Dating Games(112)

“I haven’t spoken about my mother in years, not until a few months ago when I had the pleasure of meeting a woman who made me rethink everything.” He laughs slightly, a sparkle in his eyes, as if recalling happy memories. “She had this strange habit of being herself all the time, which completely captivated me, considering we all have a tendency of pretending to be someone we aren’t. Not this woman. And by being herself, she helped me see that it’s okay to talk about my past, about the skeletons in my own closet. All the past trauma, torment, hurt… She called it my ‘ugly’. And she embraced the ugly. It’s what makes us who we are. We can’t erase it. Do we wish we could? You bet your ass. Instead of doing everything to bury it, we should embrace all the pieces that make us uniquely us.

“So tonight, in honor of Sonia, I’d like to announce the groundbreaking of a project I’ve been working on. For those who may not be aware, when I inherited Theodore Price’s fortune, I used a great deal of that money to open women’s shelters here in the Tri-state Area. A few years ago, I wanted to do something bigger, so I expanded my charitable foundation reach into every state in the country. But it still wasn’t enough. I wanted to do more. Now, thanks to all your generosity, I’m able to do that. Working with Isabella, we’ll be going overseas, helping women born in cultures where abuse is so pervasive, it’s considered normal. It’s not. And it’s my mission to help even more women realize this. Thank you.”

Thunderous applause erupts as he steps away from the podium, pausing for a few photos before making his way from the stage. Reporters descend on him, all of them shouting questions about his identity as August Laurent. Instead of humoring them, he responds that they’ll have to wait until the February issue of Blush magazine hits the newsstands to get the answers they’re looking for. My heart expands, thinking how those magazines will now fly off shelves even more so than they would have.

I’m so lost in the gift he’s given me I almost don’t realize he’s leaving. Snapping out of my stupor, I rush toward him, but after his revelation, it seems everyone wants to know more, people swarming him as he makes his escape. He must have predicted this would happen because two bodyguards flank him, ushering him out of the room as other security personnel escort the media from the event now that the speech portion is over.

I call Julian’s name, but he can’t hear me over everyone else. All I can do is watch as he’s whisked away, without a single glance in my direction. As the excitement comes to an end, the sound of saxophones and piano playing a jazz standard fills the space. Out of nowhere, I hear my name.

I whip my head up to see Sadie rushing toward me. I don’t have a second to brace myself before she barrels into me, hugging me enthusiastically. Thankfully, I’m quick enough to save the remnants of my drink from spilling.

“I’ve missed you!”

I still at first, surprised by her sudden attack. Then I melt into her embrace. “I’ve missed you, too, Sadie.”

She pulls back, her eyes frenzied. “Did you know?”

“Know what?”

“About Julian being August Laurent? My god!” She loops her arm through mine, not taking a breath. “You were together while you were doing a story on August Laurent!” She gasps as she puts two and two together, facing me once more. “That’s why you broke up, isn’t it?”

“It is.”

Her brows furrow as she surveys me. “But if you broke up, why are you here?”

I take a long sip of my manhattan, draining it. “I realized I made a mistake and came here to tell him.” I shrug in defeat. “But I missed my chance.”

She gives me an encouraging smile, squeezing my bicep. “It’s okay. It’ll all work out. Trust me.” She winks.

“Thanks, Sadie.” I sigh as I place my glass on a nearby hightop table. “But now that Prince Charming has left the ball, there’s no reason for Cinderella to hang around. It was great seeing you again.” I start to turn from her.

“Wait!” she yells, forcing me to stop. I look over my shoulder at her, an eyebrow raised. Her frantic expression softens. “Since you’re already here, how about a drink? I’m buying,” she jokes, considering it’s an open bar.

“Honestly, I’m not sure I’ll be the best company right now. I should just—”

“Come on, Evie. One drink while I update you on all the gossip, and there is some juicy gossip. For old time’s sake.”

On a long exhale, I reluctantly nod. “Okay. One drink. Then I’m going home and curling up on the couch with a plate of Christmas cookies.”

“One drink. That’s all I need.”

I follow Sadie to the bar. She orders two manhattans, then we find a hightop table in the corner. The out-of-the-way location reminds me of the day we first met when we sat at a table hidden away, which allowed her to give me the dirt on the who’s who of the Hamptons. She does the same now, updating me on affairs, unplanned pregnancies, and even a few paternity tests. It’s like being brought up to speed on my favorite soap opera.

As she’s telling me about one of the guest’s affairs with the nanny, the music changes and the opening notes to an all-too-familiar song in three-quarter time fills the room. I stiffen, my breath hitching as memories of dancing to this song with Julian return.