Page 25 of Lost Summer
“Marco,” I corrected her, feeling a familiar surge of irritation at the mention of his name. “And no thanks.”
Orion’s eyes widened, her curiosity piqued. “But...?”
I hesitated, the words hanging heavy on my tongue. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the confession weighing on my mind. “You know Elena Dalton?”
Orion frowned, her fingers tapping against the stem of her wine glass. “No. Should I?”
I shrugged, feeling a sense of satisfaction at Orion’s ignorance. She was blissfully unaware of the world of socialites and influencers, preferring to immerse herself in the raw, unfiltered realm of music. “She’s a socialite. Reviews products on her blog. Candles that smell like celeb vaginas, that sort of thing.”
Orion’s mouth fell open, her eyes wide with disbelief. “What the fuck did you just say?”
I snorted with laughter, the absurdity of it all hitting me like a punch to the gut. “I know, right? She’s engaged, and they sent me to cover the big story.”
Orion watched me, her eyes narrowing as she picked up on the unspoken words hovering between us. “And...?”
I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. “Remember Ted?”
Orion froze, and her wine glass paused mid-air. “Oh God, don’t tell me you’re still wanking over him. It was fifteen years ago.”
“Ten,” I amended, feeling a familiar ache in my chest.
Orion groaned, her head lolling back against the leather armchair. “What about him?”
I took a deep breath, the words tumbling out of my mouth like a waterfall. “I saw him.”
Orion’s eyes widened, her wine glass slamming down on the table with a loud thud. The sound echoed through the bar, drawing the attention of the nearby patrons. “Fuck. Off. You saw The One That Got Away?”
I cringed, feeling the heat of embarrassment creep up my neck. “Right. But...” I trailed off, feeling a familiar tightness in my chest.
Orion leaned forward, her eyes locked onto mine. “But...?”
“He’s engaged to Elena Dalton,” I confided, the words leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.
Orion’s mouth fell open, her eyes wide with shock. “The vagina sniffer?! Are you fucking kidding me?”
I sighed, rubbing my temples to stave off the inevitable headache. “I wish I was.”
Orion’s eyes narrowed, her voice dropping to a low growl. “He was supposed to be your End Game, Delly. But then he took your cherry and fucked off without a trace. He can’t just waltz back into your life like nothing happened.”
I swallowed hard, feeling the familiar sting of tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. “I know. But it’s not that simple.”
Orion’s expression softened, her hand reaching out to squeeze mine. “It never is, babe. But you deserve better than some wanker who couldn’t be bothered to stick around.”
I nodded, blinking back the tears that threatened to spill over. “I know. But it’s hard, you know? Seeing him again after all these years...”
Orion leaned back in her chair, her eyes scanning the room as she flagged down a passing waiter. “We need shots,” she declared, her voice leaving no room for argument.
I groaned, my head falling into my hands. “Oh God, not shots. I’ve got work tomorrow.”
Orion waved a dismissive hand, her eyes glittering with mischief. “Fuck work. Tonight, we drink. Tomorrow, we deal with the consequences.”
The waiter returned with a tray of neon-coloured shots, the tiny glasses glowing like beacons in the dimly lit bar. Orionhanded me a shot, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “To finding your man.”
I rolled my eyes, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. “He’s not my man,” I mumbled, downing the shot. The liquid burned its way down my throat, leaving a trail of fire in its wake.
Orion grinned, slamming her empty glass down on the table. “Not yet, maybe. But who knows what the future holds?”
I shook my head, feeling the familiar weight of reality settling on my shoulders. “He’s engaged, Oz. To a socialite with more followers than the Pope. I don’t stand a chance.”
