“But you’re good?” He almost appears concerned, and maybe he is. He might be shallow and immature, but there were moments of realness in our relationship. It’s why it hurt so much when I found him cheating.
“I’m really good.” I think of Jude. I think of all the jobs I’ve worked, and the movie set I’m on now. None of it would have been possible had Ethan not broken my heart. Our breakup was the wakeup call I needed to finally pursue my dreams. I almost thank him, but he doesn’t deserve the praise. It wasn’t him who rose from the ashes. That was all me. “You have a good night, Ethan.”
“Night,” he says, a little stunned by my curtness I’m sure, but I turn and march in the women’s restroom before he recovers. I’m over Ethan, and it feels damn good to be the one to walk away this time.
After using the restroom, I head over to the wall of mirrors to check my makeup before heading back to the gala. I’m not the only one, and it takes a moment before a space opens up. I dig in my clutch for my lipstick and lean close to the mirror to swipe the color over my lips. I’m recapping the tube as my name is called by a familiar voice for the second time tonight.
“Rae! Oh, my God!”
Surprise hits my chest when I see it’s Jenni, the nicest of my roommates. I haven’t thought about her or any of them in days, and it takes a split second for my brain to make the connection. She finishes drying her hands from across the restroom and rushes over.
“Jenni! Hi!” I don’t know what she thinks of me now, after all that went down with Crystal. I have no doubt she’s been given a skewed version of the story, but I smile and hope for the best. I’ve always liked Jenni.
“You look so glamorous.” She assesses my dress, hair, and makeup.
I do the same. She’s in a deep purple dress. It’s short and the neckline V’s deep, but with her thin figure it totally works. “I love your dress. It’s beautiful.” Her makeup is nice, but I could’ve done better. I wonder if I were still at the apartment, would she have asked me to help? My stomach drops with the thought of going back there on Monday. This week with Jude has made it easy to forget, but I can’t stay with him forever. That’d be crazy, totally, and besides, he hasn’t asked. “How are you?”
“Oh, my God. I’m great! I started working on that show I booked. It’s been incredible. Long days, but I’m acting. So it’s all good, you know?” She fiddles with the handle on her clutch, her gaze darting around as if checking for an audience. She leans forward, her voice dropping. “Anyway, I was really sad to hear about everything. Andrea told me what happened. I know how Crystal can be, and well, Kari Ann never does anything without her approval. But you’re good? Right? Obviously, you’re here, looking fantastic.”
Her concern is well intended, I’m sure, but it’s not as if she called or texted to check on me before tonight. She’s been friends with Crystal since high school, and I’m sure she wouldn’t stand up to her on my behalf. I refuse to add more fuel to the fire by sharing my feelings, but at least she acknowledges Crystal’s cattiness.
“Yeah, I’m staying with a friend.”Friend I’m about to get naked with. “And work is good. It’s so good to see you.”
“Same, girl. Same.” She reaches out and squeezes my hand. “I better get back to my date. Don’t be a stranger!” She struts from the ladies’ room with one last smile and a wave over her shoulder.
I turn back to my reflection, give myself one last look, and then head back out. It was good to see Jenni. It was great to tell Ethan good-bye. But it feels even better to be walking toward the man I want.
39
Jude
Pierce boasts, going on and on about something I could care less of. I laugh at the appropriate times, tuning him out the best I can as I keep an eye on Rachel across the room. I try not to panic when she leaves, but my attention is distracted until she returns a few minutes later. A crazy protectiveness overwhelms my common sense when it comes to her. I’m sure she used the restroom, or took a personal call, but there’s a need to have her in my sight—or better yet, at my side—at all times.
“She with you?” Pierce follows my gaze. His brows rise with interest, and a sleazy smirk forms on his lips.
I want to punch him just for looking. But I know this man. If he thinks Rachel’s important to me, he’ll relentlessly pursue her. He’s like this with everything. Wants what he can’t have. Wants what someone else does, just to prove he can get it. But it’s worse with me. Ever since I took his girlfriend in high school, he’s been determined to one-up me. For what? To prove he’s better than the idiot teenage boy I once was? It’s ridiculous and shallow. The funny part is, I could give a shit about his opinion, fortune, or social connections. The only reason I entertain his company at events like this is the amount of business he sends my way.
“Yeah, she’s my date.Tonight.” I laugh as if it’s a joke. The lie tastes like acid in my mouth, but it’s what I have to do. He’s like a little kid. Reverse psychology is the best way to reverse his interest in her.
“You’re such a horny bastard. Probably fucked half this room, haven’t you?” He slaps my back and takes another sip of his beer. “Not as many as I have, but a close second.”
“I’ll drink to that.” I lift my drink to his.
Some woman turns around from where she stands with a group. She scoffs, shooting me a dirty glare. She doesn’t say anything, but her point is obvious. She thinks we’re disgusting. I happen to agree.
“She’d be so lucky. Right?” Pierce jostles my shoulder when the glaring woman returns her focus to her group. He lifts his gaze across the room and back to Rachel. “And when you’re done with that one, send her my way. I’ll pay a pretty penny. Better yet, she can help break in my new room. Tack it on with the expedited delivery fees.” He winks.
Fucking hell. I clench my fists so I won’t pummel the smirk right off his pretentious face.He did not just suggest. . . I shake my head; anger fills my chest and boils over. I turn, blocking his view of Rachel because he doesn’t deserve another look at her beauty. A scowl contorts my features and I step closer, lowering my voice so only he can hear. “You didn’t just suggest I’m some kind of pimp. Or a sex trafficker. I want to make sure I misheard you before I tell your daddy where exactly your trust fund dollars are being spent.”
His eyes widen, then narrow to slits as his jaw clenches. “Oh, I don’t think you want to threaten a Bowen.” His family name. He always falls back on it. Uses it as bail. But his warning does no good. Not on me.
“I think I do.” I step back and raise my glass, rage still rolling through my body. “You take care, now.” I turn on my heel and walk away, leaving behind a two-hundred-pound weight I don’t need in my life. Fuck that guy. I might’ve torched that relationship and all his social connections, but I don’t need his money. Not that badly. Not at that cost.
40
Rachel
“That’s honestly the most romantic story I’ve ever heard,” I say to Chance after he finishes recounting how he and Aubrey met and got together. I turn to Aubrey with wide eyes, “Someone should write a book about you two. I would totally read that.” When she laughs, I raise my voice an octave higher. “I’m serious!”
