Find Me Alastar(87)

“We have Magdeline Rushmore. Star O’Shea. Roberta Mumford. Amanda Marx. And last, but by no means least, Rachel Runner.” The crowd all cheer.

Are you f*cking kidding me? I sit and stare at the stage in shock.

He’s here. Alastar is here.

No!

He stands on stage in an expensive well-fitted navy suit and a white shirt. Big, kissable lips stare back at me, and his messed up, dark, wavy hair looking absolutely dreamy. And to top it all off, he’s completely oblivious to my presence.

I drop my head as I swallow my cake whole.

Oh my God. Oh. My. Fucking. God.

I start to look around in a panic for an exit. What are the damn chances of running into him here? And he has to be on the f*cking committee, doesn’t he?

I am not seeing him again. I’m too ashamed of how pathetic I acted last time we met—crying and begging him to return my feelings after only just meeting. Feelings that seemed so real at the time… actually, they still do. I can’t explain it because I don’t even understand it myself. God, he even left me in his house to get away from me. I’m so embarrassed.

The committee sits back down into their seats and the entertainment starts. It’s a band playing covers, and a small dance floor to the left of me soon begins to fill. I sit still in my seat as I watch Alastar through the crowd. He’s sitting on the table with Monica and Tabatha and they are all laughing. He has an arm casually slung over the back of one of the chairs and his drink in his other hand. Everyone at the table seems to hang off everything he says and then they all sporadically burst into laughter. That’s his wit—that damn annoying, dry, witty sense of humor. For fifteen minutes, I put myself through hell by watching him enjoying himself.

I text Brielle.

Kill me now.

Alastar is here.



A reply bounces back.

What the f*ck?

What did he say?



I text back.

He hasn’t seen me.



She texts straight back.

Abort mission.

Get the hell out of there.



Sadness fills me. She’s right. I’m not embarrassing myself further. I text back.

Okay. I’m leaving now.

Ring you when I get home.



She texts back.

Love you.

xx



I need to leave. I look around as I try to come up with an escape plan. I take out my phone and Google taxi service. Nothing comes up. What do they call it here? I look over to the nerdy man sitting across from me.

“If I wanted to call a cab, who would I call from here?”

He shrugs. “I’m not sure, to be honest.”

My face falls. “Oh.”

Sensing my disappointment, he stands. “Hang on a second. I will find out for you.”

I smile gratefully. “Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.” He stands and disappears into the crowd.

I put my head into my hands. I have never been so grateful to be on the back table at an event in all of my life. My eyes flick back to Alastar who is now standing and talking to a group of men. He looks so happy… so unaffected and normal.

Damn him.

He has totally ruined my poor innocent heart and he doesn’t have a care in the world. I, however, have gained five kilos and aged ten years. Brielle thinks it’s a good thing. She says I will never take another good man for granted again, and she could be onto something. The man who went to find out about the cab comes back to the table with Tabatha following him. I close my eyes. Oh no. It’s getting worse.

“This is the girl.” He gestures to me.

Tabatha smiles. “Oh, Emerson. It’s you that wants the cab?” She seems surprised. I just want the earth to swallow me up.

I fake a smile. “Ah, yes. I’m not feeling well. Sorry to be a bother.” I can’t believe the idiot went and got her, of all people.

“Come with me.” She grabs my hand and leads me through the crowd and out onto the terrace. “I have a driver here who can take you home.”

“Really?”

“Sure. He’s just taking someone home now, but he will be back soon. You can wait up in the house if you want?”

I smile. “Thank you so much for a lovely night.”

She pulls me into an embrace to cuddle me then yells over my shoulder. “Oh, Star. Come and meet my new friend Emerson.”

Fuck!

Dread fills me. I pull out of her embrace and turn to see Alastar standing behind me. I swallow the lump in my throat.

“Hello,” I murmur.

A soft smile crosses his face. “Hello, Em.”

It’s there again, that stupid chemistry. The air crackles between us and I drop my head. I can’t even look at him.

Tabatha takes out her phone and calls someone. “Hey, it’s me.”

She listens and then smiles. “I have someone else who needs a lift home.”

She listens again and Alastar frowns as his eyes flicker between us. “I will take Emerson home,” he interrupts.

I shake my head. No.

She puts her hand over the phone and shakes her head at him. “You are not going yet. We have too much to do.”

She puts her arm around me in a reassuring gesture. “She’s not well.”

Alastar steps toward me. “Are you sick?” he whispers.