All the Way (Romancing Manhattan #1)(62)

I walk past a waiter and lift a glass of champagne off his tray and take a sip. It goes down smooth. A few more sips and my ruffled feathers might start to calm down.

Finn is across the room chatting with some friends from law school that came into town for this occasion, as a surprise for him. He’s laughing, but his eyes search the rooftop until they find me, and they burn as he takes me in from head to toe.

How can we be completely irritated with each other and still want to fuck each other into next week?

I don’t get it.

“You don’t look happy,” Quinn says as he joins me, sipping his own glass of bubbly.

“I’m great.” I offer him a wide smile, but he just cocks an eyebrow and I shrug one shoulder. “Your brother is infuriating.”

“Oh yeah. It’s one of his main talents.”

I chuckle and then sigh deeply. I glance to my left, happy to see that Gabby’s here, in a pretty pink dress, talking to Finn and Carter. I’m excited to talk with her.

Then I catch a glimpse of a man as he disappears around a corner, and I scowl.

Could Kyle be here?

No. Impossible.

“Are you okay?” Quinn asks. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I’m fine.” I take a sip of my drink, and then shake my head. “I figured out what you meant the other day when you said Finn is looking at new real estate.”

“Uh-oh,” he says, and cringes. “So he followed through with it.”

“Oh yeah. He did.”

“And how did you take it?”

“Not well,” I admit. “Has he always been pushy?”

“When it comes to something he wants, yes.”

Maggie joins us, holding her own glass of champagne and smiling happily. She’s dressed in a beautiful yellow dress and her dark hair is swept up in a dignified chignon.

“Hello, darlings,” she says.

“You look beautiful, Maggie.” I lean in to press my lips to her cheek.

“Thank you, London. I think this party turned out just right.”

I nod and turn to let my eyes scan the room, catching sight of Finn again. He’s moved to another group of friends, still talking, but also still facing me. He catches me watching him and offers me a small smile, which I return.

We need to talk, but I can’t stay mad forever.

“Your dress is lovely, dear,” Maggie says. “If I was your age, I’d kill to pull something like that off.”

“It’s a birthday gift for Finn,” I admit, and watch her brown eyes light up with humor.

“That’s a helluva gift,” Quinn says.

“See, you need to find a woman like London,” Maggie says, and Quinn rolls his eyes. “Don’t you roll your eyes at me.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Hey London.” Gabby’s face is excited as she joins us. “Your dress is so pretty.”

“Thank you. So is yours.” I hug her tightly. “You’ve been quite the hostess, talking with everyone.”

“It’s a fun party,” she says with a shrug. “And Grandma says that to be a good hostess, you have to make everyone feel welcome.”

“That’s my girl,” Maggie says, wrapping her arm around Gabby’s shoulders.

“Oh, London, you brought the man from the playhouse.” Gabby smiles and I feel everything in me go still. “I thought you said you didn’t know him? He’s nice. Oh, there’s my cousin Josie!” And just like that, she skips away.

My phone rings in my clutch.

“Excuse me.” I walk around the corner to the foyer and see Kyle’s name on the display. “Hello?”

“London?” he asks, and sniffs. “Is this a bad time?”

Yes. What the fuck is this game you’re playing? “No, it’s okay. What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry.” He sniffs again. “I know you’re counting on me this time, but I’m just so scared. I wish you could have come down with me to check in. I just couldn’t do it.”

“Kyle.” I rub my fingertips against my forehead. He has to be here. He has to be the man from the playhouse. That’s the only explanation, but I play along. “Take a deep breath. It’s okay. I understand feeling scared.”

“I knew you would,” he says. “I know you’ve been through hell, and I’m just adding to your stress. I hate that. But I just don’t have anyone else.”

“I know. Talk to me. What are you afraid of?”

“Failing and disappointing you again.”

“I’ll only be disappointed if you don’t try,” I reply. “Just do your best.”

“I can’t.” He starts to cry in earnest now. “I can’t go down there.”

“Wait.” I frown at the first mistake he’s made. “If you’re not down there, where are you?”

“I’m at your place.”

A chill runs through me.

“My place? Like, inside?”

“Yeah, your doorman let me in.”

“I’m on my way.” I hang up and hurry back to the party to find Finn, but he’s nowhere to be found, so I rush over to Quinn. “I have to go to my condo for a minute.”