Andrew winked. “Jealous?”
“I may be. You’ll introduce me too, won’t you?” Despite the topic, Susan looked more at ease than he was used to. She was comfortable with Jodie, as compared to how she acted with the rest of the people here.
“I’ll think about it.” He turned to Jodie again. “J-Doll, pleasure to meet you.”
“Same.” Jodie said her goodbyes to both, and apologized for needing to give other guests her attention.
It didn’t take long for Susan’s attention to drift toward the door.
“Are you okay?” Andrew asked.
“I need some air. If you don’t mind.”
He remembered the wedding and finding her outside, enjoying the quiet after a few hours of socializing. “We can go, if you’re ready.” There was no point in pushing her to perform here. She was going to do what she thought her friends wanted, regardless of his prompting. He wasn’t in the mood for a battle of wills.
They made their way to the sidewalk, where the traffic had calmed. “It’s not that I don’t like parties or people,” she said. “I adore Jodie and Olivia, but… I don’t know. I can’t explain it.”
He could, and he liked that he understood. “You can only keep up the façade for so long?”
“That’s a good way to put it. I can party all night if I don’t have to watch myself.”
Inspiration struck. “Let’s go do that.”
“Do…?”
“Party in a place where no one has any expectations of you and you’ll never see any of them again.”
“I— What?”
He steered her toward the ArorTech gathering. “Let’s crash a party.”
*
Sick tension spilled through Susan at the suggestion. She didn’t know how walking into a place they weren’t invited was supposed to help her relax. A no hovered on the tip of her tongue, and her brain begged her to pull away. Andrew wrapped his arm around her waist, and the fact that he didn’t let go of her for more than a few minutes at a time since she arrived helped beat back the apprehension.
Remembering how mad she was at herself on Sunday, for telling him no, was the catalyst she needed, to join him inside. He strolled into the banquet hall without hesitation, smiling and nodding at the few heads that turned in his direction.
A man in a sweater and slacks approached. “Hi. Can I help you?”
They were screwed. So much for that idea. Anxiety coiled inside Susan, threatening to snap.
“I hope so. I’m Andrew, from the Chicago office.” Andrew extended his hand. “This is Susan. She’s a corporate trainer. Our flight came in late, or we would have been on time.”
“Right. Of course. I’m Matt with Human Resources.” He shook Andrew’s hand. “What department did you say you were with?”
This wasn’t so bad. Could they get away with it?
“This is awkward. I’m not supposed to say.” Andrew grimaced.
What was he doing? He was going to pick now to fail to bullshit someone?
“Right.” Matt’s voice dropped in volume, and he leaned in. “Most of them don’t know we let a lot of Art go recently. You’re replacing the director, aren’t you?”
Andrew shrugged. “Your words, not mine.”
“Of course. Go ahead and mingle. Dinner starts soon. It’s great to have you both here.”
“What is this?” Susan whispered as soon as Matt was out of earshot.