Page 71 of One Sweet Day is Never Enough

Seth greeted them, trying to keep Stacey in his sights, but she’d already left him far behind. He watched from the corner of his eye as she reached the bar. The last thing she needed were too many drinks. At best, she’d become unpredictable, and at worst, she’d become a powder keg. Tonight was definitely looking like a worst-case scenario—scorned ex-girlfriend, determined to have her way. He needed to get to her fast.

“Thanks so much, Mr. and Mrs. Adams. It’s great to see you. But hey, I’ve got to head over…” He looked at the bar again. She was ordering already. “Let me catch up with you in a bit, okay?” He laid a hand over Mr. Adams’ shoulder as the man nodded agreeably. Seth hurried off.

He reached Stacey just as she threw back a shot of whiskey. She made a face to shake off the slow burn of the alcohol. “Whew! That was fun! You want one?” she said.

“No, I don’t,” Seth answered with irritation. “Stace, you said you were going to stay calm tonight.”

“I am calm. Look at me. You’re the one who needs to relax.” She turned to the bartender and ordered a glass of red wine. “Whatever you’ve got is fine.”

“You haven’t even eaten yet. You need to slow down.”

“Uh, you’re not my boyfriend anymore, apparently, so you haveno sayin anything I do. Remember?”

Uh-oh.

“And this is a party. You should lighten up.” She rolled her eyes. “What happened to you, Seth? You used to be so much fun.” Her glass of red wine arrived and she thanked the bartender and took a sip. “I guess you’re right. This place has changed you.” She sauntered away from Seth and stopped at the edge of the bar area to look around.

It was an open bar, but Seth dropped a few dollars in front of the bartender since Stacey hadn’t bothered to tip him. “Please don’t serve her anything else,” he said so Stacey couldn’t hear.

The bartender nodded.

Seth caught up to Stacey and slipped his arms gently around her waist. It was time to step up the damage control. He led her back toward the table. “All right, I’ll relax and try to have fun. But you take it easy too, okay?” He meant on the alcohol, but frankly, he was a little too scared to say the words. She might bite off his tongue if he did. She was already buzzed.

She ignored the question. “So can you call me a cab later? I’ll go back to my new apartment. I thought I was going to be able to stay at your house tonight, but now, I guess that’s not happening.” She pushed some hair behind her ear and shot him a defiant look.

Seth’s eyes shot wide. “Your what?” It was loud now because of the music playing, but Seth was pretty sure he’d heard her right.Please don’t say you rented the apartment.

“My new place. I took that apartment you went and saw in Heritage Bay, after all. Sent in my security deposit this week. Got the key tonight. Dropped off my suitcases before I came here.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Seth stopped and looked her in the eye. How could she have gone through with all of this after their conversation last week? He clenched a fist and kept walking.

Several moments later, they sat back down at the table. Stacey’s food had arrived. She pulled it in front of her and nibbled on a few bites then took another substantial gulp of her wine.

Seth took in a deep breath and finished what was left of the now-warm lager he’d been enjoying before the craziness had set in.

He wasthisclose to creating a scene of his own right there if she didn’t settle down.

Dessert had been passed around to some of the tables already. Seth’s mother pushed aside her empty cake plate and dabbed at her face with her cloth napkin. “So, Stacey, how does your family feel about you coming to Wisconsin to take a new job? Were they sorry to see you leave?”

Stacey pursed her lips. “Yes,” Stacey said. “As a matter of fact, they were very upset with me.” It seemed she was no longer trying to impress his parents like she had over the video chat.

“Oh.” His mother obviously had not expected such a direct response.

Seth raised his brow at his mother and she shot him a look—I give up.

He could see why his mother would feel that way. Stacey had resorted to shock value, and it was all to try to get back at him. He was in for a ride, wasn’t he? She’d only just gotten started.

Stacey stood up abruptly. “I’m going to dance. Who wants to dance?” She looked around the table. Most of the couples there were his parents’ age. They might dance tonight, but not with an obnoxious twenty-something. They shook their heads or smiled politely without answering. One of the women shot a reproachful look at his mother, shaking her head.

Stacey downed the last of her wine and marched off. Seth glanced at his mother and jumped up to follow her, mouthing the word to his mother.Sorry.

* * *

Gia caughtSeth’s eye as he marched behind Stacey. Seth shot her a look with a shake of his head.Don’t ask.He kept moving.

A waiter passed them with glasses of white wine on a tray and Stacey took one, although it looked as though Seth said something to her when she did. Seth took one for himself as the waiter was walking off and threw back a long swig. He looked livid.

Uh-oh.That wasn’t like Seth. What was going on?

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