InHap*pily Ever After

by Kim Desalvo

  Then there was Miller. In all honesty, he kind of liked the guy; what he knew of him, anyway. He didn’t get a bad rap in the press, he didn’t seem completely full of himself, and he really seemed to love Tia. She was a good person too, and she deserved to be happy, especially after the shit hand she’d been dealt when Nick died.

  As much as the lawyer in him wanted to place blame for his negative feelings somewhere, there really wasn’t anywhere to put it except for squarely on his own shoulders. Maybe he needed to suck it up and give the guy a chance, because God knew it wasn’t going to be going away any time soon. Or ever. Damn, sometimes he really missed Nick and the simpler days, when they could hang out as a foursome and shoot the shit without anyone asking for autographs.

  “You still there?” Lexi asked, pulling him from his thoughts.

  “Yeah, sorry, just got an email in,” he lied. “I guess we can do that. Pick you up at six?”

  “Dylan’s got a limo, actually,” she said. “They’re going to pick me up around six, so you could either meet me at my place, or we could swing by and get you. You can spend the night if you want, in case it goes late.”

  “It’s only Tuesday, Lex, and I’ve got an early meeting tomorrow, so I can’t stay out late. Why don’t you just come and get me—I can always catch a cab back home if I need to.”

  “OK, we’ll see you around six-fifteen then. I’ll text you when we’re close. Oh, and they’re planning something at Paddy’s for Friday night, so make sure you keep that open too.”

  “Great,” Ryan said absent-mindedly. Another night with the rowdy bunch at the Irish bar—he could hardly wait. “Listen, I’ve gotta go. I’ll see you later, OK?”

  “OK sweetie, have a good rest of the day…love you!”

  “You too,” Ryan mumbled before he tapped the screen to end the call. He started toward the door, but decided that if he was going to have an expensive dinner on Miller’s dime, he was going to be good and hungry for it. He had some granola bars in his desk; that would tide him over.

  Ryan was the last stop, so the three of them were already drinking champagne when he climbed into the limo.

  “Hey, congratulations,” Ryan said, trying to sound enthusiastic. He planted a kiss on Lexi, hugged Tia, and shook Dylan’s hand. “I’m really happy for you guys.”

  “It’s great to see you again, Ryan,” Dylan said. “I’m glad you could join us on such short notice.”

  “Oh God, you’ve got to see Tia’s ring!” Lexi exclaimed, grabbing Tia’s hand and holding it out to Ryan. Tia smiled shyly as she allowed her friend to dangle her hand in front of Ryan’s face. His eyes widened as he took it in; he couldn’t help but notice how ordinary Lexi’s ring looked next to the gigantic stone on Tia’s finger. It really was a rock.

  “Damn,” he said, trying to keep his voice light. “Looks like you robbed the crown jewels, or something.”

  “That’s what I said,” Tia agreed, taking back her hand and resting it in Dylan’s.

  “That’s what a lot of people have said. I didn’t know anything about buying engagement rings. I just took the guy’s word for it,” Dylan said, shrugging. Must be nice to have so much disposable cash, Ryan thought bitterly.

  “So how was Australia?” Ryan asked.

  “Yes, yes, let’s see some pictures!” Lexi exclaimed. Tia pulled out her IPad and started scrolling through photos and sharing stories. Ryan sat back and listened, nodding and smiling at all the right times while Lexi got positively giddy over them. It was going to be a long effing night.

  They pulled up to the Hancock Building and were immediately met at the car by a man who obviously held a higher position than valet. “Mr. Miller, sir,” he said reverently as he held open the door. “It’s an honor to have you visit us this evening.”

  “Glad to meet you,” Dylan said, shaking his hand.

  The man reached over to assist Tia, bowing at her as she exited. “Welcome, Miss Hastings, we are so thrilled to have you and your guests here tonight.”

  He nodded at Ryan, and helped Lexi out of the car, turning back to Dylan. “Begging your pardon, sir,” the man said, “I wouldn’t normally do this, and would probably get in a lot of trouble for it if my supervisor knew, but could I please have an autograph? My daughter is a huge fan of yours.”

  “Happy to do it,” Dylan said warmly as the man handed him a sheet of hotel stationary. “What’s her name?”

  “Madison. Maddie,” he said happily as Dylan signed the paper. “Thank you so much, it’ll really mean a lot to her.” He bowed his head again, and led them into the building. “The elevator is waiting for you…please enjoy your evening.”

  “Thank you, I’m sure we will,” Dylan replied.

  Ryan couldn’t help but notice that a small army of people had somehow managed to gather in the lobby as they walked through, their eyes intently focused on Tia and Dylan, who smiled and waved like they were fucking celebrities or something. Oh yeah, he thought, that’s exactly what they are.

  They were led to a semi-secluded table next to the windows, where they had a breathtaking view of the city below, and were quickly greeted by a most enthusiastic server who batted her eyes shamelessly at Dylan while taking their drink orders. Another attendant rushed over to place their napkins in their laps and fill their water glasses. “Anything at all I can do for you, anything at all, my name is Elena,” she said breathlessly as she managed to brush her hand against Dylan’s while handing him the wine list. Then she turned her attention to Tia. “Best wishes,” she said, craning her neck to get a look at Tia’s ring. “How excited you must be!”

  “I am, thank you,” Tia said graciously as Dylan placed his hand over hers on the table. She was more than used to women being drawn to Dylan, and just as used to his automatic reaction of touching her in some way, to reassure her. It had taken some time, but she was finally getting over the fact that nearly every woman they met couldn’t take their eyes off her fiancé. Not that she could blame them.

  Dylan ordered a bottle of champagne for a toast, and handed the wine list to Ryan. “Would you like to pick a bottle of wine to go with dinner?”

  Ryan took one look at the lengthy list and swallowed. He enjoyed wine, sure, but he was far from a connoisseur, especially with this kind of selection. “I’m clueless,” he admitted. “I wouldn’t even know where to start.” He handed the list back to Dylan. “Feel free,” he said.

  “Do you like reds?” Dylan asked. “I see they have one of my favorites; it’s not too dry, not too sweet…”

  “Sounds good to me,” Ryan offered, shrugging his shoulders.

  Elena arrived with a bottle of champagne in a silver bucket, and another server ceremoniously popped the cork and filled their glasses before slipping away. “On the house,” Elena said brightly, “a gift from the manager to congratulate you on your engagement.”

  “My thanks,” Dylan said as Ryan’s eyes widened. Freaking Dom Perignon?. If there was anyone in the room who could afford a bottle as expensive as this one, it was Miller. And they were giving it to him for free?

  Dylan lifted his glass, and the others did the same. “A toast, then,” he said, “to old friends and new, and to happily ever afters.”

  “In this case,” Lexi smiled, “I’d say, to ‘InHappily’ ever afters!”

  “Oh, I like that,” Tia smiled, leaning into Dylan. They touched the rims of their glasses together and sipped the bubbly.

  It was a bit disconcerting to Ryan having so many people fuss over him. He’d been to his share of decent restaurants in his day, but this place was a little over the top. Before he even put down his glass after taking a sip of water, someone was there to top it off. The chef paid them a personal visit to deliver a special appetizer he’d made just for them, and it seemed that every eye in the place was fixed on their table. Maybe it wasn’t the restaurant, he thought, but the company. It seemed everyone in the place made it their personal missions to make sure Dylan Miller was happy. The other diners wa
tched them with sideways glances or gape-mouthed stares…whatever the looks, they were all very aware that there was a celebrity among them. It made him uncomfortable, but Dylan barely seemed to notice. He probably dealt with it everywhere he went, but Ryan didn’t think he could ever get used to it.

  “So catch me up on your news,” Tia prodded. “Tell me about After Dark—is Tony a trip, or what?”

  “Oh my God, yes,” Lexi agreed. “But his assistant, Malcolm? That guy’s an absolute beast!” She turned to Dylan. “Let me just say how lucky you are to have Jessa.”

  “Don’t I know it,” he agreed.

  “So, you didn’t know that Bo was going to be on the show with you?”

  “It was a complete surprise,” Lexi beamed. “I had no clue until Tony announced his name. I was totally blown away.”

  That was obvious, Ryan thought bitterly as he listened to her recall their reunion, subsequent dinner, and how they’d watched the show together. She talked as if Ryan wasn’t even there, and he still cringed at the excitement in her voice as she talked about Bo Collins.

  Ryan sat back as the conversation went on around him. They had a history together, a history in which he had no part. He had precious little to add, and was glad when their meals arrived so he’d have something else to focus on besides his wine glass. He could already feel the buzz in his head; not good when he had an early meeting with the partners in the morning.

  They’d barely finished their meals when Ryan saw the woman approaching their table. He recognized her face immediately—she was one of his firm’s biggest clients. He didn’t work with her personally; she was from old money, and only the partners were allowed to handle her affairs. She approached the table with a huge smile and a wave, and he pulled her name from his memory. Victoria Damon. He hadn’t recognized her at first because she never smiled; in fact, the staff around the office called her Victoria ‘Demon’ behind her back—she had a reputation for going for the balls, and didn’t take shit from anyone.

  “Mr. Stallworth, isn’t it?” she gushed, offering Ryan her hand for a limp shake. “What a pleasure to see you this evening.”

  Ryan stood to take her hand, surprised she even knew his name. The few occasions he’d met her, she’d barely acknowledged his presence. “Thank you, Ms. Damon,” he replied curtly, “You look well, as always.”

  “This must be your lovely fiancé,” she said, offering her hand to Lexi. “Lexi, is it? I saw you on television a few weeks back. Your future husband’s firm handles all my affairs; he’s got a bright future ahead, this one; you’re a lucky young lady.”

  “Thank you, I think so,” Lexi answered cordially.

  Victoria turned to Dylan, who rose from the table, and Ryan saw immediately the real reason for her uncharacteristically enthusiastic greeting. She’d wanted an introduction to Dylan, and wasn’t above using her influence with his firm to get it. Now he felt as if she had him by the balls.

  “Victoria Damon, Dylan Miller and Tia Hastings,” he offered as Victoria turned on her high society charm.

  “Oh, what an absolute pleasure!” she sang. “I’d like to offer you my very best wishes on your recent engagement; you must be so happy.”

  “We are,” Dylan answered simply, “thank you very much.”

  “Do you have a date yet?” she asked.

  Tia looked at Dylan. “Not yet,” she said.

  “You know,” Victoria replied, turning her back on Ryan completely and taking Dylan’s hand, “one of the divisions of my company, Vida International, specializes in high-end event planning. We could help you have the wedding of your dreams, and we take care of all the details. We’ve hosted events for some of the most influential…”

  Dylan interrupted. “That’s very kind of you. I appreciate the offer, but we’ve already got someone working on that.”

  “Oh, well, of course,” she said. “I’ll just leave you with my card, if I may. If you have any questions at all, you can contact me directly.” She handed Dylan a gold business card, and he slipped it into his pocket. “I’m also the CEO of ‘4 the Children,’” she added. “We’re an international charity dedicated to bringing basic medical treatment to children in developing nations. I’m hosting an event at my home weekend after next, and I’d love to have you as my guest. Perhaps you’d even consider donating a personalized item for our silent auction? It’s a very good cause.”

  “I’m afraid my calendar is bursting at the seams, Ms. Damon, so I won’t be able to attend,” Dylan said. “But I’ll pass on your card to my assistant—I’m sure we can do something as far as a donation. I’ll have her contact you later in the week, and I wish you the best of luck with your event. I’m always happy to support a worthy cause.” He put out his hand. “It was very nice meeting you; enjoy the rest of your evening.” He took his seat, an indication that he was finished with the conversation.

  “Call me Victoria, please,” she smiled, not taking the hint. She reached into her overpriced bag and pulled out another foil business card. “Here, let me give you another card for your assistant, just in case you decide you’d like to hear about my wedding services.”

  “All right then,” Dylan replied, taking the second card and adding it to his pocket with the first. “Do have a nice evening, now.”

  She seemed to suddenly come to her senses. “Oh. My, yes…well the pleasure has certainly been all mine,” she breathed, batting her eyelashes at Dylan and taking his hand once more. “If you find you have that Saturday open, don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m sure I can fit you in, even at the last minute.”

  Dylan took his hand back, and picked up his wine glass, tipping it slightly in her direction. “I’m afraid it’s not possible, but again, I wish you the best of luck.”

  “Yes, well, do take care…I hope we meet up again real soon. Have a beautiful evening, and again, best wishes!”

  She turned and left without a goodbye or even another glance at Ryan, who fumed silently. He was humiliated that one of his firm’s clients; someone who barely knew him; would use him like that just to shake Miller’s goddamn hand, and then turn her back on him like he didn’t even exist. He clenched his teeth as he sat back down at the table.

  “I’m incredibly embarrassed and sorry about that,” Ryan said. “That was really fucking rude of her, and I’m actually shocked that she’d behave that way.”

  Dylan waved it off. “Not your fault—don’t sweat it,” he said. “Happens all the time, unfortunately. So, should we order some dessert? They do a nice little assortment so we can taste a bit of everything.”

  The only thing Ryan tasted at the moment was bitter. He’d been demoralized in front of his fiancé and her celebrity friends, and the rest of them were just going on with the evening as if nothing had happened. He felt the heat of anger rush to his face and pressed his hands to his water glass, then to his cheeks to cool them. Maybe this sort of thing happened all the time to people like Dylan Miller, but Ryan hadn’t been made to feel so insignificant in a very long time; if ever. He sat back and watched the three of them laughing; more private jokes that he wasn’t part of.

  “So, you don’t have a final date set yet?” Lexi asked.

  “We do, actually,” Tia said; tipping her head in and looking around to make sure none of the over-attentive staff were listening. She looked at Dylan for approval, and he answered with a shrug. “We’re not planning to announce it publicly for a few more weeks, but it is going to be Memorial Day weekend, and it’s going to be so amazing, I can’t even tell you!”

  Ryan’s heart sank. He and Lexi had been engaged nearly a year, and now Tia was going to get married a month before them? Fireworks or no, their wedding wasn’t going to be the spectacular gala that theirs would be. This night just kept getting worse.

  “Oh my God, where?” Lexi asked excitedly.

  “It’s going to be a secret,” Tia answered, her smile lighting up her face, “to keep the paparazzi away. No one’s going to know where they’re going until
they’re on the way there. We’re arranging all the transportation for the guests so the media can’t figure it out. But I’ll tell you this, because I know you can keep the secret. It’s going to be the whole weekend, so don’t make any plans!”

  “A weekend-long celebration? Holy shit, this is going to be the event of the year! And you really think you can pull it together that quickly?” Lexi asked.

  Dylan smiled and Tia answered. “We’ve got Jessa on it,” she said. “You know she can do anything.”

  “Do you really need to do it so soon?” Ryan interjected; instantly sorry he’d said it. All six eyes squinted at him, and he could almost feel the daggers shooting from Lexi’s. Dylan regained his composure quickly, and pressed his lips together.

  “Pretty much,” Dylan answered, either not noticing or not acknowledging his condescending tone. “I only have a couple months between the studio and rehearsals for the tour, and we need to squeeze a honeymoon in there, too. If it were up to me, I’d do it today, but you know women, they want these big weddings…” he smiled at Tia, who pouted out her lower lip.

  “Is it going to be huge? Will it be a star-studded affair? Oh, I can hardly wait to go dress shopping!”

  Dylan laughed. “There’ll be a few celebrities there, but we’re going to keep it fairly small, actually. Close friends and family, mostly.”

  “A whole weekend at a secret location,” she said dreamily, “I don’t know if I can wait!”

  “Me either,” Tia said. “We haven’t hammered out all the details yet, but I’ll give you all the ones I can once I know them.”

  “Oohh, I’ll have to start putting extra money in my vacation fund right away.”

  “You don’t need to—the best part is that it isn’t going to cost anyone a dime.”

  “Are you serious?” Lexi asked, stunned. “How…”