Page 4 of Nothing to Tell

“So you want it to look good?”

“My relationships?”

“Yeah,” he said.“You said you wanted someone to hold your hand tonight.You want to throw it back at him, have Damon think twice about his behavior.”

“I don’t want everyone to be reminded that I’m the pathetic dumped one.I wish I could just… pretend I didn’t care.Have Damon think he’s not crossed my mind in the year since they left.”

“Cowering isn’t going to achieve that.”

Again, stating the obvious.This guy had a talent for it.

“No,” Harper agreed.“But it’s better than the alternative.”

“Your sister has made a life-changing decision.Hiding down here, you’re missing the chance to celebrate with her.You won’t get that back.”

Her sister had found a secure relationship.A stand-up guy.The couple would look after each other.

“Carnell worships Adara, he’d never hurt her.”

“Sounds like love to me… Get back upstairs, get a drink… you never know what might happen.”

His message?That not everyone settled.Was that his point?Adara and Carnell were in love.Yes, that was true.Harper’s sister adored her fiancé, but not as much as Carnell adored his fiancée.

“I suppose there’s a chance I’ll fall flat on my face in the middle of the room.That would begin a new humiliating chapter.”A little sarcasm was warranted.Okay, maybe a big sarcasm was too.“I wouldn’t want to miss that.”

She hated feeling sorry for herself.Work had been busy and she’d already had a drink or two, could that explain the unexpected wobble?Usually she was happy to tell the world to go to hell.Why was tonight so different?

“Don’t you want to celebrate your sister’s engagement?”

Yes!She did!Missing out on sharing this night with her sibling was heartbreaking.For her, at least.Adara wouldn’t miss a beat, she’d be up there having a ball.At the end of the day, wasn’t that the most important thing?

“Adara is beautiful and poised.Being social, fitting in, it comes naturally to her.Screwing up is what I do best.”

Story of her life.

“No more pity,” he said.

The outside edge of his index finger grazed her temple.

When did he get close enough to touch her?To soothe with such a gentle—

“Go upstairs and hold your head high… We never know which cards our opponents hold.Act like you’ve got it and they’ll believe you do.There’s nothing more powerful than the bluff.When you pull it off, it’s a high.”

The electricity of his departed caress was still warm.It wasn’t intrusive; it was intimate.The zing still fizzled on the path his finger traced.

Sheesh, don’t make it a big thing.It probably only felt that way because they were alone in the dark.

Giving her no chance to speak again, he opened the door that led back to the stairwell.Struck dumb, she followed his unspoken invitation to use it.

Like an apparition, he didn’t follow, he just drifted away.

Okay.Back upstairs.

She could do this.

TWO

Bastian