stands with Anthony, looking beautiful in her purple cocktail dress. Anthony dressed to match her with a purple shirt and a black tie.
They stand on one side of the foyer, while Damon and I stand on the other. Everything is quiet until the bouncers open the doors, and the guests pour in.
I kiss Damon goodbye and tell him I’ll find him later. I see Chris and Trevor near the elevator dressed in coordinating sweater vests and bow ties. All seems right with the world.
“Ready to meet the band?” I ask.
We maneuver down an employee hallway and catch the staff elevator to the second floor. I’ve learned every secret passageway throughout the building. I’ve spent enough time here, I can find my way blindfolded.
Trevor and Chris follow me into the greenroom, where the three of us wait for the band. In typical celebrity fashion, they show up with enough time to smack down several shots and eat some Kogi.
Chris and Trevor engage in conversation with all the band members, but they find common ground with the drummer. As they talk, Trevor slides his arm around Chris’ waist. He’s taking possession, and it warms my heart.
When the band hits the stage, I leave the greenroom to check out the rest of the club. The third-floor dance club is old school with music from the 80s and 90s. The energy is high, and everyone seems to have a good time.
The fourth floor is techno music. The pace here is more frantic, and instead of traditional dancing, jump-styling seems to be popular.
The sixth floor plays the current hits—top forty, along with popular indie bands. This is my favorite club. I glide across the floor to the sound of One Republic, keeping my eyes open for Damon when I see him through the glass floor below.
I race to the VIP lounge. It’s packed with people—standing room only. I weave my way through the crowd to the other side.
As I approach, Damon is there with his arms caging a woman’s shoulders. She’s stunning with Mila Kunis eyes and a Kate Upton body. Her long, brunette hair hangs in loose curls around her shoulders. Her hand comes to his cheek. I can’t hear anything, but I recognize the body language. She leans into him, and he does nothing. Who the hell is this girl?
As I venture forward, her hand slides to his neck, and she pulls him to her. Her ample breasts crush against his chest, and her lips capture his mouth. I’m paralyzed in place.
The scene unfolds in slow motion. He pushes her away. As soon as he turns, he sees me and stops dead. He stares at me like he’s battling something inside. Eyes sad, body rigid, skin pale.
He glances back at the woman and then at me as if he’s torn between us. When his eyes connect with mine, my life changes.
The kiss is forgivable, but the way he looks at her is unforgettable. I see the love I want and the suffering I hoped to erase from his life.
Glacier-blue eyes, filled with sorrow, stare back at me. They reflect the horrific memories of his troubled past. He moves toward me, the girl following on his heels.
“Katarina, it’s not what you think!”
It’s exactly what I think. I look past him to the woman standing next to him like that’s her place.
I want to disappear into the floor, go back ten minutes, and skip the sixth floor. I want to fall to my knees and cry, but I’m not that girl. I’m Kat Cross and stronger than he’ll ever know.
Shoring my shoulders, I step closer and reach out my hand to introduce myself. “Hi, I’m Kat, Damon’s ex-girlfriend. You must be Mara.” With nothing left to say, I turn and walk away.
Damon calls from behind me, but I am faster than he is or more forceful with the crowd. I exit through an employee entrance and move through the maze until I’m far away from Damon, Mara, and heartbreak.
My phone pings relentlessly with messages from Damon, but I ignore them.
By the time I make it to the greenroom, the band is gone, and I’m finally alone. The quiet is a blessing and a curse. It’s nice to sit and take stock of my life, but awful to see where it’s taken me.
This is not where I expected tonight to end. I was supposed to go home and make love to my man. The irony is, he was never mine. The minute I saw him look