7
“And he didn’t say where he was? Why you were stuck with that curmudgeon?” Megan gestures at my chest and laughs at my pain. We are in one of our happy places—gabbing in a fancy bathroom at an event our parents insisted we attend.
“No, just texted me that he’d see me tonight and we’d have to meet here. No explanation, no sorry, no nothing.”
“Well, I would say he’s a jerk but this is golden boy Josh Bell we’re talking about. He has to have a good reason.”
“I think so too. He’ll be here any minute and explain, I’m sure,” I say as I stand and gather my notes.
“Come find me as soon as he explains his gorgeous self.”
“K.” She leaves the restroom and I give myself one last once-over.
Yesterday was the ribbon cutting, tonight it’s a dinner for the children’s hospital. This event is not as much of a milestone for us as the photo opp was supposed to be, but we are seated together, right next to the hospital board chairman. My dad and Josh’s dad made a joint donation, the largest one given, I’m sure.
Dad didn’t say so, but I think whatever shady moves my uncle made had some negative ripple effects in the whole Tulsa community. Canton Cards has always given large amounts to various causes, but quietly. My family doesn’t normally make a big show of it.
But this time Dad insisted Josh and I schmooze the board and everyone at the table in his stead. It’s my parents’ anniversary and they’re on a previously planned trip. I got the feeling my mother would’ve been disappointed if Dad had canceled.
Hence me and Josh filling in.
Alone.
Meaning no parents to chastise me for this dress.
It’s simple, a plain dark blue sparkly chiffon fabric that drapes over me in a loose a-line skirt. But the cut on the front is low. Very low. And my boobs are pushed up. Way up.
Because tonight we’ll be surrounded by moguls, magnates, doctors…what’s a little cleavage among adults? There will be much tighter, shorter, skimpier and sexier dresses here tonight. That’s what I told myself when I bought it and I stand by that choice now as I put a tiny bit more gloss on my lips. I look pretty good. Grown up. Hot.
Let’s do this.
I don’t have to fake my smile as I make my way across the ballroom. I don’t mind these events. I like people, I like chatting. I also like that Josh is about to see me in this dress.
I find my seat and turn to greet Dr. Lucas and his wife. I also shake hands with the chief of surgery across the table and basically spend ten minutes agreeing with everyone about how amazing my mother is. She doesn’t work at the children’s hospital but everyone in the field of medicine in this state knows her.
My mom is a freaking boss when it comes to orthopedic surgery and it’s easy to gush about her. She might push me and my sisters to an unreal standard of excellence in every stinking tiny thing we do—we had multiple lectures on tooth brushing as kids—but who wouldn’t be proud to have her as a mom?
Finally, a thrill runs through me when Dr.Lucas looks over my head. “Ah, Mr.Bell, glad you could join us!”
“Doc.”
I turn and…
“Oh. It’s you. Again.” My face falls.
Adam just nods, his expression as foul as ever. He hands me a white wine and keeps a beer for himself as he shakes all the hands around us. He dips his chin and says hi or hello but doesn’t offer one single smile. Didn’t Leeland teach him anything about networking?!
We all take our seats and an emcee mans the podium. As she welcomes everyone on the microphone, I lean in to Adam and whisper, “Where is Josh?”
“Sick.” He says, without looking at me.
I narrow my eyes at him and wait.
Then those eyes begin to sting.
Because I may be young and naive but not that naive.
I have been stood up.
Again.
I look up at the stage and try to will the tears away but a sniff escapes. Adam hears it and shoots me a glare.
“Are you crying?” He spits out under his breath.
“No.” I say but my voice is shaky. I hear him huff next to me but I don’t look at him. I’m plenty familiar with his angry scowl. “It’s fine, I’m fine.”
Adam clears his throat and leans closer to me. “Listen, uh, Josh is just—”
I hold up a hand. “Stop. You’ll make it worse.” I manage to whisper back, still sounding pathetic.“You don’t have to try and make me feel better. He doesn’t want to do this with me, I get it.” I brave a quick glance at Adam. Big mistake. Because he sets his jaw and rolls his eyes. Freaking rolls his eyes?! “Wow, and you definitely don’t want to do this with me.” I stand. “Excuse me a minute,” I say just above a whisper when one of the concerned wives at the table looks up.
Once I hit the lobby I duck into an alcove that leads to a supply closet, take a deep breath and turn to face Adam. But it’s not him that followed me out, it’s Megan, because obviously it is. Of course she noticed me get up and cares enough to follow. And of course The Awful Bell doesn’t.
“What’s up, you ran outta there like a hooker in church.” She tilts her head and begins talking to herself. “Well, in the nineties. Before we women liberated ourselves and our bodies and claimed the term sex workers.”
“What?” I exhale.
“Sorry. What I mean is, are you okay?”
“Yes, fine,” I say, blinking hard and shaking my hands out as if they’re wet. As if I can slough the embarrassment off.
She shakes her head. “Nope, not even close.”
My lip quivers as I answer, “I’ve been stood up. Again.”
“Aw, babe,” she reaches to hug me.
“He doesn’t want to ma—” I stop myself from blurting the word marry, from exposing that I’m in a sham relationship arranged by my father. “Me. He doesn’t want me.”
“That can’t be it, look at you.” She pulls away enough to wag her eyebrows at my cleavage.
“Megan!”
“Sorry, but honestly, it’s not you, Suze, it’s something else. You’re amazing and kind and gorgeous and brilliant. He must just be going through stuff or maybe doesn’t want a girlfriend or—”
“You don’t understand. He does want a girlfriend. He…wants to settle down. Just not with me. I mean, of course. Of course! He’s Josh Bell. ”
“So he’s a tall, dark dreamboat, so what? He’s not the only dreamboat in the world. Hell, he’s not even the only dream boat in our world. Go out there right now tonight, there are a bunch of dream boats from dream families just like his, like yours.”
“It’s not just that. He’s…it’s just when I picture what I’d want in a partner, he checks all my boxes. Articulate. Funny. Great with kids, great with my family, amazing with the press but fun one-on-one too, easy going but ambitious. A fellow future CEO, you know?”
“The yin to your power couple yang. I get it. And I stand by what I said about you two making gorgeous little babies. But Suze, again, go out there tonight and look around. There are a bunch of future big shots. He’s not the only one.”
I nod and pretend to be comforted. I can’t tell her the truth. Josh is the one. He’s my one. The one to save my family and thousands of employees and my father. He’s it. Even though he clearly doesn’t want to be.
“And I say dump him,” She continues, “How rude for him to stiff you on the side of the road, yes, but even worse to leave you at that boring table with the obvious empty seat next to you. Awkwaaard.” She singsongs the last word.
“Adam came instead.”
“Oh.” Megan grimaces dramatically like only she can.
“Yeah.” I almost laugh. “Honestly, I think I would’ve rather had the empty banquet chair to deal with.” But as I say the sentence I see her eyes go wide and I know that not only have I made the rookie mistake of saying an inside thought on the outside, but also that the subject of that not-very-nice thought is…
Yup…
Standing right behind me.
I don’t try to deny it or say sorry, I just sigh. Because this is my life now. Obviously he heard it.
He dips his chin lower than normal so he can glower at me from under his brows as he grits out, “You done?”
I release a noise that resembles a laugh, if a laugh got stuck in someone’s voice due to a sticky awkwardness in the air snuffing out all the available oxygen.
“Wow. You are a piece of work. Not an ‘are you okay,’ or ‘how can I help,’ or even just ‘I’m sorry my brother stood you up yet again,’” I start walking, throwing all my frustration over the situation at him, because he’s there, brooding and rude and unsympathetic. “Nope, just,” I lower my voice and try to sound like a cowboy caveman, “you done?”
At that he just puts his hands on his hips and raises his eyebrows the tiniest bit, as if to say, well? Are you?
“You see what I mean?” I say to Megan while gesturing to Adam. “A chair would make better conversation!” She just looks between us with a weird, amused expression. “Yes, I’m done. Totally fine now!” I say with an unhinged smile before storming away from both of them. My tears have dried and determination is running through me instead.
I am not going to let The Lesser Bell ruin the impression my father needs me to make tonight. Monday I’ll have to face Dad and explain the truth.
I am failing at my task.
I am not excelling in my assignment with Josh.
I hate this feeling.
And coming in at a close second is how I am beginning to feel about this silent sulking mountain of a man who takes the seat next to me. Okay, hate is too strong.
But I really do not like Adam Bell.
And I really, really hope that’s the last event I have to endure with him.