Page 60 of Hard To Love

Chapter Twenty

“Oh, my god, you look gorgeous.” Cassie was beaming at me, as I walked out into our living room. We were on our way to The Love Our Children charity auction she had organized. It raised funds to help victims of child abuse, a cause very near and dear to my heart.

“I’m still pissed at you,” I said holding out my necklace for her to help me put on. I wanted to kill her when she told me that Chase would be in attendance tonight.

She moved across the room looking for her clutch. “Don’t blame me. Blame Liam. He’s the one who told Chase about the event, not me.” She made her way over to me and took the necklace from my hands. Once it was fastened securely around my neck she lifted a strand of my hair. “I love this color.”

My long dark hair was given a much-needed trim along with a few highlights that added contrast and color. The last few weeks had not been kind to me and I knew that I couldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me looking anything but my best. So, I made an appointment at the spa to get the works. Since our break up, I hadn’t done much to keep up my appearance. My hair had been pulled in a perpetual ponytail, my toes looked like the chipped paint on a 70’s Buick, and I couldn’t even remember the last time I shaved my legs.

She pulled back, and placed her hands on my shoulders, “And don’t even get me started on this dress.”

The evening gown was from an up and coming designer who had asked Cassie if she and a few of her friends would show off his designs at the event. I had selected this stunning floor length, silver, cap-sleeved sequined gown.

The thought of seeing him had me completely on edge. I was still trying to decide if my goal was to impress him with my new confident look or make him so jealous that his head would spin.

I gave myself a last once over in the mirror then stopped when I saw Cassie staring at me, “I’ve never seen you look more beautiful, Emily!”

I rolled my eyes, “Like you’re one to talk.” Beautiful was an understatement. Stunning would be more accurate. She was wearing a red, fitted, satin ball gown with a sexy slit going all the way up to her mid-thigh. Her hair was straight and sleekly styled. A three-carat Nathan Lane diamond pendant dangled seductively from a platinum chain above her cleavage.

She clicked her tongue while beaming at me. “Chase is going to shit himself when he sees you tonight!”

My eyes closed and my head fell back. “What if he doesn’t even show up or he doesn’t even see me. All this…” I said as I moved my hands around my body “…will have been for nothing.”

Cassie spun me around so I was facing her. “Emily, there is no way in hell he could miss you looking like this. Heck, there won’t be a man in that ballroom that won’t notice you the second you walk in. Try to have some fun. And, fuck Chase if things don’t go as planned. He’s not the only guy on this planet that was blessed with a big dick. There are plenty of other fine fuckers out there that know a good thing when they see it. It’s his loss.”

I leaned in and wrapped my arms around her and did my best to keep my emotions in check. “Thanks Cassie. You sure do have a way with words.”

She rolled her eyes at me. “Let’s go freshen up and get this party started.”

We walked into the ballroom at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. The gold and purple decorations gave the event a regal, yet formal feel and looked absolutely amazing. The room was swarming with beautiful models and the Manhattan elite, all with professional connections to Cassie’s public relations firm’s employer.

Cassie left to work the event. So, I headed to one of the four bars, in need of refreshment. As my eyes glanced around the room, I was thankful to see Liam approaching.

His smile was warm as he greeted me. “Emily, you look gorgeous tonight.”

I sipped my wine and smiled, and looked up into his warm brown eyes. “Thank you, Liam. You don’t look too bad yourself. Wait until you see Cassie. Speak of the devil, here she comes now.”

I glanced over at Liam who was completely taken back by how beautiful she looked. The smoldering look between them told me that there was more going on than Cassie had admitted to. She walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck as he claimed her mouth in a possessive way.

Hmm. I thought, while I took a sip of my wine, somebody has been holding out on me.

I was already on my second glass of wine when I saw Cassie's eyes move past me in a panic. When my eyes traced the path of hers, they landed on the man who had been the sole source of my heartbreak for these past few weeks.

Tears were fighting to escape my eyes; he looked so handsome in his black and white tuxedo. As much as I thought I had moved on, it became very clear that my subconscious had not. I set my glass down on the bar before I had a chance to take a sip, and began to move in his direction.

“Going somewhere?” Cassie called over my shoulder.

I swallowed hard and tried my best to not let on how nervous and unsettled I was. “I’m going to the restroom. I’ll be right back.” Given the fact that Nick and Chase were standing on the path I would have to take to the bathroom, it was pretty easy to figure out where I was headed.

I started to make my way across the room, fully aware that he couldn’t see me through the mass of people. Rooted to the spot, I stared at him as he leaned up against the bar. I watched as he and Nick talked casually, but it was clear that Chase was distracted as he nervously scanned the room. I must have stood there a beat too long, because something made him turn completely around and his eyes fell directly onto mine.

Just as he was ready to close the distance between us, a voice called out and we both turned our heads in response. “Chase, there you are. I’ve been looking all over for you. Where’ve you been hiding?”

Anger and jealousy jolted through me as the tall, leggy blonde approached. Not sure what the best course of action was, I turned my head and walked past him like I had never seen him.

I walked straight into the restroom, and paused to take inventory of the emotions that were running through my body. I was overwhelmed, by anger and loss as I stared blankly into the eyes of the person I barely recognized any more. It took several more minutes of staring and a quick splash of water on my face to bring me back to reality. I threw the paper towel in the trash, grabbed my clutch and pulled on the door handle.

As soon as the door opened, Chase was standing directly in front of me.

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