Page 45 of Beauty Beneath the Sorrow
“Wow, so you guys are participating intwodifferent charities together,” she points out.
“Lina participates in quite a few charitable events throughout the year. Her mother works for an organization that promotes local causes, and the airline puts on the annual children’s hospital marathon. They happen to be around the same time,” I explain. My hands lightly sweat, anticipating seeing Lina more—or maybe there are too many layers to this costume.
“Interesting. She likes to donate her time to good causes?” Abby brings a palm to her chest. “I love her already.”
Ashley rests her shoulder against the side of the open door. “You have some stuff in common then?”
I shrug. “You could say that.”
“Well, have fun tonight. I hope the ball raises a lot of money for the deserving patients,” Abby says, walking out the door.
Ashley turns to me before following her girlfriend. “Look, everyone will be dressed up, the drinks will be flowing—you never know what could happen.”
I shoot her a side-eye. “Goodbye, Ashley.”
“I’m just saying …” she adds.
Only a short time later, I’m walking into the masquerade ball. The expansive ballroom boasts black-and-white colors and scarlet drapes that hang between each arched window. The room is lit only by the dull light of hundreds of candelabras and heavy wrought-iron chandeliers hanging from high ceilings.
It gives off a gothic phantom of the opera vibe. It’s unique and makes me feel like I’m entering another world. Maybe Ashley’s right—this would be the setting to let go and maybe indulge in a bit of fantasy. This fucking costume doesn’t help either.
Lina and I haven’t spoken or seen each other since that argument we got into about her New York fuck buddy.God, that boils my blood. To think of another man having her, seeing her, and experiencing her in that way pisses me the fuck off.
I told her not to see him that night, and I know she didn’t. The look in her eyes and the way her body came alive under my touch told me everything I needed to know. And I’m pretty confident that she hasn’t seen him or anyone since then. Even that little fuckface Max.
Dragging my eyes across the large ballroom, I see a wooden dance floor in the middle. The perimeter is lined with tables covered in heavy black clothes. I a bar on the far side.
I could use a drink right now.
Making my way over, I look for Lina or her friends but don’tsee them right away. Approaching the black marble bartop, I have to squeeze myself between groups of people standing at the counter.
“Hello, we have a few themed drinks tonight. Would you like to see our specialty menu?” the bartender, who is strangely dressed very similar to me, asks as he places a black, square napkin in front of me.
“A Jack and Coke, please.”
“You got it.”
I twist my body around and stare out into the sea of people. Most of the guys here are dressed alike—except for an elaborate cape or slight changes in the types of masks. I wonder if Lina would even recognize me. I know I’d recognize her without question.
“Here you go,” I hear from behind me.
The bartender hands me one of the two drinks. The guy to my left reaches out and grabs the other. “Good choice, man,” he comments, glancing at me. Those weak-themeddrinks are watered-down sugar.”
“For sure,” I agree.
A blood martini is also in front of him. “My girlfriend.” He laughs.
Then, another identical, bottomless, decadent red martini follows. “His girlfriend—wife.”
“Piper is my wife, Mason,” the other man corrects proudly.
Piper?Not a super common name.
“I’m Mason, and this is my friend, Jack,” the man standing closest to me says.
That is Jack!And Bailey’s boyfriend, Mason. They’re here,which means that Lina is already here too—if not, they’ll know when she will be. The obvious thing to do is to text her and ask when she’ll be here, but I’m too much of a chickenshit to do that.
“Good to meet you guys. I’m Carter. I work with both Piper and Bailey.” Then I remembered that Piper was no longer flying with us. “Well, not Piper anymore.”
