Every light in the house was on. The sun had set, forcing the landscape lights to turn on and highlight the professionally manicured yard.
I walked to the heavy wood double front door. A caterer opened it before I could knock with the brass knocker and invited me in. By the doorway, a waiter stood with a tray of champagne. I shook my head. “No, thank you.”
The house was full of people. Loud laughter reached me in the marble foyer. A string quartet played classical music in the living room. I spotted my sister at the same time she spotted me. She rested her hand on the arm of the man next to her. He turned in my direction. Amanda turned to the couple they’d been talking to. “Excuse us,” I saw her mouth.
Bile rose in my throat. It was too late now. There he was. The man I had wanted to avoid and could no longer do so. They approached me, holding hands.
I wanted to flee. I wanted to cry. Why couldn’t I escape this?
My sister dropped his hand and ran to me. “Lizzy.” I allowed her to hug me. When she stepped back, the man stepped forward.
He leaned in to kiss me on the cheek. “Lizzy.”
I choked out. “Hello, Clay.”
Chapter 11
The last timeI’d seen Clay was three years ago, in the Avalanche Corporate offices. I was packing my personal items.
He’d stood in the doorway, all dark Irish and broody, apologizing. I’d always thought we’d make beautiful children.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you, Lizzy.” He put his hands in his pockets. “But I got hurt too. After all this, management traded me to the Bruins.”
I’d tried very hard to keep my composure but couldn’t keep from a little pettiness. “Oh, woo. Poor Clay.” I continued shoving items into a box. “No one ever means to do anything hurtful, and yet you managed.”
“It just happened.” He stepped forward angrily.
“Did it have to happen with my sister?” My voice rose. I lowered it. “All the women, in every city, in every state, at every rink, and you choose my sister.”
“I thought you and I were just having fun.” He’d said, almost sheepishly. Embarrassment dislodged his anger.
I blinked rapidly and shook my head, trying to understand those ridiculous words. “Oh, my God. You said you loved me.”
He put his hands out, opening his arms. “I mean, yeah. But like, you know, like, I love being with you.”
How had I missed how vapid he was? I’d thought at that moment, thatexactmoment, as I stared into his pretty, stupid face, never again. Never again will I date a hockey player.
I stopped moving, my hands on the framed team photo I was about to put in my box. I released it, leaving it for the man I’d help select as my replacement - Dr.Ryan Robson.
On the verge of tears and exhausted from fighting, I said quietly, “What do you need from me, Clay?”
He’d stared at me for a few moments, our eyes locked together. “I love her, Lizzy.”
I harrumphed.
He continued, “I’minlove with her, Lizzy.”
His words punched me in the gut. My heart squeezed. I put my forefingers to my temples. “Please stop calling me that. My name is Elizabeth.”
He’d just stood there, watching me pack.
“Is there anything else?” I asked flatly.
“She doesn’t want you to leave.” That’s not what I’d wanted him to say. My own sister. A piece of me had died with her betrayal.
I finished packing my things. I put on my coat, set my purse on top of the box and headed towards the door.
He stepped towards me, “Let me help.”