The Proposal - Kitty Thomas Page 0,23

donation to the museum. My name is in the glossy printed booklet for fuck's sake. So not attending didn't feel like an option. I didn't bring Livia. She already had plans tonight, but she would have made the evening tolerable.

It's one of those black tie events where a date isn't really optional, and I have too much of a playboy reputation to come here alone. So I called an escort agency I've used in the past for things like this—just a pretty girl on my arm for the evening who can get through a night without embarrassing me or expecting anything.

I can tell from the way she's been looking at me since we got here that she is very much hoping this ends up at my place, but that won't be happening. Sharon excuses herself to go to the ladies' room, and I spot a familiar face a few exhibits away.

Soren sees me and crosses the room. “I haven't seen you in a lifetime. I thought you fell off the planet,” he says.

I could say the same to him, but I shrug. “Just been busy. Work. You know how it is.”

“So how have you been?” Soren asks while he appraises what may be the ugliest sculpture ever created.

“Don't laugh, but I think I found the one. I think I'm going to ask her to marry me.”

“That blonde you came here with?” Soren asks. “She looks familiar.”

I laugh. Of course she'd look familiar to Soren. He and I have used the same agency in the past. He's probably taken her to an event much like this one.

“No, not Sharon. She's with the agency. Livia had plans tonight.”

Soren does a literal spit take of his champagne right onto me. I wipe the back of my face with my hand. “Thanks.”

“Sorry. What did you say her name was? The girl you're seeing?”

“Livia.”

“Livia, what?” Soren looks like he's seen a ghost.

“Fairchild. Why? Do you know her?”

“I'm dating her.” He practically spits the words at me.

“You're what?”

“Oh yes,” Soren says. “I've been dating that lovely con artist for four and a half months now. How long have you been dating her?”

“Three,” I say. Part of me is sure Soren is lying or has this girl mixed up with someone else. It can't be the same woman I'm seeing. Livia is so... nice. Fun. She isn't the cheating type.

“Has she slept with you?” Soren asks, almost menacingly.

“I... no... we've been taking things slow. We've been on maybe eight dates. Why? Has she slept with you?” I might have to kill him if he's fucked my future wife, our history and friendship be damned.

“No. She has not, in fact. But you seem surprised she's seeing other people. She hasn't given you the no girlfriend speech, yet? Because I got it at the end of month one.”

“What in the fuck is the no girlfriend speech?” We haven't had a conversation about it, but I kind of thought she was my girlfriend even though I've dated women for months before while seeing other people. This just felt different. Livia felt different—like it was something real.

Soren's face lights up as if he's thrilled to be the one to drop this bomb on me. Sharon appears at my side then, leaning into me to make it clear she's with me. She may be a professional, but she is more than happy with whose arm she's on tonight. She has the absolute worst timing.

“Soren,” she says. “It's good to see you again.”

I knew it! I knew he'd taken her out somewhere before. I look back and forth between them, and now I realize the two of us have actually shared this girl. It was a couple of years ago, another boring event like this and we were all drunk off our asses, but it's coming back to me now. It seems like she's looking to have a repeat, and she probably wouldn't even charge us extra for it.

“I'm sorry, Sharon, Soren and I have an important business matter to discuss. We won't be long. If you'll excuse us.”

“Sure,” she says, but her face falls around her accommodating plastic fake smile.

I grab Soren by the elbow and lead him out to the terrace. He jerks his arm out of my grasp as soon as we're outside. The only reason he didn't do it before was that he didn't want to make a scene.

“Okay, now what in the fuck is the no girlfriend speech?”

Soren just smiles at me. At first I think he isn't