Chapter 15
Five minutes later, I was inside the elevator, riding up toward the top floor. As it turned out, shewasLuna, and she'd recognized me from some photos she'd seen on the internet.
Imagine that.For once, all of that unwanted media attention was doing me some good.
Inside the elevator, it was just the two of us, and the upward momentum wasn't helping my stomach. Luna gave me a concerned look. "Hey, are you feeling alright?"
"Yeah." I swallowed. "Sure."
But from the look on her face, she wasn't buying it. "What, you don't like elevators?"
Elevators were fine. Gas station nachos, on the other hand, were something I'd be avoiding from now on. What on Earth had I been thinking? But Ihadn'tbeen thinking, and that was the real problem.
Unfortunately, it was one of those problems thatno onewould want to hear, especially someone I'd just met. I forced a smile. "Something like that."
Down in the lobby, I'd briefly explained that I was here because I was worried about Joel. That's all it took. Almost immediately, she was whisking me into the elevator and hitting the button for the penthouse.
Inside my pocket, my cell phone buzzed. Reluctantly, I pulled it out and took a look.Damn it. It was Derek of all people. Hadn't he bothered me enough for one day? With a sigh, I shoved the phone back into my pocket and let it to go to voicemail.
Luna said, "I know that look."
"What look is that?"
"It's the 'why-is-this-turd-calling-me' look." She glanced toward my phone, now tucked away in my pocket. "Ex-boyfriend?"
I shook my head. "More like an ex-friend." I considered everything that Derek had put me through. "But he's still a turd." It wasn't a word I'd normally use, but it definitely fit. "And actually," I added, "he's part of the reason I'm here."
"So he's ajealousturd?"
"Jealous? What do you mean?"
"Well, you already told me that you're worried about Joel. Andnow,you're telling me that the turd – who Inowknow is a guy – is one of the reasons you're here. So let me guess. The turd's trying to break you two up?"
"Me and Joel?" In my heart, I felt that all-too-familiar ache. "Wearebroken up."
"What?" She gave a little shake of her head. "You can't be."
"Why not?"
"Because he's so crazy about you. The last time I saw him, he wassohappy." She paused. "Okay, he wasn't happy the whole time, because he was pretty mad at Jake. But he was definitely happy. I could tell." Her eyebrows furrowed. "You didn't dump him, did you?"
The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open to reveal a marble entryway that led to a single set of double doors. But Luna wasn't moving. "So, did you?"
"No. Not really. In a way, he dumpedme. Sort of." I pushed a hand through my hair. "Actually, it's all really complicated."
She nodded. "I can relate tothat."
Finally, she turned and led us out of the elevator, heading toward the double doors. When she reached them, she pulled out a key card and swiped it across a nearby security panel, saying, "Jake's a real stickler about security."
Once we entered the penthouse, it was easy to see why.
I took a good look around, taking in the expensive furniture, the stylish décor, and the stunning riverfront view, visible through massive floor-to-ceiling windows.
I turned to Luna and said, "You have a beautiful place."
"Thanks," she said, motioning me toward a stylish sitting area. "But it's not mine. It's Jake's."
As we sat down, I said, "But you're engaged, right?" Even if I hadn't already known, the giant rock on her ring finger would've been a dead giveaway.
