Mom had called to ask if I wanted to ride with them. I knew she was worried about my sudden reclusiveness. The past few weeks I had worked and stayed home. Sundays had been the only time they saw me. I hadn’t even called to check on Phoenix or sent her another text message for her to ignore. She was avoiding me and that was fine. Dad had said she was doing okay and that’s all I needed to know. Honestly, I wanted to hear her voice, but I wasn’t going to dwell on it.
Mom had been disappointed when I said I’d drive myself. Having my own vehicle meant I could escape when I wanted to. My parents would stay because Blaze’s parents were some of their closest friends. Dad was also a board member at the Kerrington Club. It was expected for him to be there. I, however, could slip on out when I was ready.
I knew Mom had hoped I was bringing a date when I had declined her offer. I could hear the unasked question in her tone, but I ignored it. No reason to let her down further. My invitation had said I could bring a plus one. I had RSVPed without that option. I had no one I was interested in taking. The funk I was in had to do with a man if I was honest with myself. So I was taking my mood on Eli Hardy out on all the male population. Probably wasn’t healthy, but I was doing it anyway.
Eli had left my apartment the morning after our mind-blowing night of sex and not called, texted, or shown up at my loft. Not one word. When he’d left after telling me I was the best he’d ever had, the smile on my face that day had been ridiculously bright. Even Lila Kate mentioned my mood. The next day I was still feeling the glow, but as the second day came to an end and I’d checked my phone a million times for a text or missed call from him, I started to get that maybe it wouldn’t come.
A week went by and I knew he wasn’t going to contact me again. The best he ever had comment had been bullshit. Something he could say to ease the fact he was running off and not coming back. I’d been a fling. I hadn’t ever been a fling for a man. Sure, I’d had one fling in college, but I had chosen him as a fling after a bad breakup. He hadn’t chosen me as a fling.
Eli Hardy had not been a fling for me. I’d wanted to have sex with him and after the experience, I had wanted more of it. Not just the sex. More of him. Eli had not felt the same way. I was ashamed to admit I had spent hours thinking over what I’d done wrong. How I had turned him off being around me. I could only come to the conclusion he wasn’t interested in me. I wasn’t his type. That had caused me to eat more mint chocolate chip ice cream than my hips needed.
The valet line at the club was longer than normal, but then for private parties it always was. If I hadn’t decided to wear the six-inch heels I had on, I would just park and walk. I waited in the line instead to save my feet. Besides, it was more time I didn’t have to go inside and pretend like I wanted to be there. I was sure Blaze’s movie was great. I’d seen the preview on television more than once. It looked good. But the socializing I wasn’t crazy about. My mother studying me and trying to figure out my mood was also a reason to dread this. She wasn’t pushy, but she would worry.
Two cars ahead of me I recognized as Nate’s newest Range Rover. I hadn’t realized it until I saw Nate step out though. I watched as the backdoors both opened while the valet was opening Bliss’s door for her. I didn’t have time to be confused by the back doors or a moment to let it sink in that someone had come with them until I saw the dark thick heavy curls and the skin-tight red dress that barely hit mid-thigh. My eyes were on Saffron Corbin. I was surprised she’d managed to get an invitation. Bliss nor Nate cared for her much. She often made scenes in public places. My gaze swung from that side of the car to the other. My throat tightened and I gripped the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles went white. Eli Hardy was closing the door he’d gotten out of, dressed in a tux. My first thought was he filled one out much better than the last time I’d seen him in one. My second thought was he was who had brought Saffron. She was his date.