Come Undone (14 page)

I
looked him straight in the eyes and took pleasure in the uncertainty that
flashed across his face. They were joined by a slight, severe man, just shorter
than the woman, who had a pronounced nose and beady eyes that lingered a little
too long.

“Lucky
day, indeed,” he said in a distinct French accent, leering over each one of us.
My skin tingled when he reached me, and I nervously touched my earlobe. David
flashed me a quizzical look and cocked his head. I pulled my hand away,
embarrassed. No, mortified; mortified that he was here with his stunning
girlfriend. I chided myself for even thinking I could hold his interest.

“I
didn’t realize you’d be here, David.” Lucy’s voice pitched into my thoughts.

“Arnaud,
my associate,” he started, gesturing toward the man, “has graciously invited me
and Maria for the opening. This was his project.”

“Oh,
it’s wonderful. Congratulations!” Lucy chirped. Gretchen nodded emphatically in
agreement, her eyes darting between Arnaud and David.

“Thank
you,” Arnaud replied.

I
focused my gaze ahead and clasped my hands in my lap. I could feel that my back
was unnaturally straight so I tried to lean back into the chair but instantly
sat back up, finding it uncomfortable.

“Gretchen
knows the head chef,” Lucy offered as an explanation for our attendance.

“A
friend of mine,” Gretchen interjected quickly with a laugh. “Just a friend.”

“David?”
I heard the girl whisper silkily. I couldn’t help sneaking a peek. She appeared
disenchanted, and stared straight ahead, plainly ignoring our presence.

“Hmm?”
he asked distractedly. She motioned toward the waitress who was standing at
their table patiently. “Ah. We’d better sit down. Nice to see you again, Lucy. Gretchen,
Olivia, ladies,” he added. The way my name rolled off his tongue, it was as if
he was saying it for the first time in the kitchen. I continued to evade his
eyes, but I could feel him hesitate. Nobody noticed my unusually rude behavior
because they were all staring after him as his party moved on.

“He
remembered my name!” Gretchen squealed quietly.

“I
just said it,” Lucy pointed out.

Ava
and Bethany leaned over the table. “Spill!” one of them demanded.

“He’s
a friend of Andrew’s.” They turned their attention to Lucy. “And get this - he
made an appointment for a consultation with me next week.”

“Eee,”
Gretchen squealed. “You lucky bitch! You’ll get to see him naked!”

Lucy
turned a color I’d never seen on another human and shook her head. “My job
isn’t like that, Gretchen!”

“Was
that his girlfriend?” someone asked.

“Hmm,
not sure,” Lucy considered. “I think he has lots of them . . . ,” she said, and
they giggled.

“Lucy,
hook a girl up,” Gretchen said seriously.

“Yeah,
this girl,” Ava said. More giggling.

“I
don’t know,” Lucy hesitated. “I really don’t know him at all. He’s Andrew’s
friend. He seems really nice though.”

“Liv,
are you all right?” Bethany asked, glancing over at me.

“Um,
yeah.” The news that David and Lucy would be spending time together had my head
spinning. I hadn’t mentioned his participation in the
Most Eligible
article to anyone. “I think I may have had too much
wine,” I said apologetically.

Everyone
fell into an unwarranted fit of laughter, and this time I joined them. We’d all
had too much, I figured, and we were all feeling good. “I’m going to use the
restroom.” I rose from my seat and paused once I felt those eyes on me. I was
beginning to notice how I always knew when he was watching me, even when I
couldn’t see him. “Anyone else?” I directed at the table, not wanting to be
alone.

“I
could go,” said Lucy.

“Me
too.” Gretchen stood. I watched her flick long blonde ringlets over her
shoulder as she shimmied out of her seat; a shimmy that was surely for David’s
benefit. He had a perfect view of her rear, which is exactly what he’d be
seeing if he’d still been looking in our direction. I moved quickly through the
tables to the bathroom as Gretchen and Lucy followed.

Gretchen
was first to the mirror, fixing her lipstick and touching her hair. I admired
her pointed nose and aqua eyes. She really was beautiful, and I knew if there
were someone who could capture David’s attention, it would be her. The thought saddened
me.

Lucy
joined us to check, fix and reapply. “Oh!” she exclaimed. “I think I found
bridesmaid dresses. Can you guys make it one day next week for a lunchtime fitting?”

“Duh!”
said Gretchen. “I’ll move some things around.”

Lucy
looked at me, and I shrugged my shoulders helplessly. “Duh!” I mimicked. She clapped
her hands with delight.

“What
do they look like?”

“Very
simple. Since we’re doing navy and ivory, I thought a wine red would be a
really nice accent. You’ll both like the style, don’t worry.”

“Sounds
beautiful, Luce,” Gretchen said.

Back
at the table, there was a new sampling of dishes, and I forced myself to
partake to mitigate my drinking. Just as I had bitten into a duck spring roll,
my clutch vibrated on my lap. Everyone was engulfed in conversation, so I
checked the screen. It was a text from an unknown number. Quickly, I scrolled
through my call history to confirm my suspicion: it was from David.

CHAPTER 1
2

May 5, 2012 8:43 PM

Why the cold shoulder?

May 5, 2012 8:45
PM

I’m not sure what
you mean.

“Here,
Livs,” Bethany said, pouring me another glass of wine.

“Thanks,”
I muttered. My phone vibrated immediately.

May 5, 2012 8:46
PM

You do, don’t be
coy.

How are you
getting home?

May 5, 2012 8:46 PM

Why?

I
didn’t know where to look while I waited. I wished I’d sat on the other side of
the table, and knew Gretchen was likely wishing the same thing.
Would it be obvious if we switched spots?
I took a long sip of wine.

May 5, 2012 8:48 PM

You’re drunk.

How
did he know? I was beginning to notice an uncanny talent for reading women.

May 5, 2012 8:48
PM

So?

May 5, 2012 8:50 PM

I’ll come over there & ask in front of everyone. How’re you
getting home?

May 5, 2012 8:52
PM

Thought I’d hitch
a ride with legs over there.

May 5, 2012 8:53 PM

Very cute. I’m coming over.

May 5, 2012 8:53
PM

No!

I
scurried to type a response, taking only a second to shoot a harried glance in
his direction.

May 5, 2012 8:54
PM

I walked w Lucy.
Why’s it matter?

May 5, 2012 8:55 PM

You know it does.

I
was feeling bolder by the sip.

May 5, 2012 8:57
PM

I haven’t heard
from you.

May 5, 2012 8:59 PM

I’ve been out of town.

I
didn’t see how that mattered. I unfastened my purse to put the phone away, but
it pinged before I could.

May 5, 2012 9:00 PM

& you told me not to call.

May 5, 2012 9:01
PM

I meant my cell.

May 5, 2012 9:01 PM

Same for texting? ;)

I
typed a brusque ‘yes’ and put my phone away, deciding that the conversation was
over. Just then, Jeff the chef approached, and we quietly applauded.

“Thank
you,” he said with a bow. “How is everything, Gretchen?”

She
tossed her hair and purred, “Delicious, Jeff.”

He
reddened instantly. “Great. I’m sending over a special dessert just for my
table.” He eyed Gretchen as he spoke. “Can’t stay though. Good evening,
ladies,” he called, already heading back to the kitchen.

As
I watched him walk away, my eyes fell on David. Maria gestured as she talked to
him, but he didn’t appear to be listening. He was looking at me. Arnaud,
however, was enthralled, despite the fact that she was clearly ignoring him. I turned
away and tried to concentrate on the conversation at my table. When I looked
over again, his seat was empty.

~

I swayed
woozily with a red wine head rush. As everyone stood from the table, I risked
one more look at David’s table. He had returned and was talking heatedly with
Arnaud. Bethany, Ava and Gretchen decided to move over to the bar to wait for
Jeff while Lucy and I said our good-byes.

I
checked my watch and was surprised to find it so late. The restaurant had
cleared out considerably, but we’d barely noticed. We put on our jackets and
stepped out into the fresh air. A yellow cab waited at the curb and the driver,
who had been leaning against the car, approached us to offer a ride.

“We
probably should,” I said.

“Hell
yeah,” Lucy agreed. “My feet are killing me.” We clambered into the car and
rolled down the windows to ease our drunken states.

“There’ll
be two stops,” I told the driver, giving him the addresses.

“I
think I could’ve stayed for another drink, but I couldn’t handle Bethany’s voice
another minute,” Lucy said with a giggle. It was unlike her to say anything
unkind and I poked her in the rib. “What? It’s so shrill!”

“It
is a little, yeah,” I agreed, sticking my hand out the window. “Tonight was fun,”
I mused.

“Hey,
is everything all right with Bill?”

I
snapped to attention. “What? Yes, why?”

“I
don’t know,” she hesitated. “It seemed a little tense when I was over earlier.”

“Oh.
Yeah, no, everything is fine. We had an argument yesterday. I’m surprised you
noticed. Sorry if it was uncomfortable.”

“Oh
no! It wasn’t, I just thought something felt off. What was it about?”

“Hmm?”

“The
argument.”

“Ah
. . . Nothing really. Just the house hunting stuff. It’s so stressful. I’m sure
you guys will have to go through it soon though,” I said, poking her again.

“I
don’t know, we love our apartment.”

“If
you ever want to have kids though . . .” I let the sentence trail off.

Her
eyes widened. “Are you guys . . . ?”

“No,
no,” I said quickly, looking back out the window. “Bill just wants the space
and well, you never know I guess.”

“That
would be so exciting,” I heard, but she sounded miles away.

“Please,
Luce,” I begged, “I don’t want to talk about that.”

“Oh.
Sorry. Gretchen says tomorrow is your mother’s birthday,” she said
thoughtfully.

I
rolled my head to face her and sighed. “So?”

“Are
you going to call her?”

I
pursed my lips. “I hadn’t thought about it.”

“You
should, Livs. I’m sure she’d like that.”

When
I didn’t respond, she scooted over, wrapped her arms around me and planted a
kiss on my cheek. “I’ll see you next week, yeah?” I looked up and realized we
were approaching her building.

“Sure,”
I said, giving her a smile. “I can’t wait to see my bridesmaid dress.”