Page 31 of The Plus One Professional
“Ihatethe name Simon!” Devin’s face contorted. “I mean, what is he, a chipmunk?”
Right, and one of his middle names was Matthew. His dad, who was the third, was actually called Matthew.
“So you two are…”
“Engaged! Yes! And it’s the funniest thing. I didn’t know that you weretheBail—” Devin stopped speaking before she even finished saying my name. “Actually, can we come in?”
“Oh, um, sure. Sorry, yes.” I stepped back, holding the door, as Devin and Simon walked inside.
My head was so light, I was afraid it was going to float off my shoulders. Or maybe it had, and I was having an out-of-body experience. I felt like I was witnessing this interaction as an outsider looking in.
I was completely detached from myself as I watched Simon look around the shop. The last time he’d seen it, Grandma Betty was still running it, even though she was semi-retired. Billie, Birdie, and I hadn’t made any changes until after she passed.
All of the flooring was new. We’d taken out two walls to give the space a larger feel. All of our dresses now hung from uniform black racks. We’d added an additional seating area with four oversized, swivel bouclé armchairs. We’d removed the acoustic ceiling tiles, which gave us four extra feet of height. We painted the new ceiling black and left the ductwork and pipes exposed, giving the space an upscale industrial feel.
“Wow, this looks great. You’ve done a great job. Betty would be proud.”
Hearing Simon say my grandma’s name when he hadn’t even come to her funeral hit me differently than I’d expected. At the time she’d passed, I’d told myself that, of course, he couldn’t fly home from London. But now, now that he was here with his fiancée, the flowers he’d sent didn’t seem sufficient.
“It looks amazing in here, Bay.”
Hearing him use my nickname caused my heart to lodge in my throat. I couldn’t breathe past the emotion choking me. I began to panic as I tried to inhale. I told myself that I just needed to calm down. There was nothing actually blocking my airways. It just felt like that because I was starting to hyperventilate, which was not going to happen in front of my ex and his fucking fiancée.
“I know, right?! I told you this place is amazing!” Devin looked around before reaching up and patting Simon’s chest.
His chest. That had always been one of my favorite parts of him. I loved lying with my head against his chest after we made love, or if we were snuggling on the couch, or when we danced. Tears began to prick my eyes as the realization that that was never going to happen again dawned on me.
No, stop it. I could not let my mind go down that path.
“Itoldyou, Matty, she’s the best!” Devin enthused.
“You didn’t have to tell me.” His brown eyes stared into mine. “I know she’s the best.”
You know I’m the best?Then why wasn’t I the one you asked to marry? Why wasn’t I the one with the ring on her finger?
I wasn’t sure if I was going to pass out. Throw up. Or cry. Maybe all three.
Whenever I was in a situation that felt out of my depth, I always asked myself, WWOD? What would Olivia do? There was no way my bestie would let them see how much this was affecting her. She’d hold it together and then plot her revenge.
I had no plans of getting revenge, but I would rather die than let either of them witness my vulnerability.
“Would you like something to drink?” I forced myself to smile.
“Tea would be amazing.” Devin lowered down onto the sofa, making herself right at home. “Oolong, if you have it.”
“Um, I’m not sure.” I hadn’t even heard of oolong tea, but since Billie took care of our stock and her taste was more refined than mine, we might have it.
“If not, Earl Grey is fine.”
I nodded and then looked over at Simon.
“I’m good.”
That made one of us, I thought as I turned and walked back into our kitchenette.
From the back room, I could hear Devin talking a mile a minute. Her energy seemed different today, different than when she’d shown up unannounced two weeks ago.
Had she known that I knew Simon? Had he ever talked about me? Was this all just a huge coincidence?
