I nodded. “Okay, I won’t say another word. Except thank you, and that was incredibly sweet of you. ”
He threw me a look of exasperation and then went to the window to look out over the lawn. “Well, at least you’ve got a nice view from up here. ”
“Yeah, I’m hiding out. How did you know to find me here?”
He looked at me out of the corner of his eye. “Adam, how else?”
I raised my brows. “Did he send you up?”
Jordan laughed. “Hell no. He knows better than that. I came up because…well, I feel bad. ”
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“What about?”
He motioned me over to the window and pointed down into the yard. My gaze followed his hand and I saw Adam talking to the redhead in the tight dress, one of the two women that Jordan had arrived with. She was stunningly beautiful, standing very close to him and gazing up into his eyes adoringly.
Something tight and visceral clamped around my throat. Back off, bitch. And the thought startled me so much that I almost laughed. “Why is your date flirting with Adam?”
“Hmm. She’s not really my date. I’ve been seeing the other one, her roommate, off and on. This one bought the tickets for the benefit months ago. Back when… well… let’s just say during those brief weeks when Adam was single. ”
I swallowed a huge lump in my throat. “That’s the woman he went out with, isn’t it?”
Jordan shifted in his place. “Uh, yeah. I don’t think Adam even realized she was coming today. ”
My entire body tensed up. Sure, it was one thing to live with the idea that he’d gone out with someone else when I’d broken up with him during my emotional freak-out. It really hadn’t been wrong of him to go out with her.
But to see her here, looking like that, and flirting with him like he was still available? No. Just no. That was not happening.
“So, uh. I’m sorry about this. I just wanted to explain that. And you shouldn’t get mad at him. ”
I folded my arms over my chest, turned my back on the scene and sank onto the window seat, rocking back and forth, thinking. Jordan stepped back, watching me.
“You okay?”
“Not really,” I said through tight lips.
“You sure you don’t want to go down there?”
My jaw clamped shut. “Not looking like a circus freak show, no. ”
“Carisa’s a nice girl and pretty gorgeous but I wouldn’t worry about it. ”
“Oh? Why shouldn’t I worry about it?”
“Because he was never the least bit interested in her. I’m sure he’s even less interested now, if that’s possible. ”
I breathed in and out slowly. It was so weird to even be having this conversation with Jordan. The only reason I could think of was that he felt sorry for me. That kind of ticked me off.
“So did you come up here because you were taking pity on me?”
Jordan looked at me, his hazel eyes full of something—not pity. If I didn’t know better, I would think admiration. What the hell did he have to admire?
“No. I told you. I just feel bad. That you are up here all by yourself. That I even brought her. I figured you might be able to see and I wanted you to know that it doesn’t mean anything. ”
I turned and looked outside again. They hadn’t moved. She was still standing inches away from him, right at his arm. Apparently they had something to talk about.
“Feel bad for Adam. His girlfriend is a coward. ”
“Hmm. ” He took a long pull from his beer and glanced out the window again. “I haven’t seen anything cowardly from you for months. Quite the opposite, actually. ” I was silent and Jordan turned back to me. “Besides…you could totally take her. I’d pay good money to watch that. ”
I burst out laughing. “You’re such an ass. ”
“Yeah. But I’m a loveable ass. ”
I nodded, agreeing.
“Well, Marta’s going to be wondering where I disappeared to. I just wanted to make sure you are okay. ”
I rubbed my temples with my fingertips, looking down at my pretty dress.
“And stop thinking you are a coward. I’m sure everyone understands. ”
I looked up and actually felt a prick of anger at those words. Jordan’s gaze locked on mine, his mouth turned up at the corner. It was almost as if he knew that would piss me off, too. I clenched my jaw and narrowed my gaze at him and he only smiled wider.
“See you later, Mia. ” And without waiting for me to reply, he turned and left the room.
Fuck you and the horse you rode in on, I thought. I stood up and paced for a minute then stopped and looked down through the window again. This woman—Carisa, apparently—was standing even closer to Adam and there were a few others, now, in the group, too. But Adam was still talking to her and practically ignoring all his other guests.
Blowing out a breath of frustration, I walked over to the closet and pulled out a couple of boxes and some hangers full of scarves and threw them all on the bed. I began rummaging. I was already decked out in this lovely floral dress—just perfect for a garden party—and I’d had my make-up professionally done. I just had to figure out what to do about this bald head.
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A wig? It would be the easiest solution, though the thought of sweating under it made me nauseous. A hat? On a whim I had purchased a big floppy hat that, I guess, was fashionable. But it just wasn’t me.
In the end I grabbed a scarf that complemented the colors of my dress, went to the mirror and tied it in one of the ways that Sonia had showed me. It was what she had called a tichel knot, used by Orthodox Jewish women to cover their heads for religious reasons. It looked glamorous when done right and I’d practiced it enough. It looked almost as good as that black lace scarf I’d worn on that magical first night in Paris.
I studied myself in the full-length mirror in the bathroom. Okay, I didn’t look terrible. But I did look like a bald woman who was hiding her baldness under a scarf. I fisted my hands at my sides, stared at my reflection. “You’ve got this,” I said. It felt ridiculous but it also gave me some courage. I slipped on my shoes and before I could have any second thoughts, I went down the stairs and plunged myself into public sight as quickly as I could. The sooner I was seen, the sooner that whole awkwardness would be over with.
There were a few people inside downstairs, ambling through the rooms, but no one whom I recognized so I slipped out the back door toward the beach side of the house, where Adam had been standing with the redhead—still—the last time I’d checked.
My first obstacle proved to be a difficult one. A cluster of the dreaded interns from Draco—okay, there were only two, the two who had rich enough daddies to buy them the pricy tickets to the charity function. They drove BMWs to work and wore designer clothes and were only there to finish their internships for their résumés. Cari and April were two of my biggest nemeses in the marketing department, where I’d worked for months before quitting that awful day of the pregnancy test in Adam’s office.
While I’d worked with them, they’d had no idea that I was in a relationship with “the boss. ” They had proceeded to openly gossip and drool over Adam during every spare minute of their time. They even had a scale where they rated how good he looked on any given day based on what he was wearing. It was usually a nine or ten or even a ten plus.
Ugh. I hated them.
And right now, they were on the porch staring at Adam where he still chatted with the redhead, their heads pushed together. I halted, putting a big potted tree between them and me, trying to sum up my courage to walk past them.
Standing this close, I couldn’t help but overhear what they were saying. Surprise, surprise. They were gossiping about Adam. “Oh, God,” Cari said. “If he looks over here again with those sultry dark eyes, I think I’m going to spontaneously orgasm. ”
“He’s so hot,” April concurred. “That chick he’s
talking to is a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model. ”
“Well, considering that his girlfriend now resembles the walking dead, I don’t blame him. But—shit—I need to find a way to get under that man. Now that I’ve seen his house, I think I’ll die if I don’t get into his boxers. ”
“He’s very lickable but also pretty loyal. They are still together. ”
“Loyal,” Cari snorted. “For now. A dog is loyal. A young, hot man like that? He’ll want a woman who can suck the paint off a—”
“Maybe that’s why he keeps her around—like maybe she’s just really good in bed. ”
Okay, I’d been mortified before but now I was just downright pissed off. With a deep breath and my hands fisting at my sides, I moved out from behind the tree.
“Hey Cari, hey April. ”
The spun, both sets of eyes widening and mouths dropping at the same time. Cari nervously twitched her huge mane of blond hair over her shoulders and glanced at April. “Hey, Mia! You’re here. We were wondering where you were. ”
April had the decency to just stand there and look completely mortified.
“Uh huh,” I said, then pretended to inspect my nails, which looked half decent, considering they hadn’t grown in forever, but I’d had an expensive manicure recently.
I turned and glanced in Adam’s direction. “Ten plus today, I think. Of course, I think that every day. ” Then I threw them a wide shit-eating grin. “Maybe it’s ’cause I have the advantage of getting to see him naked. ”
They exchanged uncomfortable glances and Cari was about to say something when I interrupted her again.
“Oh, and with regards to what you were just discussing…I do more than blow a guy’s dick, girls. I blow his mind. ” I gave them the once-over. “Excuse me. The walking dead like to feast on the brains of the living and there doesn’t seem to be much of a supply of those here, so… ta-ta. ” I threw them a smirk and a mock salute and April’s face went scarlet.
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I was feeling immensely proud of myself with each step I took away from them, but also increasingly self-conscious with each step I took toward Adam. He was once again alone with the chesty swimsuit model. She now had her hand on his arm and he didn’t move it away. So as with the two idiot interns, I pushed through my self-consciousness, fueled by my anger.
I came up next to Adam on the opposite side of Ms. Tight Dress and bumped his arm with mine. “Hey,” I said quietly.
His head jerked in my direction, his eyes widening and his even, white teeth gleaming from the huge smile on his handsome face. He pulled me into a hug and kissed me on the cheek. I took the opportunity to throw a curious glance at Jordan’s model friend over his shoulder. She was regarding me with equal curiosity. Adam whispered in my ear. “I’m so glad you’re here. ”
I turned and kissed him on his cheek and Adam straightened, turning to make introductions. “This is Carisa. We were just talking about you. Carisa, this is Mia. ”
Her mouth curved into a half smile. She looked like one of those people standing on the podium at the Olympics with a bronze medal around their neck, trying to look gracious while masking their disappointment and not quite succeeding. “Hey, Mia, nice to meet you. ”
“It’s good to meet you, too,” I lied. “So you came with Jordan?”
“Yes, yes, I did. He’s been seeing my roommate for a while. ” She and Adam exchanged a look and then she glanced away with a smile that made my blood boil. I nestled myself closer into Adam’s side and he tightened his arm around me.
I decided the best recourse was to ignore it because making a scene would just make everything worse. I turned to Adam. “How’s the tour going so far?”
“Good. Better now. ” He smiled.
I grinned back at him. “Well, I’m glad I came down, then. ”
Carisa excused herself a few minutes later, claiming she was thirsty. I let out a breath of relief. Adam watched me watch her go. “So I take it Jordan told you,” he said in a flat voice.
I shrugged. “I guess I needed some motivation to come down. ”
He smiled. “That was very brave of you. ”
“I was getting sick of being a coward. ”
He kissed me on the temple. “That’s my girl. ”
I turned to him, gripping the lapels of his blazer in each hand. “I was thinking… you know it’s been over twenty-four hours since I’ve been declared NED. Do you think we can… cross a bridge tonight?”
He immediately understood my meaning. With that delicious dimple that sometimes appeared at the side of his mouth when he smiled, and a gleam in his eye, he looked out over the lawn and said, “I think that could be—very enthusiastically—arranged. ”
I grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “Good. ”
“Do you want something to eat or drink?”
“I was going to wander over and say hi to the friends. They were at a table, last I saw. ”
“Actually, I think they are hanging out on the yacht. I saw them go that way just before you came up. ”
I looked over at the boat. There were people on the deck. “Oh, really? Maybe I’ll take a look there, then. ”
“I think they’d be very happy to see you. The tour organizer wanted to speak with me briefly, but I’ll come over in a few. ”
I turned and planted a long kiss on his mouth and he pulled me tight against him. I sighed. It felt good. I’d wanted it. And a little public display of affection never hurt when there were hungry little interns or a swimsuit model waiting in the wings, ready to pounce. If I were a dog, I’d be peeing all over my tree to mark my territory.
With that less-than-sexy image, I turned from him, a smile on my lips. It felt freeing to have fought my way through the fear of exposing myself because of my looks. The way that Adam looked at me, held me, kissed me in the middle of the crowd at his house party made me feel like the most beautiful, desired woman in the universe. And on the back of that triumph, I grinned and strutted my way over to the slip where Adam’s yacht was moored.
We hadn’t been out on it in a long time because we’d feared that my nausea would only worsen out on the ocean. But I was looking forward to when we could go again. Maybe even take a long trip down to Cabo or over to Hawaii. The thought of it made my blood sing with joy. Weeks alone on a boat with Adam. I could go for that any day of the week and twice on Tuesdays.
I found my crowd of friends all huddled around a board game at a table in the lounge. They were in the middle of a heated discussion over the rules when I slipped through the doorway. “I’m here to take your drink order. ”
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Everyone looked up and Heath leapt to his feet. “Hey, hey, hey! Look who finally decided to make an appearance!”
Alex bounced up on the other side of me. “She was just being fashionably late, Heath. And look at how fashionable she is. ”
Jenna and William hardly even seemed to notice that I’d arrived. They seemed embroiled in some kind of dispute over the rules.
“I don’t see what the harm is. House rules can be a lot of fun,” Jenna said.
“House rules are not allowed in the listed rules. Monopoly has been playtested and balanced in such a way as to provide the optimum game experience. ”
“Yes, that’s why they are called ‘house rules. ’ And they can be a lot of fun! You really should—”
“House rules disrupt the balance of the game and prolong it, especially that one you propose, about the money under Free Parking. ”
Jenna smiled wryly. “Why, William, I can’t believe that you have no interest in prolonging your pleasure. ”
Kat bust out laughing.
Connor stood up and gave me a hug, kissing my cheek. “How are you, Mia darling?”
“Darling?” Heath said, throwing him a cutting look. “How come you never call me that?”
He shrugged. “She’s prettier than you are. ”
I giggled. “I hope to God I’m prettier than Heath, even without my hair. ”
“Is it growing back in yet?” Alex said, trying to peek under my scarf.
“Hey! It took me a long time to tie that just right. ”
“I was telling everyone that I know how to do frenología—phrenology. My grandma was from Argentina. She showed me how to read head bumps. ”
“What the what?” I said. “No one’s reading my bumps. ”
“Except for Adam,” snorted Kat.
I stuck my tongue out at her.
“No, seriously, Mia. I could totally tell your fortune by looking at your head. ”
“Why not just use a crystal ball?”
“Is there a big difference between your head and a crystal ball these days?” said Heath. I elbowed him in the stomach and he feigned doubling over.
“Come on, Mia. Let me try it. We’ve all seen you bald and since your hair is growing back we might not have this chance again. ”
I sank into a chair between Jenna and Kat and looked across at William, who was meticulously packing up the gaming pieces and ignoring everyone else around him. “Hey, William. You okay?”
He shrugged.
Jenna leaned into me. “I’ve pissed him off, apparently. ”
“Don’t be mean, Jenna. ”
“She’s not mean,” William said without looking up.
I scratched my head through my scarf.
“Just take it off and let me read your bumps. ”
I sighed. “Jeez, Alex. ”
“Come on. I can tell you your future. ”
“She already knows her future,” Heath said. “Her hair’s going to grow back. She’s going to go to med school in the fall. In four years she’s going to be Dr. Mia Strong. ”
“Not Dr. Mia Drake?” Alex said.
I frowned. “Um guys, you don’t need to talk about me like I’m not here. ”
“Hmm. What about Dr. Strong-Drake?” Heath said.
Alex and Kat laughed. “That sounds ridiculous. ”
“You guys are all idiots,” I said. “Maybe I’ll just go by my first name, like Beyoncé or Adele. I’ll just be that awesome. ”
“Dr. Mia,” Alex said. “Let me read your bumps. ”
“Promise you’ll stop bugging me if I take this scarf off?”
She nodded ferociously. “Yes. Yes. I promise not to be a pain in the ass. ”
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