But there was no reasoning with Lavina. “Well, it’s not the happiest day ofmylife, so there! How can I be happy when my whole career is on the line? No, I can’t do this. We have to move everything to St. Barts, or we can’t do a wedding!”
“Lavina, please listen to me. What you’re asking is impossible. Our families and friends are already here. We will lose all the money. Why can’t we just…”
“If that’s who you are, then fine.” Lavina pulled her diamond engagement ring off her finger and tossed it at Elonzo. The ring my brother had spent ten thousand dollars on was just being thrown in the air like trash.
“The wedding is off, and so is anything between us. I’m going to go find someone who cares about me.” And with those parting words, Lavina stormed out of the room.
For a long time, neither my brother nor I said anything. He spent the whole time staring at the door Lavina had walked out of as if waiting for her to return. But she never did. Finally, after half an hour, he received a notification on his phone. Lavina had posted a photo of herself in another part of town, beaming at the camera, in a bikini, sipping a cocktail with the caption, “New Beginnings.” She was not coming back. It was internet-official.
Within minutes of the photo being posted, the calls and messages started coming in. Guests wanted to know if the ceremony was really off, others wanted the full details to share in juicy gossip with the rest of their circles. Father wanted to talk. Thankfully, I wasn’t needed for that last part.
I approached my brother and patted him on the back. For once, I reined in any mention ofI told you so. Instead…
“Want to grab a drink?” I asked.
Elonzo took a deep breath. He turned to me and placed a hand on my shoulder. “Thanks, Sebastian. That’s kind of you. But I think I should go and tell the rest of the family. I…have to attend to the mess I’ve made.” He frowned, taking one last glance at the door.
“Want me to join you?” I asked, even though we both knew it was the last thing I wanted. My presence would also probably create more drama than was called for. Sensitivity was not my strong suit.
“No, you go ahead and get a drink.” Elonzo patted my shoulder and then turned to the door.
That was exactly what I planned to do. Maybe I was being crass, but I really didn’t want to waste the tux. Who knew what I could get up to in it?
CHAPTER7
ELLY
The bathroom-break excuse could only hold so long and I knew I couldn’t very well escape to my hotel room without having Simone at my door in minutes, demanding I come down immediately. So, I escaped to the bar, which was conveniently located in the basement of the hotel, away from the hubbub of the ground floor, with its cocktail parties, wedding party, conferences, and general people walking back and forth from their rooms. It was also the last place Simone would think to look for me since I never drink before a game. When she had placed that glass of champagne in my hand a little earlier on, I’d known for a fact it was all a pretense. Pretending I was one of the crowd when I wasn’t.
There were only a few people milling about during happy hour. I took a seat in the corner of the bar, hoping for some privacy. I stared into the glass filled with club soda, and the image of my mom’s face appeared.
I need to call her, I thought.But not here.I wanted the privacy of the hotel room so that no one would need to bear witness to the tears that were bound to come when I ended the call. I wanted to be alone for that bit.
That was not to be, though. The moment I lifted my eyes from the glass, I saw him. The guy from the lobby. He was walking into the bar and saw me too. Our eyes locked for a moment before I swiftly looked away.
Don’t encourage him,I said to myself.Don’t you dare!
The first time I saw him, standing by the reception desk, I’ll admit I did think he was the most handsome man I had ever seen. Sharp cheekbones, thick, wavy, dark hair, and eyes that glimmered between beach sand and wild grass. The square glasses that he fashionably wore only magnified the colors. I was transfixed, and when our eyes met that first time, I couldn’t look away.
After the incident at the reception desk, though, I knew that glimmer in his eyes was merely his arrogance shining through. The way he talked to the receptionists like that…I wanted to say something to put him in his place. I should’ve said something. But I didn’t. I’m so non-confrontational it hurts, sometimes.
Of all the people I wanted around me at that very point, this pompous rich dude with his fancy credit card was at the bottom of the list.
“Hello, stranger.”
My eyes shot up and there he was, standing in front of me. The door was right there. I could just try to make a run for it…
And then live with the thought that a man has that kind of control over you? No way. Stand your ground,I commanded myself.
“Thanks, but I’m not interested,” I said, cutting him off. I took the glass in my hands and twisted away from him.
“But you haven’t heard what I was about to say,” he replied, a note of amusement in his voice. “At least let me buy you a drink?”
I sighed, loud enough for him to hear me, and lifted my three-quarter-filled glass. “Thanks, but I’ve already got mine.”
“What have you got there, a club soda? But that’s not a drink. What you need is…” He laughed as I put my glass down. He was starting to get on my nerves.
“What I really need is some quiet time. Thank you.” Something about this guy was bringing out the worst of me. For once, I was being rude.