Chasing Heartbreak (Dark Love #6) - Kat T. Masen Page 0,25

He is looking awfully thin. Jesus Christ, no, let it be something else.

“We’re going to go dance for a bit,” Charlie yells over the music. “You guys want to come?”

I shake my head. “I need to find a client. He’s supposed to be here with his wife. I’ll join you guys later.”

Charlie frowns but only momentarily before Lex pulls her away and out of sight.

I pour myself another glass, desperately wanting to ease the nerves. I have no idea why I’m nervous, but perhaps my heart getting bruised the last time we were close would be a good indication of why I’m on edge.

“So…” I mumble, running my fingers on the edge of the glass.

“So…”

I let out a sigh, unsure how to act around him. So much has changed in our lives, chances are we aren’t the same people we were years ago.

The music softens, an intermission, though less disco-like beats still played in the background.

“How’s work been?”

“Busy but the same, really,” he replies casually. “Not as challenging anymore, and I’ve found my foot in the publishing industry.”

“Good. I know you were concerned about learning the ropes.”

“That was three years ago,” Noah reminds me.

“Right.”

The awkward silence raises its ugly head again. Why did it have to be so damn hard? This is the same man you got arrested with while naked on a beach in Malibu. The two of us sat inside a jail cell waiting for Charlie to bail us out. It wasn’t our finest moment. Add to that, he’d seen me at my worst, crying over a man who had treated me like yesterday’s trash.

The reminder of Dominic and his desperate pleas come racing to the forefront of my mind. What would Noah think if he knew the truth? The idea itself is ridiculous. There’s no reason why Noah should find out. As long as I keep my mouth shut, the secret will be safe with me.

But Noah is the man I once poured my heart and soul out to. He knows me better than I knew myself.

Past tense.

Life has changed.

“And you? Lex tells me you’ve done amazing things in Europe, plus Charlie says you’ve had the opportunity to travel a fair bit. Sounds like quite some life.”

My eyes widen with surprise. I had no idea Charlie or Lex spoke about me to Noah. Did he ask about me? Or was it said in passing? Calm the fuck down, Kate. You’re overanalyzing this.

“It has been,” is all I say.

Noah diverts his eyes away from me, letting out a breath. “Kate, I’m still the same guy. Maybe a bit broken but still the same guy.”

“It’s been a while,” I remind him, desperate not to get into the semantics of our friendship. “Let’s get something to eat.”

We make our way to the buffet, which is surprisingly not overly crowded. There’s so much food, and yet suddenly, my appetite dwindles. Reminding myself that alcohol and an empty stomach don’t mix, I make the conscious decision to eat at least something.

My food pallet has adjusted with all the business meetings and dinners I’ve attended over the years. My trick is to drink as much as I can without coming across as a drunk, then eat the food served and never ask what’s on the plate. The less known, the better. It turns out snails aren’t that terrible and tasty if prepared correctly.

“So, tell me… snails. Yay or nay?” Noah purses his lips, questioning the dishes sitting on the silver platters.

“Considering you eat peppermint ice cream, which is still widely disgusting, maybe a yay for you. It’s rather enjoyable.”

“Rather enjoyable?” He raises his eyebrows with a sneer. “The slug which swooshes his mushy body against the ground?”

I motion for the waiter to place two on my plate. Scraping the escargot with my fork, I raise it toward his mouth.

“Do I have to?”

“It’s rude not to,” I state, keeping my expression straight. “The French are renowned for their excellent cooking skills.”

He takes a bite, and while his face is somewhat confused, he manages to chew without spitting it out into a napkin.

“It’s not bad.”

“Trying something new is a way to explore the world,” I offer, taking in all the food before us.

“I wouldn’t know.” Noah dips his head, staring at his empty plate. “I’ve been stuck in hell.”

And the giant elephant inside the room makes its long-awaited appearance, wearing a pink tutu and performing Swan Lake, desperate for our attention. I don’t want to invite questions because as long as I don’t know about