Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 84802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
“Let’s go,” I say, and she picks up her dress in front to show me her light pink satin stilettos with ties around her ankle. “I’m going to have fun having you wear just your shoes and nothing else tonight.”
I grab her hand and walk out with her, arriving at the venue fifteen minutes later. The valet opens her door, and she takes his hand and climbs out. I have to refrain from reaching out and holding her hand. We walk up the winding staircase, the noise coming from the six doors that are all open. I recognize almost everyone there, and as soon as we get upstairs, Doug is the first one there greeting everyone. “There she is,” he says, taking Denise into his arms and kissing her cheek. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you,” she says, smiling. “Karrie and Allison were in charge of dressing me.” She laughs.
“Well, they made a great choice,” he says, looking past her to me. “Zack.” He puts out his hand to shake mine, and I smile, nodding at him. “You better get in there. I just saw Olivier, and he is running around like a chicken without his wings.”
I nod at him and turn to walk away when my eyes land on those that I wasn’t ready to see. “What in the fuck?” I say under my breath, and both Doug and Denise look up to see what I’m looking at.
“Fuck.” I hear Doug, but I don’t turn my head because walking straight toward me is my soon-to-be ex-wife and my ex-best friend.
“Oh, isn’t this nice,” she says, and I take a second to look at her. She had to have had Botox lately and some lip injections also. She holds Colton’s arm.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, standing and putting my hands in my pockets. “You must be lost.”
She throws her head back and laughs, and I take in Colton, who looks like he has no idea what is going on. “We are members of the foundation. You know this since you’ve been donating since the beginning. When we got the invitation in the mail, I figured why not,” she says, and Colton suddenly shakes her arm off his.
“You said a fundraiser,” he says between clenched teeth.
“It is a fundraiser and what better one than oncology,” she says then turns to Doug. “I’m Chantal Morrow.” She puts her hand out to Doug, and he puts his hand out.
“Doug,” he says under his breath and then she turns to Denise, holding out her hand, and Denise doesn’t even smile at her or take her hand.
“I’m Dr. Horton,” she says, and then turns to look at me and then Doug. “If you will excuse me, I see someone I need to say hello to.” She turns, and I watch her walk away. I look at Doug and nod at him and follow Denise inside the doors. She is standing to the side grabbing a glass of champagne off a waiter’s tray. “That was ...” She shakes her head and downs the glass. “I.” I move closer to her, and she blinks away tears. “How could Jack come from that?”
“Breathe, baby,” I whisper and then look around.
“He obviously got everything from you,” she says, and I want to put my hand on her neck. I want to lean in and kiss her and wash away the negative of Chantal being here. “Don’t do it,” she says, looking at me.
“Don’t do what?” I ask her, smiling.
“Lean down and kiss me,” she says, turning her head. “I can see it in your eyes.”
I throw my head back and laugh. “You think you know me so well.”
“Oh, please.” She rolls her eyes, and I don’t have time to say anything else because Max shows up with Allison, followed by Matthew and Karrie.
“Look at that dress,” Karrie says, and I stand next to her now. I may not be able to hold her hand but standing next to her is good enough.
“Did I just see Colton walking down the stairs?” Max says, breaking up the dress talk, and everyone looks at me as I nod.
“Yup, with my ex-wife,” I say, and Denise puts her hand in mine and squeezes. It is what a friend would do, but I know it’s more than that.
“That was your ex-wife?” Allison says. “The one with the shimmery Vegas showgirl dress and so much plastic in her she might melt if we turn on the heat?”
“Angel,” Max says, and she just shrugs.
“Did I say that out loud?” she says, and we all laugh and nod. “I’m so sorry”—she grabs my arms—“I didn’t mean anything.”
“Oh, yes, you did,” Denise says to her, and then she turns her head and spots Vivienne walking in. “Jesus.”
We all turn our heads as she walks in wearing the brightest red dress I’ve ever seen. It molds to her body, and her long brown hair is pinned up. “I knew she was going to go red,” Allison says.