Page 34 of From Ice to Grace
But I can’t think about that right now.
All I have to focus on is finding a way to fix this
Pulling up Lucas’s number, I take a deep breath, hating that it’s come to this.
Fine, set it up for tonight. No promises.
Just try to be nice.
I scoff. EJ said I don’t know how to be nice…so we’ll have to see what happens.
Leaning against the bar, I stare at the screen of my phone, rereading the message from my Aunt Kat for the millionth time.
Sweetheart, I saw what happened. Please, call me when you have a moment? I miss you, and would love to catch up.
I shove the phone back into my pocket, refusing to get too caught up in the emotions stirring in my chest. My Aunt has always been there when neither one of my parents could muster up enough time or effort between the two of them. She stepped in whenever I needed her, offered me a room, a bed, a meal…anything I ever needed.
And what do I do in return?
I can’t even text her back. I just can’t.
“Do you have your cheat sheet?” Jenn asks from behind me. I turn to find her looking like always...dark hair in a tight bun, her giant maroon glasses resting on her tiny nose. Yet she looks like she could take you down with nothing but a glance.
I tap my front pocket. “I have it, thanks Jenn.”
“Use it,” she says, glancing over her shoulder to where a few reporters are waiting for interviews. “Harry wants you to go over there in a few minutes.”
The barman sets down my drink and I stare at the golden liquid for a second before picking it up and taking a sip. Jenn’s gaze doesn’t leave me as she narrows her eyes.
“That better be apple juice, Murphy,” she grits out.
“It’s not.”
She takes a step closer. She’s a real shorty, not even properly reaching my chest, but the look in her eyes make it seem like she’s towering over me. I gently set the glass down on the bar counter and slide it away from me.
“Fine, Jenn. Calm down.”
“Don’t mess this up,” she says with a stern voice. “Now where’s the date I saw you with earlier? She’s the right type of media attention you need tonight. Just find her, talk, laugh a bit and then I’ll meet you over at the press area. After that, it’s donor schmoozing.”
I sigh, wishing I took a bigger sip of my drink. Tugging on my tie, I adjust my jacket and hope I look more confident than I feel right now.
“You’ve got this all planned out, huh?” I ask, looking at the bunch of reporters who are looking at me like I’m a bucket of chum that’s just been tossed into their shark infested waters.
“Life needs to be planned out, otherwise it doesn’t work.” She takes out her phone and starts tapping on the screen with her stylus. “You’re a prime example of what happens when you lead with your emotions.”
She adjusts her glasses and swipes on the screen. “Your ability to charm others until they believe you should help you in this case.”
I frown. “I don’t think that was a compliment.”
“It wasn’t,” she says, practically shoving me toward the date Lucas arranged for me. “Now go.”
Dragging my feet, I head toward the woman who’s standing next to Hannah and Lucas. She came with them and I only barely made it through the introductions before I managed to escape. She’s not unpleasant…it’s just very hard to have a conversation with her. Which is baffling because I’ve never had a problem talking to a woman before.
Maybe it’s just because I’m not invested in this whole spiel I have to put up tonight. I feel like an idiot in a suit, one that has to perform and jump and do whatever in order to please everyone.
A new low…even for me.
Lucas gives me an encouraging smile as I dig my hands in my pockets. They feel empty without a drink in my grip.
