“Well, she stopped at the bar first and grabbed a bottle of champagne and headed over to your private elevator. She must have gone back to your place.”
That makes me feel good. That she sees the apartment as a safe place.
“Thanks,” I shout to Kyle while I’m halfway out of the door.
Before I leave the room, Susan, the hotel manager, comes into the room. Jenna told me she’d been blowing up her call sheet all day. Guess I need to handle this now.
All the tension leaves my body, knowing she’s gone back home.
I can hearthe music blaring from the sound system before I even get to the door. I open the door, surprised to see more than just Sara in the apartment. It seems the party has been moved here. Across the room, Catherine is looking out of the window, swaying to the music. Two other friends of Bryan and I, who were also at the wedding party, are pouring drinks. I’m happy nonetheless. As I close the door behind me, I notice Sara and Bryan sat back on the couch. While I had hoped to make it up here sooner, when I went to the reception area, I could not find anyone. Bryan’s mom can have the other reception she wants since this is the cool kids’ party. Laughing, I realize Catherine finally got her way. This is exactly what she wanted all along..
Bryan spots me first and shoulders Sara, pointing in my direction.
She smiles at me, but it's not her usual one. Usually, she smiles right up to her eyes. This is the type you smile when you can’t wait to get away from the person.
I walk over to them and sit on the other side of Sara.
“Hey.” I look at Bryan, hoping that he’ll fill me in on anything. Help a guy out.
He shrugs, laughs to himself and moves to get up.
“Don’t get up, Bryan. I want to go…” she trails off as if unsure of where she wanted to go with that. She walks over to the window, smiling at Catherine.
I guess I’m in the doghouse.
I hear Bryan laughing to himself.
“Stuff really does just come so easily to you, doesn’t it?”
What the hell.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Look Adrien, you’re a charming guy, always have been. Women throw themselves at you most of the time.”
I go to stop him, but he holds his hand up, basically telling me to shut up for a minute.
“But what you don’t see are the people you leave in your rearview mirror. Like Katie. I warned you not to sleep with her. I told you nothing good would come from it. Now she’s pissed, and well, as much as I love Sara to bits, she lets people get in her head too much.”
He stops and looks at me.
Fuck me sideways.
“What did she say to her?” I can feel my anger rising again.
“Nothing she wasn’t already probably feeling. You know Sara.”
“Actually, no, I don’t. Not this version of her, I don’t. God, that place really did a number on her.”
Bryan takes a deep breath, and it's almost like he’s Yoda or something.
“Yeah. I miss the old Sara, too.”
Bryan leaves me sitting on the couch and passes me a beer. I don’t know how long I sit there. It feels like no time at all, but I’m guessing it’s been a while. I look over at Sara, and she’s dancing and laughing with Bryan. I guess it’s Catherine’s turn to bend my ear. She hands me a beer and sits in the seat her husband vacated. Husband.
“You're good for her and she knows it. Katie is a bitch, though.”
I look around and notice she’s the only person from the wedding party not here. Thank God.