Overcoming Fear (Growing Pains #2)(88)

“And while we are on the subject, I slapped you that other night because I could tell you weren’t yourself, and I wanted you to snap out of it. I could see that you were slipping into that dark place. If I were a different woman, a normal woman, I wouldn’t have noticed. I would have switched gears with you and gone with it.

“But I am messed up, too, Sean. You weren’t hurting me, you were triggering some memories of the past. And let’s remember, my past has nothing to do with you. You didn’t force me. I was the one that hit you. I hurt you. I have no hard feelings toward you, Sean. It is easy to scare me, and you don’t.

“I loved you going into that episode, and guess what, I still love you, Sean. Very much. And yes, I also still trust you, with my whole heart. So stop thinking I’m breakable. I think you’re the one breaking. You’re trying to protect yourself by pushing me away. Not the other way around.”

She wiped a tear away and felt unfinished. She didn’t know how to finish it off, though, so she went with, “And make me a good offer so I don’t have to go work for Tory!”

She left Sean on the balcony with a bewildered expression. In the movies the hero would have kissed her when she said the ”I love you” bit. Or even after the ”make me an offer” bit. Total letdown to have to walk away. Again.

At least it was predictable.

She went back in for a while, talked to John about the location and time of the pool party, and left. She’d said all she’d needed to say.

Chapter Twenty-Five

The next day, and a bus ride later, she was walking into a posh hotel in the middle of Marin. The thing about Marin apparently, thanks to a Google search, was that it had a bunch of rich people. The property value was high and many of the people drove expensive cars and monstrous SUVs. The other thing was that the weather was gorgeous. It wasn’t summer anymore—fall actually—but the day was still warm, the sky still clear, and the sun still going strong. Some hated California because it didn’t have proper seasons, but Krista hated the cold—she was happy enough for eternal good weather.

As ordered, there was champagne and strawberries waiting for her in her room. Also a bouquet of flowers. The dressings were a rich beige, the walls were eggshell white, the art abstract but nice for a hotel, and the bed like a cloud. It wasn’t even that expensive! She got a deal on Priceline, and until that second, she hadn’t realized what an absolutely great deal it was.

After she took a long shower, put on her summery clothes—complete with a light sweater for the evening—she sauntered downstairs to grab a cab. She was determined to stay on her own time today. She was relaxed and content, and wanted to stay that way as long as possible before she saw Sean.

When she arrived at the house that would host the party, she nearly held her breath. It was freaking gi-normous! It looked like a celebrity’s house! The long driveway leading up was lined with grass and trees, there was a round driveway to turn around, adorned with extremely expensive looking cars—was that a Ferrari???—and a fountain in front of a grand staircase leading up to the front door.

A little stress as CEO. was definitely worth this crib! It was absolutely unreal!

Krista exited the cab by the curb and walked up. She didn’t need a Ferrari driver knowing she still didn’t own a car. He wouldn’t know what school and credit card debt did to a girl’s spending money.

When the cab was out of sight, she climbed the wide expanse of stairs between artfully sculpted bushes and beautifully blooming flowers. She stuck her finger out and nervously rang the bell. Then looked around. She flat out wasn’t used to this much money. Or people with this much money. It made her suddenly rethink her outfit—it was cute and trendy when she put it on, but now it seemed too young. And poor.

The large, heavy oak door opened to an older man with white hair, wrinkles, white gloves and a black suit. If they were going for a game of Clue, the guy totally looked the part. Krista very nearly called him Jeeves, but when he had an American accent, that sentiment went down the tubes.

The person who might’ve been called Jeeves said, “Right this way, please.”

Krista silently walked through the biggest private residence doorway in the world, through a garden of marble, through a long, wide, artfully decorated hallway with paintings and lights and tables and all such things that weren’t needed or necessary in a hallway, up a wide flight of stairs lined with a plush-looking rug, and through another hallway with more paintings and decorations. Through this journey, Fake Jeeves kept at a measured pace so that she might check out the art. When he led her up the giant staircase, she got a bit nervous—whose back yard was on the second level? Was this a joke on the poor kid? Did she have to put on a uniform and clean a room before she was allowed down to the party?

It all became clear when she emerged onto a wide balcony in a blast of sunlight. Along each side of the large, round area were welcoming balloons attached to tables with beverages and fruit and shrimp and finger foods and staff standing by. Krista’s sweater was traded for a glass of champagne—it was explained that the glass was actually plastic and she should not hesitate to throw it away when finished with it—and offered snacks and sandwiches and chocolate treats. With plate in hand, she was then shown the staircase leading down, which wasn’t as big as the one coming up, because the back yard was in levels. It would have been a continual slope up if certain parts weren’t flattened to keep the water in the giant pool, or the barbecue from rolling away.