Hell, he’d probably find a stand-in for me if I wanted him to.” I roll my eyes. “That’s too complicated, though. And what’s the point, since it won’t matter after Christmas when I’ll tell them we broke up anyway.”
“Just think how easy it would be, though, if you had Justin with you and didn’t have to worry about it. You know you have chemistry already. It would be perfect.”
“Well, apparently, it was one-sided. Can we drop it now?”
Luckily, she has no choice when Eli and Sebastian return with our drinks.
My thoughts stay on Justin the rest of the meal as I steal glances his way while he walks the perimeter of the room, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious. At one point, I think I see him looking in my direction from my peripheral vision, but I can’t tell for sure. By the time my eyes reach him, his head is turned away. What I can tell is that I’d forgotten how damn sexy he is. Now that I’ve started checking him out, I can’t seem to stop.
My mind keeps imagining what would happen if he did come home as my fake fiancé. Would we rekindle our connection? Regardless of how his dismissal felt, I’m sure there was something between us. How did he walk away so easily? My biggest fear is that it somehow relates to my bedroom skills, which probably has something to do with why I haven’t been close to anyone since then.
Asking him could give me answers or put these stupid thoughts to rest once and for all. But then again, it’s ridiculous to consider since there’s no way he would do it. Not to mention, Christmas is only three weeks away; I’m sure he has plans already. But what if he doesn’t?
Ugh. It doesn’t matter because I can’t risk asking only to be humiliated again. It’s not worth another blow to my ego. A girl can only handle so much rejection. That he hasn’t even acknowledged my presence tonight should be proof enough that he isn’t interested.
I’m distracted from my spiraling thoughts when Jordan asks me to dance after dinner is over and the band starts playing. Lily gives me a wink before I go. She was right about him being cute. He’s also sweet, saying Lily had mentioned me and that he would have already asked me out, but that he’s been busy and hadn’t found the time yet.
Halfway through the song, I’ve decided I wouldn’t be opposed to going on a date with him and am even excited by the prospect, until something catches my eye at the edge of the dance floor—or rather, someone… who finally decides to make some very aggressive eye contact.
“Are you okay?” Jordan asks, alerting me to the fact that I’ve stopped moving.
“Oh my gosh, yeah. Sorry, I just realized I need to go to the bathroom.” Wow, Lucy, way to go.
“Oh, okay. I’ll catch up with you later then,” he says, probably thinking I’m crazy.
“Definitely, and sorry, it just sort of hit me.” Oh my God, kill me now.
I walk away in a hurry, anxious to leave my mortification behind. Stopping at the table to grab my purse, it doesn’t take long for Lily to catch up and enter the bathroom right behind me.
“Lucy, what are you doing? I saw you practically run from the dance floor. Did he say something to upset you?”
“No, Jordan was super nice. And you were right about him being good-looking.”
“Then what the heck? You look like you saw a ghost.”
I drop my head into my hands, groaning before lifting it back up. “Justin finally looked at me. Like, really looked at me. He was right there, Lily, just staring from the sideline, and I froze. Oh my God, I feel like such an idiot.” Telling her about my swift departure sounds as bad as I remember it, making her laugh. At least one of us is.
“You’re not an idiot, but I don’t think you’re over Justin.”
“There’s nothing to get over. He ghosted me as if I were nothing to him. And now I’ve probably ruined my chances with Jordan because of the jerk.”
“Do you think maybe he did it on purpose? He avoided you all night, and then when you dance with another guy, he makes sure you see him. Maybe there’s more there than you think.”
“Whether it was intentional or not doesn’t matter—the door is closed. You know, I just realized how tired I am. I think I’m just gonna head home. Let’s go back to the table so I can say goodbye.”
“Fine. But I bet Jordan will still ask you out. I saw you two out there, and he seemed really into you,” she says as we walk out.
“Yeah, we’ll see about that.”
Upon hearing of my departure, Sebastian insists on having the company car drive me home, and he doesn’t get any protest from me until he waves Tom over to escort me out. Unsurprisingly, I don’t win the argument, and the next thing I know, Tom’s leading me toward the exit.
Awkward, since the last time we were together, we were playing tonsil hockey. I’m hoping he’s not expecting a repeat when his hand finds my lower back as we walk. However, it doesn’t look like he’ll get the opportunity because before we make it out of the banquet hall, someone else’s hand lands on his shoulder.
“I’ll take her from here, Tom. Go ahead and take my post while I’m gone,” Justin tells him.
Tom turns his head but doesn’t remove his hand. “It’s okay. I’ll make sure she gets to the car safely.”
“It wasn’t a request,” Justin states with a pointed look that says don’t fuck with me .
This is ridiculous. “I’m fine walking out on my own,” I interject.
“That’s not an option,” Justin states.
“Then I’d prefer Tom take me,” I respond, lifting my chin slightly.
“Your preference wasn’t asked for. Let’s go.” He grabs my arm and propels me forward, leaving a bewildered Tom behind.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I wrench my arm from his grasp.
“What does it look like? I’m seeing you out.”
Storming ahead of him until I reach the doors to leave, I suddenly stop to face the man who, until twenty minutes ago, hadn’t given me the time of day and wouldn’t even look at me.
“I don’t need you to make sure I’m safe. In fact, you’re the last man who should have that responsibility since your respect and concern for me rank in the negatives.” Turning abruptly, I shove the door open and rush to the car, flinging myself inside to escape.
The door doesn’t shut quickly enough to avoid hearing Justin’s booming voice as he calls out, “Lucy, wait!”
But I don’t.