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
pletely 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 fuckingmittee, doesn’t he?
I am not seeing him again. I’m too ashamed of how pathetic I actedst time we met-crying andN?velDrama.Org holds this content.
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 exin 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.
Themittee sits back down into their seats and the entertainment starts. It’s a band ying covers,
and a small dance floor to the left of me soon begins to fill. I sit still in my seat as I watch star through
the crowd. He’s sitting on the table with Monica and Tabatha and they are allughing. 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 intoughter. 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.
star is here.
A reply bounces back.
What the fuck?
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 toe up with an escape n. I take out my phone and Google
taxi service. Nothinges 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 star 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
es 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 star standing behind me. I swallow the
lump in my throat.
“Hello,” I murmur.