In the Age of Love and Chocolate (Birthright #3)(22)

“Truthfully, I didn’t think he would come, but he’s here now.”

I ran my fingers through my hair. He hadn’t seen me since I’d gotten my hair cut.

Natty led me to a table near the windows. Win was indeed there, along with his mother, Mr. Delacroix, and a girl about my age. I knew without being told that this was the girlfriend from Vermont. She was skinny skinny and tall tall with blond hair that flowed to her waist. Mr. Delacroix and Win stood. I smiled (in a way I hoped was) graciously at the table and put on my best hostess voice. “Mr. Delacroix, Mrs. Delacroix, so nice to see you again. Win, what a surprise. And you must be Win’s girlfriend?” I held my hand out for the Viking to shake.

“Astrid,” she said.

“Anya,” I said. “Amazing to meet you.”

“This place is so charming,” she said. “I love it.” Her hand was resting on his thigh. He brushed several long, blond strands of hair from her face.

“Charming is the word,” Mrs. Delacroix agreed. The last time I’d spoken to her, she’d seemed nonplussed about the club and her husband’s role in it, but she seemed to have made peace with both. “You’ve done a wonderful job. You and Charlie both.” She looked at her husband. Mr. Delacroix’s expression was cryptic, and I did not know him well enough to decipher it. He had not even greeted me when I’d arrived at the table, but had kept his gaze toward the window, as if the real party was going on just outside.

“Thanks,” I said. “We’re proud of it.”

“It’s great,” Win said without much enthusiasm. “I’m glad I got to see it.” He paused. “You changed your hair.”

“I did.” I put my hand on the back of my neck.

“Well, it suits this club at least,” Win said.

“Drink up,” I told the table. “And a very happy New Year!”

I walked to the bar. “Sorry about that,” Natty said. “So awkward. I didn’t know his girlfriend was coming to the city.”

“It was fine,” I said. “I’m happy he saw the club, and I knew about the girlfriend already.”

Natty was about to speak, but then she shook her head. She ordered two Theobromas for us. “I was surprised to see Mrs. Delacroix here, though. Win says his parents are getting a divorce.”

“Oh, I hadn’t heard.” Mr. Delacroix was pretty tight-lipped about his personal life.

“Yeah. Win’s not that upset. He says it was a long time coming. It was his mother’s decision, I guess.”

“You and Win talk a lot?”

“Some. I’ve always liked him, as you know,” she said. “And when I see him in Boston, it makes me feel less homesick.” She sipped her drink. “Thank you for sending him to me, by the way.”

“Natty, I don’t know if you’ll even be able to answer this question. But do you think Win understands now? Does he understand why I had to do this?”

“I think so,” she said slowly. “He’s moved on, obviously, and he seems less bitter.” She rested her chin in her hands. “I thought you’d be with him forever.”

“Well, that’s because you were a little kid when he and I met,” I said. “I’ve thought a lot about it. The truth is, sometimes too much can happen in a relationship, and then there’s nothing anyone can do or say. It’s broken.”

“You don’t believe that could ever happen between us?” Natty asked.

“Of course not, you goose. You could be awful forever, and I’d still love you. Things are good at the new school?”

She took a long drink, and then she laughed. “I hate to say it, but you were right. It was getting too serious with Pierce. Once I got away, I could see that, and he started to seem a lot less important.”

“Funny,” I said. “Maybe if someone had sent me away to school, it would have been the same with Win.”

Natty shook her head. “Probably not, though. Win’s kind of, sort of wonderful, and Pierce is just some dumb boy.”

I laughed at Natty. “You can’t have Win,” I said. “He’s too old for you. Plus, he’s dating a Viking.”

“She does look like a Viking. I wouldn’t want Win anyway. I would never date the boy who broke my sister’s heart.”

He hadn’t broken it. I knew that now. If I was honest, I had done it to myself. (NB: Who needs a heart anyway?) It was important for her to know this, so I said it aloud. “He didn’t break it. No one can break your heart except you.”

“Maybe she looks more like an Icelandic princess,” Natty said.

Theo joined us at the bar. “Who looks like an Icelandic princess?” he asked.

Natty pointed to the Delacroixs’ table.

“Stop it,” I said. “We don’t want them to know we’re talking about them.”

Natty waved. “It’s fine. They can’t hear us. Hi, Icelandic princess!”

“Very pretty girl,” Theo said, “but you are both wrong. She looks like a mermaid.”

“No date?” I asked him.

He shook his head.

“What? Have you run through every girl in New York? Theo’s a big slut,” I informed Natty.