“Right…the bloke.” He snapped out of it and took another sip of his drink. “Well, this fellow who is one of the main investors in this project is having a cocktail party that I’ve been summoned to tomorrow night.”
“Oh, the obligatory cocktail party…they’re the worst!” I’d been to quite a few. Ass kissing and hobnobbing to gain businesses. Two of my least favorite things.
“Tell me about it. I want to go as much as I want to have my teeth drilled, but I have to gain some form of a rapport with him for the sake of the company.” He shrugged.
“Well, cheers to that.” I held up my glass and smiled.
“I don’t suppose you’d want to come with me, and maybe come down with a sickness within an hour of getting there that would have to force us to leave?” He raised an eyebrow and gave me a pleading smile.
“Oh, so you want me to be your ticket out of there?”
“Right.” He nodded.
I thought about it for a moment. “Well, are you even allowed to bring a guest along?”
“Of course!” He replied much too quickly to be believable.
I pondered it for a moment. I hadn’t been to any functions like he was asking me to attend since before my world had completely crumbled. It would get me out of the house on a Saturday night, give me a chance to dress up, and best of all allow more time to spend with Theo while he was here. It would, however, require me to socialize with strangers, something I hadn’t been up to lately. But I’d be with Theo, who was a master at initiating conversation, which in turn put me at ease with engaging with people I didn’t know.
“So, what do you say?” he beseeched, like a child asking for a piece of candy.
“Fine!” I agreed, unable to hold back my own smile when I saw the adorable one that was plastered across his face at my reply.
CHAPTER 11
I WASN’T SURE if I had a better time preparing for the cocktail party or attending it. I had video chatted with Kate while I ran around my bedroom trying on different dresses, shoes, and accessories. She offered her opinion and together, we finally settled on my long-sleeved winter white off-the-shoulder sweater dress with nude pumps and a metallic envelope clutch. I curled my normally straight bob-styled hair into loose waves and applied a little more makeup than the scant amount I’d normally wear.
The night surprisingly went off without a hitch, and we didn’t even have to use the fallback sickness excuse to get out of there. I thought for sure the moment I entered the posh Fifth Avenue penthouse that I’d be counting the seconds to make my exit, but I wasn’t. I had preconceived notions about the types of people in attendance, but for the most part, I was wrong. I was pretty certain that those guests were a little more amiable thanks in part to Theo. He had such a dynamic personality that drew people to him right away, and in turn those same people focused their attention on me—his date, or so they all thought.
By the time we were saying our goodbyes, I had made several connections with people who were looking for ad execs to promote their businesses on a consult basis instead of farming it out to a bigger agency. We exchanged business cards, and I was filled with a hint of optimism that maybe I could venture out a little more on my own, with my skills. It was definitely something to think about, and maybe the change I needed.
We had a late dinner, stretching out our last hours as long as we could. When the waiter brought the check, I was filled with a sense of dread, knowing our time together was up. Theo snatched the check folder from the waiter’s hand before he even had a chance to put it on the table. After a brief, friendly spat over who was paying the bill, I finally gave up. Just like the day prior at lunch and each time we’d dine together on vacation, he always insisted he’d pay. I had wished he would at least let me pay my share, but he was a gentleman through and through. He signed his credit card slip and we walked outside into the bitter cold air. His hotel was in the opposite direction of the bus terminal, so I knew this was it—goodbye. A goodbye I wasn’t ready to say.
“Jillian, I cannot thank you enough for making the past two days so enjoyable,” Theo said.
“Please, don’t be thanking me. I had way too much fun doing it.” I smiled. He nodded and sighed heavily, neither one of us seeming to know what to say or do next. “Well, you have a very safe trip back, and please give Kate a hug and kiss for me.”
“Will do.” His oddly placed dimple deepened. I looked up at him, unsure of what to say or do next.
He made it a little easier for me when he averted his gaze and flagged down a cab for me.
“Look at you! You’re like a true New Yorker,” I teased, thankful for the distraction he created.
“Impressive, aren’t I?” he gloated. He regarded me a moment longer before taking both my hands in his and leaning down to place a kiss on my cheek. “Thanks for everything,” he whispered, giving my hand a gentle squeeze.
I smiled up at him, then got into the cab, waving goodbye as I drove away. I sighed heavily and looked straight ahead, once Theo was no longer in sight, wishing that he and Kate were only a bus ride instead of an ocean away.
When I arrived home and changed into my pajamas, I was just about to put my phone on Do Not Disturb for
