Zack - M. Malone Page 0,41
here long enough.”
He immediately looks chagrined. “Nothing’s wrong. Sorry, I don’t want to ruin this for you. I’m just not used to this kind of thing. And I’m trying not to step on your feet.”
I pull him closer. “You don’t seem to have any problem moving your body, Zack. In any way.”
Finally a real smile appears. I rest my head on his shoulder. I was so worried about this earlier and all my fears seem so silly now. I showed up with Zack and the world didn’t end. My parents weren’t overly warm but they weren’t outright rude either so that’s probably about the best I can hope for.
When I open my eyes, Perry is right next to us, dancing with a tall skinny blonde. He looks just as surprised to see me. Or rather to see me in someone else’s arms.
“Josie! Nice to see you.” His eyes slide over to Zack. “Hello.”
Zack’s arm tenses around my waist. “Hey.”
I straighten up. “Perry. What are you doing here?” He was originally supposed to escort me but after we broke up, I’d assumed that he wouldn’t come.
He looks uncomfortable at the direct questioning. “I’m here with my parents.”
I glance over my shoulder and see Mr. and Mrs. Staunchfield talking to my father. I sigh. In addition to doing business together, his father and mine have been golf buddies for years so I should have expected that he might be here anyway.
“Of course. How have you been?”
“Busy. My dad has been keeping us all in the office around the clock. Oh, I’m being rude. Josie, this is Blythe Wyndham. She’s one of the new project managers we’ve just hired.”
Blythe holds out her hand reluctantly. “Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, too. This is my friend, Zack Marshall.”
Blythe hangs on to Zack’s hand a little longer than appropriate, something Perry doesn’t seem to notice. He doesn’t even seem to notice she’s there at all.
“You look good, Jo.” His voice lowers and even though it’s a common thing to say, it comes across as incredibly familiar considering our history.
“Uh, thanks. You too.” He’s still staring at me and I can tell Zack is starting to get pissed off.
I imagine how this must look to him. Perry is tall, dark and handsome in a very clean-cut All-American kind of way just like Gabe. Basically the anti-Zack. No wonder he found it hard to believe me when I told him how I felt. Suddenly I want to be anywhere but here.
“Well, it was lovely to meet you, Blythe. I’ll see you around, Perry.”
Zack turns us in the other direction but over his shoulder I can see Perry still watching us.
chapter nine
†
ZACK
Josie is quiet as we leave the dance floor. She follows as I head straight for the bar. I order a light beer and a glass of champagne for her. I’m almost afraid to speak because with the way I’m feeling anything I say will be either snarky or accusatory.
“Why is he even here?” I say, finally.
“His parents are close friends with mine.”
“So he’ll be at every family event then? Great.”
When Josie’s shoulders curl inward, I immediately regret the sarcasm. I’m not sure why I’m suddenly so pissed when I knew she dated Perry for almost a year. Plus, she’s the one who broke it off. It wasn’t like she was dumped and is pining away for the guy.
I have the ultimate proof that she wasn’t that close to him.
“Let’s go back to the table. I don’t want you to miss dessert.”
She shrugs. “I don’t care about that. We can say goodbye to everyone and then we can leave early.”
Guilt makes me determined to put on a smile and be as fake as the rest of the people here. Jo has been on edge all night and I’ve tried not to embarrass her. She cares what these people think even if I can’t figure out why.
I just want her to be happy.
We haven’t been sitting for more than a minute when a shadow falls over my shoulder and I look up.
Perry is standing right behind us.
“Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Harlow. I wanted to make sure I got a chance to say Happy Anniversary before I left.” He rounds the table to greet them. They both react like he’s some kind of long-lost relative just returning home.
Oh for fucks sake.
Mrs. Harlow stands, her arms outstretched. “How sweet! Thank you, Perry. You’re always so thoughtful!”
It’s hard not to contrast her reaction to when I said the same thing