Page 88 of Nothing to No One

When he retreated, she still couldn’t move. Something else was said between him and the reporter. Her ears rang as he guided her past others calling his name. They continued in and up some stairs.

“Okay,” he said on a brusque exhale. “Now we find the bar.”

***

SO IT TURNED OUT that going to a premiere didn’t actually mean seeing a film. She didn’t even know what film it was, or if he was in it. They’d gone to the bar, which seemed quite full given they were supposed to be there for an event that didn’t include drinking.

She’d been sitting on a barstool for probably around twenty minutes while Roman lapped the room, ingratiating himself with everyone he believed to be important.

When her phone rang, she popped open her clutch, trying not to admit she wanted Struan to be on the other end.

“Hey, honey,” Roxie exclaimed. “You coming to the club tonight?”

“I would love to.” Bambi sighed. “Unfortunately, I’m at an event.”

“Oh, the premiere thing. We weren’t sure if Roman would stick around or just go straight out the back.”

“Is that an option?” she asked.

Roxie laughed. “Guess if you’re talking to me, you’re not sitting in a theater watching the movie?”

“Nope.” She touched the base of her wineglass. “Sitting at a bar, smiling at no one, trying to pretend it’s no big deal that my apparent fiancé has ignored me since we arrived.”

Glancing his way once, she twisted on the stool to put her back to the room and ducked her chin a little closer to her chest. “Should I be worried?”

“About what?” Roxie asked. “That people will speak to you, or someone will hit on you.”

“I think the people here are smart enough to know I’m a nobody. That’s not what I meant.” She didn’t dare lift her eyes, in case the bartender thought she wanted attention. The opposite couldn’t be truer. “He’s drinking,” she whispered. “The night Struan and I met, he was stepping in for his brother because Roman was wasted. Does the man know when to stop, or am I headed for a full-on collision?” Her friend’s lingering silence wasn’t encouraging. “Roxie?”

“I’m already dressed and Zairn is on the phone.”

What did that have to do with her question? “Okay.”

“I’ll get him in the car. You…” Roxie’s voice seemed to move. “Yes, you, Casanova, give me your hand, we’re leaving.”

Until then, Roxie had never been the type to avoid an issue.

“Have fun at the club.”

“Not going to the club, Bambi, honey. Not anymore,” Roxie said, then her voice faded a little. “We’re leaving now, Lover. We’re going to save a damsel in distress. Big night for you.”

“Rox, I don’t—”

“I’m talking to Zairn. We’re on our way. We’ll be there as quick as we can.”

With that the line died.

If they’d been invited to the premiere, or had any interest in attending, they wouldn’t have avoided the red carpet. Her friend asked about the club, suggesting there’d been no intention for them to come to the movie theater.

Roxie hadn’t answered her question explicitly about Roman’s drunkenness potentially leading to calamity. Whether it did or not, the woman had become her beacon of stability. Having Roxie at her side changed the game. She wouldn’t need to control the situation or control the man. The Lomonds were professionals in this arena. They owed Roman nothing. They wouldn’t be there to keep him out of trouble. They’d be there to make sure that trouble didn’t hurt her.

Once again, she was awestruck, humbled.

Calling Struan for support wasn’t an option. He’d come if she did, but that would be disastrous. On a good day, that would be disastrous, if her guy had seen the kiss… Oh, please say he hadn’t seen the kiss.

If it wasn’t for Roxie, she’d be on her own dealing with whatever nightmare Roman dragged them into. Even Magnus showing up might raise suspicion, it would suggest she expectedRoman required handling, which would then doom them to descend that path.

Roxie and Zairn, a super-hot couple who were massively popular, Mieux was right, they could show up pretty much anywhere they wanted. Having them close wouldn’t be suspicious. As to whether it would help… The support would help her; her date maybe not so much. If Roman was drunk and Roxie impatient, the fireworks may be more inevitable than before.

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