Say Hello, Kiss Goodbye - Jacquelyn Middleton Page 0,110
wondering how he is, what he’s doing, who he’s with—well…I did until you answered that a week ago.”
“Cressida…”
“Yeah, the glam girlfriend wowing his family and everyone on Orkney—that stung.” Leia glowered at her pedicure—in nude knickers pink—peeking out from her expensive designer heels. “I miss being with him, how much we’d laugh. I miss kissing him. I even miss his stupid Star Wars obsession.”
“That’s a first,” said Sarah.
“He never teased me about my name. He was respectful, caring…put my needs before his. I’ve never had a guy do that before.” A lump swelled in her throat. “And what did I do? I sabotaged it. Threw down a bunch of ridiculous rules, pushed my ‘I’m fine if you sleep with other people’ nonsense, and insisted we could never be a couple. I hate myself! I wish I could take it all back and start again.” She bit her bottom lip and let it go. “Saz, I’m in love with him. Completely.”
“Oh god, Leia.”
West 11th Street blurred up ahead. “I know, I know!” She wailed into a sob, her fingers whisking away tears. “It’s too late. FUCK!”
“So, you met Cressida, then?”
“No, she wasn’t at the pool. He didn’t mention her either. And then, his brother referred to me as ‘your Leia,’ so, when Tarquin texted the party info, I felt hopeful, excited. I was all, Yay! He’s single again!” A bad taste soured her tongue. “But he’s not. Cressida was there at the club, looking stunning and so smug—not that I blame her. I’d feel pleased with myself if I had Tarquin on my arm and in my bed.”
“Did you talk to them?”
“No! Tarquin kissed her and I-I couldn’t deal. I snuck out before he spotted me.” Leia shivered, holding back another flood of tears. “Talk about the perfect ending to a rotten day.”
Sarah blew out a long breath. “I’m sorry, hon.”
“And you know, I feel like such a loser”—words flying, a tightness knotted Leia’s chest—“getting worked up over some guy I didn’t want to date months ago! I hate feeling this way!”
“I know, but maybe there’s a silver lining?”
Oh, please! Leia dabbed the corners of her eyes. “Seriously. You’re giving me a sewing metaphor?”
“Would you listen?”
“Fine!”
“You being this upset proves something. You are no longer afraid of falling in love! Congrats, Ley, maybe you’re ready for a relationship.”
Shit. I guess… maybe?
“The fact that you’re feeling something resembling love and longing is proof, right?” asked Sarah.
“Well, your so-called proof hurts like hell and I don’t like it.” Leia let out a trembling breath. “Adding insult to injury, I did it again, bowed to my rotten habit.”
“Which one?” Sarah snickered. “Nail biting, humming to yourself? You have so many.”
“I don’t bite my nails! I stopped years ago! No, I’m talking about what I used to do with Tyler—compromising what’s important to me. The names and accents may have changed, but I let myself bend yet again.”
“What are you on about?”
“My dresses! I planned to finish two of them tonight, but a flirty smile and an invite from Tarquin, and I was like, Dresses? What dresses?” Leia shook her head. “Well, that stops NOW! Frill-Seekers is on the verge of some incredible things, and I refuse to let them slip through my fingers again, not for a guy, not for anything.” Waves of anger swelled in Leia’s belly, her tone sharp and loud. “Especially now. I’m just getting my momentum back after months of playing catch-up. I lost so much when Brooke—” She halted her rant, spying two women she vaguely recognized outside a bar.
Leia exhaled forcefully, the fallout from the previous year spurring her on. “Stylists are calling again, buyers are interested. It’s amazing how Shantelle wearing a Frill-Seekers dress can make me semi-relevant all of a sudden.” She giggled nervously. “But I’m not kidding myself. I know people in the industry still trade stories about me.” Like those women outside Bespoke New York tonight. “Hopefully they’ll talk about my designs, too.”
“I bet they are, Ley.” Sarah yawned through the phone. “Your stuff is too beautiful to ignore.”
“So, you see, Saz? There’s too much at stake right now. My focus should be on my dresses and nothing else. Whatever I feel for Tarquin…” She lifted her chin, resolve pushing the words forward. “I’m grateful he was in my life for a short time, but it’s over and I have to cut those feelings loose. He’s moved on and so have I. Frill-Seekers is my one true love, and I’m fine with that.”