The picture he bought of us on the rollercoaster ride, how he was looking at me in that photograph?—
I hear footsteps, and I hurriedly take out my lipstick,refreshing it. The light pink color glides smoothly across my lips. I don’t want to face anybody, but when I turn around, the door of the powder room opens, and a familiar face walks in.
Everything inside me goes still at this blast from the past.
“Natalie?” the woman stares at me, looking stunned. “What are you doing here?”
“Rose,” I utter, shaken.
A beautiful blonde with striking features and pretty green eyes, Rose Carrington is more than just an acquaintance. For a moment, my heart seizes in my chest, guilt rising to the forefront. “I’m here with my boss.”
“Your boss?” She looks a little uneasy. “You’re not here with Lucas?”
I press my lips together, shaking my head.
She visibly relaxes, and I feel worse. My tone is awkward as I ask, “How have you been?”
She closes the door behind her carefully. “Good. I’m working in my father’s company. What about you?”
“I’ve been well.” I fidget with my purse, wanting to leave. “It was nice seeing you, Rose. I should really get going.”
I am about to go when she stops me, her tone flustered. “Wait.”
She takes a few seconds to gather herself when I freeze. “We used to be somewhat friends back when I was—You know, when your brother and I were… when we were engaged.”
I don’t remember being particularly close to her, but I do remember she was quite sweet to me. How could she not be? She and my brother were college sweethearts, and I was his younger sister.
“Let me take you out to lunch,” she continues quickly. “I would love to catch up.”
I don’t want to see Rose again. It reminds me of how my brother’s life was ruined because of me.
“I really don’t think that would be a good idea,” I say quietly, but she insists.
“Just lunch. Between old friends?”
My lips part as I try to struggle with an appropriate response. “I’m leaving Chicago tomorrow evening. I live in New York. I was just here on a work trip, Rose. I appreciate the offer but?—”
“Tomorrow afternoon, then,” she says, squeezing my hands. “The Mettee Club. It’s on the Gold Coast. How about one in the afternoon?”
Before I can turn her down a little more firmly, two more women walk in, and Rose takes the opportunity to leave after flashing me a quick smile. I stare after her, my body tensing. She didn’t even give me the opportunity to turn down her invitation.
I follow after her, but she is long gone, having mixed in with the crowd. Standing at the edge of the hallway which opens into the grand ballroom, I feel a sense of suffocation. I don’t want to go back in there.
My head and my heart are a mess, even more so after meeting Rose. I just want to be alone.
A server walks past me, and I stop him. “Is there some outdoor area that is accessible to the guests?”
“Sure.” He points down the hall, his white-gloved hand gesturing precisely. “Go straight down, and take a sharp left. It opens into a garden.”
I thank him, accepting the glass of champagne he offers me from his tray. His directions lead me to a pair of glass doors which open into a dimly lit garden. It’s not too dark, fairy lights strung from the bushes and trees, creating a beautiful pathway. I settle down on a bench in the corner and sigh heavily.
Swirling the champagne in my glass, I study the golden bubbling liquid. I would like nothing more than to get drunk right now, but I don’t want to make a fool of myself. So I take asip and just hold the cold glass, condensation forming around my fingers.
I don’t want to think about Ethan. I don’t want to think about my brother’s ex-fiancée. I don’t want to remember that she left him because of me. I don’t want to remember how broken he was over losing her.
It took me two years to finally accept Lucas wasn’t going to come after me. I finally made my peace with it when I attended a business conference where he was also one of the attendees. Our eyes locked from across the room. He held my gaze for a few seconds before turning away from me.
It definitely hurt, but it had finally let me breathe a sigh of relief.
