She blinked back tears as she remembered their journey back from Greece.
When Aristo had left the island George had been moderately upset. But he’d assumed that they would be staying there until his father returned. It had only been when Teddie had told him that they were going back to New York without Aristo that he’d got hysterical.
She hadn’t wanted to lie, and the truth was that she didn’t know when—if—George would see his father again, but she had told him how much Aristo loved him, how much she loved him, and just saying the words had made her feel more confident. Whatever happened, she would be there for her son.
Her stomach clenched and she felt suddenly sick. She wished that she hadn’t actually thought of Aristo by name. Ever since she’d got back home she’d been trying not to do so, even in her head. It just seemed to make her feel so much worse, and right now she didn’t want to feel anything.
George had been inconsolable, refusing to leave Melina and then crying himself to sleep on the plane. Then and only then had she allowed her own tears to fall.
Thankfully, Elliot had been waiting outside her apartment. Opening the door of the taxi, he’d pulled her into a bear hug with one arm, scooped George into the other. He’d taken charge of everything—paying the driver, carrying in the suitcases and then ordering pizza.
He hadn’t cross-examined her, but then he hadn’t had to ask anything. He knew her well enough to see the pain behind her careful smile as she’d cut the pizza into triangles.
George had calmed down, but she was still worried about him. He hadn’t slept in his own bed since they’d got back, and he seemed quieter than usual. Thankfully he loved his babysitter, Judith—a retired pre-school teacher and grandmother of twelve—so at least she wouldn’t have to worry about leaving him tonight.
She heard the doorbell ring and instantly froze, her heart hammering against her ribs. But of course it was only Elliot’s voice drifting through the apartment.
‘Teddie?’
She took a breath. ‘I’ll be right there,’ she called, knowing that she was wasting her time. He would see right through the over-bright note in her voice.
She felt suddenly guilty and stupid for wishing that it was Aristo waiting patiently in the living room for her to emerge instead of her friend—her good, loyal friend.
Guilty because Elliot deserved better, and stupid because right now she had no reason to believe that she would ever see Aristo again, given that he hadn’t so much as texted her once.
Her mouth trembled and, feeling the threat of tears, she picked up her bag and walked quickly across her bedroom. She’d promised herself that tonight she was not going to cry any more tears for Aristotle Leonidas until the show was over.
And that was what was going to happen, for—unlike her ex—she actually kept her promises.
* * *
‘You okay, babe?’
Edward Claiborne had sent a limo to collect them and, glancing across its luxurious interior, Teddie saw that Elliot’s face was soft with worry.
She nodded. ‘I will be.’ She gave him a small crooked smile. ‘And this evening will help, you know—being up there. I’ll forget everything but the cards.’
Maybe she might even forget her shattered heart.
‘I know.’ He grinned. ‘And I know I’m your buddy, and that makes me not really a guy, but I gotta say you look smoking hot tonight, Teds!’
She managed a real smile then. ‘You look good too, Els.’
The limo was slowing, and she could see the doorman stepping forward to greet the car. Her pulse started to accelerate. They had arrived.
Elliot held her gaze. ‘You ready?’ he said quietly, holding out his hand.
Nodding, she reached out to take it as the door swung open.
The Castine was the perfect setting for a magic show. There was no sign outside the door, and it was situated in a side street far away from the hustle of the city. On the first floor there was a bar and dining room, and on the second a jewel-coloured lounge that, despite its size, offered both intimacy and drama.
She could hear the buzz of people talking and the clink of glasses beneath the beating of her heart, and as she stepped under the spotlight she knew that all eyes were on her.
They just weren’t his eyes.
And, despite knowing it was pointless, she still couldn’t stop herself from quickly scanning the front row, unable to quell one last tiny hope that he would be there.
Of course he wasn’t.