She shakes her head. "Stop lying to yourself." Her voice is softer. "It's okay to feel like this."
No it's not. Nothing can be okay or even sane about the vivid dreams that I am ashamed to recall, which star James and me.
The doorbell rings.
"Are you expecting someone?" I ask.
"Nope."
I wrack my brain whether I've ordered anything online, but it's far too late for a delivery anyway. I open the door to a vaguely familiar middle-aged man wearing white Bermuda shorts and a blue shirt. He holds a package under his arm. One second later I realize it's Daniel, James's concierge. I didn't recognize him right away because I've never seen him without his uniform.
"Good evening, Ms. McLewis." He hands me the package. "This is for you."
"What is it?" I ask sharply.
"Mr. Cohen asked me to deliver it. I'm afraid I don't know what is inside. I will leave you to find out," he says, and it's obvious he can't wait to get back to what I assume is a work-free evening.
"Don't just stand there, open it," Jess urges from behind me.
I turn around and throw the package in her direction. She catches it in midair and starts ripping off the silver paper before I manage to close the door.
A dress falls out of it. A gorgeous dress. Made of red chiffon, with a
slightly wavy skirt and a tight bodice. It's short, but not ridiculously so. The label confirms my suspicions that the dress doesn't merely look expensive. It is expensive. Very. It's a Valentino.
"I can't believe this," I say, anger building inside me again.
"He must want you back badly," she grins.
"And he thinks this is how he'll get me? One expensive dress and I'll be at his feet?"
"Oh no, dear, where he wants you to be is in his bed."
"And that's exactly what you think I should do, don't you?"
She shrugs. "You already know my opinion on this."
I do. And I'm glad that she refrains from telling me yet again what a mistake she thinks my leaving him was. She crouches to pick up the fallen silver paper. "There is a note here."
The beam on her face when she hands me the tiny card fuels my anger like nothing else. I lower my eyes to the card. You look stunning in red. I hope to see you tonight.
And see me he will. Because I decide on the spot to go.
Just not with him.
I grab my phone from my bag and call someone I called one too many times in the past few weeks. Parker answers after the first ring.
"Does your offer to accompany you to the event still stand?" I ask, staring at a stupefied Jess.
"Absolutely," he says in a cheerful tone. "I'll pick you up at seven."
Jess, whose faced turned almost as red as my dress, furiously gestures that she won't let Parker through the door.
"Nah, just give me the address. I'll take a cab."
"Wow," Parker says, holding the door of the cab open. "You look fantastic."
"Thanks. You too. A suit and tie really… suits you." I smile. He also looks more like James than is healthy for me, but I don't say that out loud.