he was going to say because his mother interrupted him.
“Julia Love is here. The mayor’s daughter. She asked about you, and I promised her you’d sit at her side for the dinner. I think you two would make a cute couple, don’t you think?”
“Mom. That’s not—”
“Oh! There she is. Julia! Come here!”
My cheeks burned from embarrassment, and I turned to look at the woman approaching us, immediately wishing I could hide the moment I saw her. Julia Love was stunning and exactly the sort of woman I’d seen on Vaughn’s arm over the years. Model-like looks. Plush lips. Long legs. Breasts that were practically spilling out of her designer dress. “Vaughn! It’s so good to see you again,” she said before leaning in and kissing the corner of his mouth. I took a step backward. Yep. I wanted out of here.
He cleared his throat. “Good to see you too.”
“Why don’t you show Julia the patio? She’d love the view of the city,” Mrs. Richards insisted.
“I don’t want to leave Sena—”
“Nonsense!” Mrs. Richards exclaimed. “I’m sure she’ll be just fine. Go! Have fun.”
My eyes burned as Julia grabbed Vaughn’s arm and started walking him to the door. “Please? Oh, I’ve heard it’s just beautiful.” Even her voice was perfect. Sultry. Soft.
Vaughn stared at me, panic on his face. “I’ll be right back, okay?”
I swallowed and nodded. “Sure thing.”
I watched his back as the two of them disappeared outside, a heavy feeling in my stomach. It suddenly became painfully clear why I was so terrified to make things official with Vaughn. This was his life. He was always around women like Julia Love and attending wealthy parties.
“I know you,” Mrs. Richards said before taking a sip of her drink. She looked me up and down, the sweet pleasantries of earlier gone.
“I beg your pardon?”
“You’re the girl that Vaughn resigned for. The girl that got drunk at the holiday party and made a spectacle of herself.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but I didn’t know what to say. “Mrs. Richards,” I began, but my words died in my throat.
“Do you see them out there? Julia is a nice girl. Ambitious. Comes from a good family. They look”—she paused— “right together, don’t they?”
I followed her gaze and frowned when I saw the two of them looking over the skyline and laughing about something. Julia touched his shoulder. She leaned in. Her face was inches from his…
“Why don’t you go home, Sarah, was it?”
“Sena,” I corrected her, my throat clogged from emotion.
“Whatever. Merry Christmas.”
With that, Mrs. Richards walked off.
I stared at Vaughn for a moment longer, all my fears coming to a head. I let out a shaky exhale and made my way back to the elevator, not even bothering to grab my coat.
I didn’t belong here. I certainly didn’t belong on Vaughn’s arm.
Once I was on the sidewalk below their towering building, my phone began to ring. Vaughn. I stared at the screen for a long moment before sending it to voicemail. There was only one person that could salvage my night.
“Adam?” I said after he answered on the third ring.
“Are you okay?”
I sniffled. “I don’t have a jacket.”
“It’s twelve degrees outside!” he exclaimed. “I sent you the weather report before your date!”
“Yeah,” I began, my voice a sob. “I’m really cold.” And sad.
Silence greeted me on the other line for a long moment. “I’ll make us some hot chocolate. Come over.”
I smiled to myself before hailing a cab. “Thanks. Be there soon.”
Chapter 8
“Thank you, Adam. It’s a great present,” I forced out while staring at the gigantic telescope he gifted me. I had no idea where I was going to put this thing in my eight hundred square foot apartment. I mean seriously, I had no desire to look at the stars, but maybe I could spy on the hot guy that lived in the building across the street from me.
“I knew you’d like it!” he said excitedly while looking through the textbooks I’d gotten him. There was no guesswork when it came to getting Adam gifts. Every year on November first, he sent me an itemized wish list organized by priority, need, cost, and availability. This year he wanted textbooks. Yep, textbooks. I also got him a few new comic book shirts, but he wasn’t as interested in that.
“I also got Vaughn a gift. I assumed he was coming by?” Adam asked, his tone pressing.
“I don’t think Vaughn will be joining us today,” I answered. I ended up turning off my phone