She motions for me to continue.
"He got up off the couch, pushed me aside and walked away." I swallow hard, hating the sound of the words.
"What did he say when you told him Mark used to call you that?"
"I didn't. He wouldn't let me get a word in. He just assumed I wasn’t ready yet."
"So you just left?" Liz quizzes.
"As fast as I could. I put my dress back on in the hallway and ran to find a taxi."
"Maybe you overreacted a bit, sugar. I mean, it's been months since Mark called you that."
I shake my head from side-to-side. "Days, not months."
"Days?" Her voice is quickly becoming the loudest in the near capacity diner. "What do you mean days?"
"When he came to get the letter, he was all sweetheart this and sweetheart that." I roll my eyes.
"How dare he still call you that? He can't call you that. It's just...it's so wrong."
I nod silently.
"So it's been three days and you've heard nothing from Jax?"
"Not a word."
"I'm sorry."
"What about Brighton?" I ask wanting to shift focus. "What's going on with you two?"
She shrugs her shoulders. "Nothing. He said he'll make a decision on the final spot in the next week."
"You'll get it, Liz." I pull a French fry through the ketchup on my plate before popping it into my mouth. "You've got to be the most talented candidate he's seen."
Liz pushes the remaining salad on her plate around with the fork. "I hope you're right."
I glance at my phone. "I need to go."
"Where to?"
. "I've been summoned to Julia's office for a meeting. I'm sure it's about the deadline for my new bridal pieces." I groan.
"She's back from maternity leave?"
"I think so." I reach for my wallet.
Liz motions with her hand for me to stop. "It's my treat today. What do you mean you think she's back?"
"I haven't talked to her since the baby was born. Her assistant sent me an email yesterday, asking me to be at Julia's office at two o'clock today which means I need to leave now. Thanks for the lunch."
"Good luck," Liz calls as I race out of the restaurant.
***
As the taxi slowly snakes its way up Lexington, I think about Jax and how he reacted so strongly when I hesitated. I fully expected to hear from him Monday, it's Wednesday now and not a word. I'm beginning to wonder if my pause stalled his interest for good. Maybe a potential one night stand was all I was.
I shake off the thought as the taxi pulls up to the corner of Lexington and Fifty Fourth Street. I run as fast as my red heels will take me to the building's entrance and then to the elevator. It's almost two fifteen now and Julia, the head of consignments for Veray Jewelers, is not a patient person. I'd had enough gentle lectures over the past few years to know better.