Page 62 of Please Don't Leave Me

"I'm sure you'll be just fine, though." But I'm not sure I will be fine. "If you were smart enough to take advantage of this buffoon, then I have the utmost faith in you." She points her finger at Matt and laughs at her own joke.

I fake a laugh because, in other circumstances, I would find that very funny. Most people would see me as a gold digger if they didn't know the situation. But Erin sees it for exactly what it is: a young girl enjoying the spoils of having an occasional sugar daddy, taking advantage of our youth and beauty. I like her. But I can't get out of my head right now. I don't even realize that she's asked me a question until I notice them both staring at me, waiting for an answer.

"I'm sorry, can you repeat that? My mind was somewhere else for a second."

"I asked what your preferred architectural style is if you had full creative freedom."

Erin and I talk for over an hour, mostly about architecture but occasionally about other things if the conversation flowed there. At first, I was trying to impress her, but eventually, I settled in, and it was like talking to a colleague or a friend who has the same interests as you.

"Well, I should be getting back to my wife. I have noidea where she ran off to." She goes up on her tiptoes to scan the room. "Ah, she's over by the bar. Perfect, because I need another drink. It was very nice to meet you, Louisa."

I'm bummed that our conversation is ending, but I'm just glad I made it through without saying something stupid.

She reaches into her clutch, pulls out a small rectangular card, and offers it to me. "Here is my business card. You contact me when you're done with your exams, and we can see if there's a position that might suit you."

I clench my teeth together; otherwise, my jaw would likely be on the floor right now. When I pictured how tonight would go, it was not at all like this.

I take the card from her. It's made of very thick paper and is so well designed. For a moment, I imagine havingmyname on a card like this.

"Thank you so much. I will absolutely reach out. It was so great chatting with you."

We both stand to leave, and she surprises me with a quick hug. I was expecting a handshake. "It was great chatting with you as well."

I turn around, looking for Matt, and spot him at a bar different from where Erin's wife is. I walk over there and wait by his side, slightly behind him, until he finishes his conversation. He doesn't notice me, but I don’t want to be rude and interrupt. He says his farewells, shakes hands, and turns around. He lightly bumps into me because I am standing so close to him, like a weirdo. Why was I doing that?

"Sorry!"

"Lou, how long have you been standing there?"

"Not long, maybe five minutes."

"You could have gotten my attention." He smiles because what I did was pretty strange, and I realize that.

I shrug my shoulders and give him a lazy smile. "I'm not sure what I was thinking."

He puts a hand on my shoulder and runs it down my arm.

"How was your conversation with Erin? I was hoping she would be here tonight so I could give you an introduction. I didn't want to tell you ahead of time because I didn't want to get your hopes up."

"Thank you so much for that. We had a great chat, and she actually gave me her card and told me to contact her when I get my license."

"That's great, Lou. I'm happy for you."

He touches me again; this time, his hands slide around my waist, and he pulls me in, kissing me gently. I look around, slightly uncomfortable doing this in front of so many people.

"Don't worry about them. I hope they're watching and that now they know you belong to me tonight."

I throw my arms around his neck. "And what exactly do you plan to do with your plaything tonight, Matt?

He gives me a devilish grin, and I feel a tingle between my legs. All of a sudden, I remember that I'm not wearing underwear.

"Want to get out of here and find out?"

I nod. "Thought you'd never ask."

Chapter Twenty

SAM

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