Page 104 of Party Favors

I hadn’t given up anything for him.

Maybe it was time that I sacrificed something for Max. My dignity, my fear and insecurities, my sense of self-preservation.

No more putting it off. I was going to be open and honest with the man I loved.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

There was no word from Max for the rest of the week, and despite me just resolving to do better, I was still too much of a chicken to reach out. I was worried that anything I tried to say in a text would come out wrong and be forever committed to a screen, where I’d have to relive my stupidity over and over again. I wanted to talk to him in person.

I also wanted him to want to talk to me, and his silence made me think that he didn’t.

My heart ached and twisted at the thought that things with Max might be over before they’d even started.

The one positive I was currently clinging to was that he had said he was attending Sunny’s baby shower. I was going to get to see him there.

I went over early in the morning to the Belmonts’ penthouse and quickly realized what our first issue of the day would be.

It was so windy outside that there was no way we could have the event out on their grand terrace. It would knock everything over, send linens flying off the tables, and all of the carnival booths would be flattened.

Rain and snow I could manage and work around. But there was no work-around for wind. Everything would have to be inside.

I had the equipment guys bring everything in. I tracked down Sunny’s mother-in-law, Margot, and explained the situation. I told herthat I would need to move all the furniture out of the bottom floor so that we could decorate it properly.

“We have guest rooms on the second level, at the top of the stairs, that you can store everything in,” she said.

I had been worried she might be upset, but she seemed very understanding and I was grateful for it. After I’d shared the new plans with the movers, installers, lighting techs, and drapery guys, I went into the kitchen to check in with the caterer, Jeanine, to see how things were going.

“Two servers didn’t show up this morning,” she said. “Not detrimental, but not ideal.”

“With this crowd and everything shifting around, we are going to need as much help as possible. Let me make a phone call.”

I really had to find more friends than just Vella. She was going to get sick of me asking her for help. She mumbled, “What?” when she answered her phone.

“Do you want to earn some money today as a cater-waiter?”

“It depends. Is this the party that Max is going to be at?”

What difference did that make? “Yes.”

“I’m there. Black pants, white dress shirt?”

I glanced into the kitchen. “That is what the other servers are wearing. I’ll send you the address. Also, you can’t punch anybody in the throat.”

“I’m not going to do that.” She paused. “Again.”

I hung up and texted her the address. I was just going to have to hope that she would behave. Vella arrived when I was helping the balloon supplier gather up some of the balloons that had come free of the arch at the entrance. She slipped her arm through mine and dragged me away with her.

“Have you seen Max yet?”

“Not yet.” I was full of bubbly, nervous energy at seeing him again. I couldn’t stop tapping my foot every time I thought about him.

Which was constantly and was interfering with my ability to do my job.

“I’m just glad you dumped Lumpy and have publicly admitted you don’t have feelings for him. The riddance, it is good.”

I couldn’t disagree with her there.

“And you’re doing a little revenge dressing, I see.”

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