Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 127146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
When the last glass is plucked from my tray, I make a beeline through the crowd to escape. I’m standing smack dab in the middle of the party towers, everyone wanting to congratulate the couple, so it takes a moment of fighting, using my tray to practically shove people out of the way. My vision blurs, my lungs ache as I hold my breath, and panic bubbles up in my chest. It’s been a long time since I had a panic attack, but this feels just like all the other times. I need to get out of here, away from him, these people, this damn room.
When I finally reach the end of the room, I can breathe a little easier, but that breath is stolen from my lungs when an arm snakes out of nowhere and latches onto me. I’m seconds away from punching the person in the face when I realize I’m not in any danger.
It’s just Jackie. A safe harbor in a wind-swept sea. She has no idea how much I need her right now. All the broken pieces I’ve been holding over the past few minutes push me over the edge, and I immediately break down, letting out a horrendous sob on her shoulder. She doesn’t say anything. Then again, she doesn’t have to. Holding me tight against her chest, she turns us so my back is to the room and lets me release all the tears I’ve been holding back.
All the pain, sadness, and heartache spill out of me and onto the floor like I’ve been cut open. After a few minutes, she finally speaks. "It's okay, Bel. It's okay. Let it out, and then march back into that room with your head held high. Don’t let him see you breaking down. That’s what he wants."
I know that, but it’s harder than you’d think to see someone you thought gave a shit about you hold hands and dance with another woman who you just discovered he’s been with for a while since he’s now engaged to her.
“I just don’t know how I missed it. Clearly, they’ve been together for a while… and if they have, then…” The words barely squeak past my lips as another sob rips through me. I don’t know what to believe. All the rumors said he didn’t date. Even Drew himself admitted he wasn’t boyfriend material, yet here he stands with his future wife wrapped around his arm. It was all a sham.
How could I have been so stupid? My brain feels like it’s been put into a blender. The tears refuse to stop falling. I don't know how long I stand there crying. How long it takes for my eyes to dry. It’s pathetic, I know.
“Shhh, it’s okay.” Jackie’s soothing voice helps to bring me back to the present. Even with the heavy weight of pain pressing down on my chest, I know I can’t let him win. I can’t leave the party and let him see how much it hurts me that he’s with someone else. That’s what he wants. I need to be strong and push through the pain.
Once I can draw a full breath into my lungs without letting out a sob of defeat, I pull away. "Thank you, Jack.”
"Of course, that’s what friends are for. Now tell me what the hell happened out there? I thought you and Drew were like, a thing? He's uber possessive over you. Now it looks like he’s engaged, and I didn’t even know the guy was dating someone."
I snort and swipe at my damp cheeks. I can only imagine how much of a hot mess I look. "Well, apparently, the way he feels about me is very different from the way he feels about her."
“I know it hurts, but you’ll get through it.” She holds my tray up, and I hug it tight to my chest like it's a shield that can save me from this nightmare of an evening. "Look at me. Why are you here? Why are you doing this?”
"To work."
"No. Wrong. You’re here for your mother, remember that. This is a job, and you're here to earn money, to pay for her treatments, and to put food on the table. You’re not here for him. This isn’t about him.”
Another sigh passes my lips, and my shoulders seem to ease with the reminder of why I’m here and doing this at all. "You're right. I’m here for my mother. To help her.”
"Exactly, and if you go back out there and make any kind of scene, they will kick you out of here, and this whole night will have been for nothing. We have over a thousand dollars in tips accumulated for the night. I'd hate to see you lose all that over one stupid guy."
Per usual, she's right. She's always right. I tug her into another quick one-armed hug, the tray trapped between us. "I'll pull it together. I can always lose my shit later.”