nose and exhaled through my mouth to calm the ache in the center of my chest.
I will not cry.
I will not cry.
I will not cry in front of my boss.
He drove, and I wallowed in the silence, in my thoughts of the life I had once lived with Jeff.
Brad didn’t say a word. Good, because I needed the quiet, the tiny bit of rest that I knew would disappear once we were at the reception.
When we parked, I lifted my head from my hands and pulled down the overhead mirror to check my eyeliner. I swiped at my bottom lid with my index finger. You’d think I’d be embarrassed that I’d poured out all my insides on Brad’s dashboard, but we’d crossed that line days ago.
Internally, I told myself that everything would be fine, and if not, I’d pretend for everyone else.
“You’re right.” His voice was quiet, resigned, without its usual bite.
I tilted my head to look at him.
“Sonia, I’ve never had an it person. I’ve also never had my heart broken before, so I can’t relate.”
My jaw tightened. Must be nice to be the breaker of hearts and never have had your heart broken. I swiped at my nose.
“But, when I said who cares …” His eyes filled with uncensored compassion. “I meant that you shouldn’t care. If he broke your heart, then your heart wasn’t all that important to him. And, if he promised things, things of the future, and broke those promises, that only means he was a liar who wasn’t worth your time. Just forget about him.”
Our eyes locked for a second too long until I ripped my gaze from his. His words were meant to comfort me, but they did the opposite. They gave me unrest.
“Easier said than done,” I whispered.
If I could forget him, I would’ve by now.
And, if Brad had ever in his entire life fallen in love, then he would’ve known that.
He sighed. “All I know is, in business and in all things, promises mean something. Integrity and honesty hold the utmost importance.” He unlocked his door and opened it. “And, when I find my it person and someone by chance gives me their heart, I know I won’t take that lightly, and I won’t break it. Because some things cannot be undone.”
Chapter 12
Sonia
When we walked in, I took in the reception hall, round tables covered by black tablecloths and chairs decked out in black-and-white satin in an old Hollywood vibe. Each table was adorned with tall arrangements of white hydrangeas, and streams of black-and-pink satin ribbons adorned each pilsner vase.
My nerves were shot, and I never, ever drank, but I swore tonight that I would. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d gotten drunk—maybe tipsy, but never drunk. Tonight, as soon as I had food in my belly, I would make it to the bar and join the brokenhearted to drink my sorrows away.
A piano played softly in the background, and waiters in tuxes and white gloves greeted us at every corner of the room.
“Food.” I grabbed a napkin from the blond waiter and also a bacon-wrapped date. I was on my way to getting my belly full. Soon, I’d be at the bar.
I grabbed two more appetizers and then turned to Brad. “One for you. Two for me.” I smirked.
“Are you one of those people who eats when you’re nervous or gets moody when you’re not fed?”
Another waiter passed with shrimp cocktail, and I turned from Brad and grabbed four. “No, I just like to eat.” Then, I leaned into him, cheeks puffed out and mouth full. “You have to promise me something.”
The devilish smile was on display, the one that seemed to be permanently fixed on his face. “Shoot.”
“Promise me that, when I get a little tipsy, you’ll take me home.”
His smile deepened.
“To my house, idiot.” I smacked his shoulder and popped another shrimp in my mouth. “I trust you not to do anything inappropriate.” Because, although Brad was a little manwhore, I knew he would never force himself on any woman. He didn’t have to. “And please promise you’ll keep me in check and prevent me from embarrassing myself or my friends.”
“And why would I do that?” He laughed.
I rolled my eyes, and just like I’d seen him pinkie promise with his niece, I stuck out my left pinkie. “Promise.”
He curiously eyed me. “Fine. Promise.” Then, he wrapped his pinkie finger around mine and pulled me into a kiss.
A real one. Mouths closed, lips to lips, and his