Page 125 of Late Nights & Love Lines
“Oh.” She pauses halfway into the restroom and scans my face before grabbing my arm and tugging me in with her. “Never mind him. He’s grumpy because the car ride was too short and we couldn’t test out a new scene.”
“A scene?” I squeak. “I thought this was a children’s charity.”
“Oh my God, Sloane. Stop scaring away our donors.” Another woman with kind eyes waves at us. “I’m Emory. My husband’s family puts on the gala. Ignore my sister. She’s a romance author on deadline, and she’s fishing for inspiration.”
“And no one is off-limits,” a third woman with a southern drawl says. “I’m Tilly, by the way. And Ems is right, ignore Sloane. Our inappropriate sister is always fishing for new material.”
Sloane turns a cheeky grin my way. “You never know when inspiration will hit.”
I nod, unable to speak. This might be the most bizarre bathroom encounter I’ve ever had, and now I don’t even have to pee anymore.
With a sigh, I make my way to the sink and touch up my lipstick that Sebastian smeared in the limo.
“We’ll see you out there,” Tilly calls over her shoulder as if we’re best friends. Once she leaves, the room falls into blissful silence.
It’s just me and one other woman, standing at the mirror fixing her hair. I try not to stare, but she appears to be struggling with a bobby pin that’s stuck.
“Do you need some help?” I ask, washing my hands quickly.
The woman glances my way, but her eyes are cold. “No, but thank you. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to wearing wigs.”
She’s a beautiful woman, but scanning her face now, I notice she has no lashes or eyebrows either, and my heart pinches for her. I remember the pain of living through cancer.
“Well, if you need a break, come find me. I don’t mind hiding out in the bathroom all night.” I laugh. “I don’t really fit in out there.”
The woman stares at me with a strange twinkle in her eyes. “I think you’ll fit in everywhere,” she says, then exits the restroom.
I grab a hand towel to dry my hands, then follow her. When I reach for the door, a mop in the corner crashes to the floor.
Stupid, stupid superstitions. I’m not having company—not here.
This place is stressing me out and I haven’t even entered the gala yet. Forget nervous peeing, I’m not leaving Sebastian’s side from now on. Opening the door, I find him leaning against the wall halfway down the hallway, talking to the couple we met on our way in.
When he sees me in the doorway, he waves me over and hands me a cocktail.
“Have you met our hosts?” he asks, nodding at the sisters.
“Oh, we met. Luckily, we grabbed her before Sloane could really dig for information,” Tilly says with a grin. She hitches a thumb my way. “I like her.”
What? She barely knows me.
“What are the chances of me getting a meeting with your husband?” Seb blurts.
I frown while staring at him. He must be desperate if he’s willing to forgo manners and use any connection he has.
“Zero,” Tilly says with a chuckle. “He hates people.” She turns smiling eyes my way. “But I’ll tell you what, if you comeback to this hotel tomorrow around one, I’ll get a few minutes with him. We live upstairs, and the restaurant has the best brunch in town.”
“That’s…wow. That would be great. Thank you,” Seb says.
“Oh, I’m not doing it for you, Seb. I like Rowan, and I’ve met some of my best friends in bathrooms, so I have a good feeling about her.” She winks at me, and I feel my shoulders relax.
But it’s such a random thing to say. Who meets friends in public bathrooms?
“Okay,” Sloane interrupts. “Let’s get in there so I can get some material for the story I’m working on. People-watching is the best way to get inspiration.” She winks in my direction, and I have a feeling what she overheard earlier might be fodder for whatever story she’s working on.
Sebastian wraps an arm around my shoulders as we say our goodbyes, then watch them walk away.
His laugh instantly puts me at ease. “I don’t know them well, but both times I’ve met those women, Sloane has had boundary issues. I’m pretty sure she’s harmless though.”
