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Finally, the slow song ended, and Christian and the tall blonde walked off the dance floor, his arm around her waist. Again I tried to look away, but my eyes followed them, watching as they disappeared into the crowd.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to compose myself, despite my anger and hurt. I still couldn't believe that Christian would really do this to me, at Sophie’s engagement party, no less. Valerie waved me over, and I made my way through the crowd toward her.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, a worried look on her face. “You look like you could kill somebody.”
I couldn’t tell her anything, as much as I wanted to. Let her think that the blond was just Christian's client or whatever and that I was perfectly fine with him dancing with her. The whole thing was too tangled now. She didn’t need to know the entire truth, and if I had my way she would learn it.
“Nothing much, just hungry I guess,” I replied, my eyes roving the room, looking for Christian.
“Let’s sit then. We should eat,” Valerie said pulling me toward the tables stacked with delicacies, piling exquisite hors d'oeuvre on a plate for me. “We don’t want anyone dying of starvation here,” she said.
I eyed the crispy crab cakes drizzled with a spicy, lemony sauce and decided that maybe all was not lost. The mini lobster Thermidors and bacon-wrapped fillet mignons were almost heavenly enough to make me forget all about Christian Sanchester. Almost.
As the night began to wind down, the MC announced the cake-cutting. Sophie and Nathan were positioned on either side of the multi-tiered cake. The cake was beautifully decorated with intricate details and goldwork, topped with a bride and groom figurine, and a layer of fresh flowers separating each tier, adding to the romantic and elegant vibe of the celebration.
Sophie and Nathan looked into each other's eyes, their excitement and joy clear and unambiguous, the right opposite of what Christian and I had going on. Together they gripped the jewel-handle cake knife, drawing the blade smoothly through the delicate layers.
They both laughed, their love and happiness palpable in the air. They fed cake to each other, their eyes locked and filled with affection.
We all clapped and cheered, congratulating the happy couple on this, special moment. Sophie looked overjoyed, her face glowing with happiness and love.
After the cake cutting, the party continued, with guests taking pictures of the couple and enjoying the music and dancing. The cake was as delicious as it was beautiful, a potent symbol of the sweetness and beauty of the love being celebrated that night.
I still hadn’t seen Christian, and he hadn’t made any effort to get together with me for the last dance with the couple.
Christian’s POV
I sat down at the table with the blond beside me. She was smiling, but I couldn’t have cared less about that, or about her for that matter. She’d told me her name at some point, but I'll be damned if I could remember it.
Although I knew I was behaving like a spoiled kid, I just couldn’t seem to stop myself. Once again, Alex was bringing out the worst in me. I craned my neck to find her in the sea of people and then looked immediately away when I saw her. She did not look happy. I was waiting for her to apologize for not being ready on time when I got to her place on time, and for getting mad when I called her on it as if I was the one who did something wrong. I'm pretty sure that if I'd been the one who was late, she would have made even more of a royal case out of it than I had.
I pulled my plate toward me and took a bite. No doubt the flavors were divine, but I couldn’t taste a thing. My attention was on Alex. She’d danced with Valerie and then with Nathan, all the while staring in my direction. I noticed her looking and quickly linked hands with the blond. She leaned into me, pecking me on the cheek. “You don’t seem hungry,” I said.
“I’ve had enough” she replied.
“You barely ate anything at all,” I said.
The sparkly red off-the-shoulder-dress was lovely, but she didn’t look half as good as Alex. So why was I here next to the instead of over there with Alex, basking in her light?
Oh yeah, because she abandoned me the moment when we got here and then wouldn't accept my apology for the argument that was all her fault to begin with. She hadn’t seemed to care at all that I took the higher ground just to try to please her. Maybe this really was all just an arrangement to her, and I was the only one bothered. Why was I surprised?
“Excuse me for one minute,” I told the blonde. She nodded, turning her attention to her phone.
I wove through the crowd down to where Alex was sitting with Valerie.
“Look who finally came over,” Valerie said. I wondered what Alex had told her about our relationship. Knowing Alex, it probably hadn’t been the truth.
“I’ve been around, overseeing things, entertaining a client from work,” I said jokingly. “Can I talk to you for a moment?” I said to Alex holding out my hand, flashing her my prize winning smile.
“I’ll see you in a minute Valerie” she said, ignoring my hand, walking arrogantly toward the exit, leaving me behind again. I stood still watching her go, she looked beautiful, really beautiful. Since unlike her I was not wearing four-inch stilettos, I caught up with her easily. The look of surprise and the catch in her breathing when I slid my hands around her waist almost made all the irritations of this night worth it. Alex led the way to the door and we stepped outside into the balmy air.
“What do you have to say?” Alex asked folding her hands across her chest.
“I already tried to apologize, but you pushed me away. Now it's your turn. You were wrong,” I said to her quietly.
“Well if I was planning on apologizing, your actions this evening convinced me otherwise. The last thing I'm in the mood for is making apologies to you.”
“It’s just like you to be difficult over nothing, Alex," I retorted. "You can’t always have your way you know,” I said, my anger stirring. This was just like Alex, getting everything she wanted without having to work for it. It wouldn’t take anything more than a simple "Sorry I was late and made you wait, Christian."
