Page 18 of Last Chance Seduction
I finished getting ready, and made my way out to my SUV, and blinked when I saw Mercy was already there.
“Oh.You’re fast.”
She shrugged, and I smiled at the bags in her hands.
“I’ve been pacing all day, wondering exactly what I was supposed to bring or wear to this.I’m sort of out of habit when it comes to Montgomery parties.But my friend’s going to be there, so I’m not going to feel too badly or out of place.”
I set my things in the back seat and took the two bags from her.“You know, we’re friends.At least we were.”
“I guess so.”She shook her head.“Sorry.I feel awkward all the time these days.”
“Same here.But if you’re not talking about the Montgomerys, which friends are you talking about?”I asked as I got into the driver’s seat.She got into the passenger seat, and I started the car, wondering if I was going to be able to make it through this hour-long drive.It didn’t usually take that long, but with slightly icy roads and traffic, it might take even longer.“So wait, who do you know going to this other than Montgomerys?”
“My friend, Posy.She’s friends with Cullen, and I think a few of your cousins.”
I nodded and turned on my turn signal so I could merge onto the highway.
“I know Posy.She’s nice.I didn’t know you knew her.Or did I?”
“We’re in the same profession and live near each other, and we’ve become friends since I’ve moved back.She’s wonderful.She keeps to herself more than I do, however.”
“I’ve met her a couple of times, though I don’t know her well.I thought she was dating Cullen, turns out I was wrong.”
“I thought they were too, but they’re just friends.It’s nice, you know, having friends.And that made me sound sad and depressed.”
I shook my head and got into the middle lane as people going ninety passed me, and people going thirty stayed in the right lane.“I think the only time I leave the house these days is with family, mostly because we’re all friends.I’ve been working overtime in order to get a few projects done and out of the way, including my own house.”
“Why is that?”she asked and sounded honestly interested.
I kept my fingers against the steering wheel and nodded.“There’s a contract for a large project coming up that I really want.We’ve all been working double time to get our proposal ready, it just comes with a complication.”
“What kind of complication?”
“It’s the Arnault estate.”
When she didn’t say anything, I realized that we had been out of each other’s lives for a little while now.
“It’s the largest estate on the north side of the city, beautiful views of the Rockies, and one of the most historic areas that we have.It’s also owned by my ex’s family.”
I caught her wince even as I moved around a slow SUV in front of me.“Do you think it’s going to be a hindrance?”
“Honestly, I don’t know.Gia didn’t have anything to do with her father’s line of work or that estate, but I also don’t know what she might’ve told her father.I didn’t realize it until later, but she was far more vindictive than I thought.She liked to push the happiness of our relationship at the time in others faces.And we didn’t end on the best of terms and when we saw each other afterward, she liked to show off the happiness she had with the other guy as if she hadn’t dug a hole in my chest.”I hadn’t meant to blurt all of that out, but apparently it had been at the surface.Considering the amount of time I’d put into the proposal itself and getting ready for the upcoming bid retreat, I guess it made sense.
“Didn’t she cheat on you?”
“Yep,” I said, popping the P.
The little growl escaping her mouth was hot as hell.“Well, I can hate her for you if you’d like.”
“I truly appreciate that.”My lips lifted into a smile.
“At least my ex had the decency to move across the country.”
“Damn straight.”I shook my head.“I’m still sorry that Justin did that to you.”
“He doesn’t matter anymore.Seriously, there are way worse things going on in the world, and in our own lives.And we are headed to a Montgomery holiday party.Meaning there’s going to be wine, cheese, and probably a few stories to share.I’m glad your mom got me out of the house.”
“Make sure you tell her that.And that I didn’t have to drag you out here.”
