I search the dance floor looking for her again, but I can’t see her. I scan the room and I catch sight of her pink gown. She’s at the bar. She walks back to her table with a glass of wine. She’s sitting alone and I know this is my chance. I might not be brave enough to ask her to dance, but surely I can talk to her. I mean I can’t fuck that up quite as spectacularly as I could fuck up dancing with her.
I stand up and pick up my glass and head towards Sierra’s table.
Looking up, she smiles as I approach.
I am taken by her shining eyes once more. “Hey, how are you?” I ask.
“I’m good thanks. You?” she replies.
“Good.” I nod at the seat beside hers. “Mind if I join you?”
She shakes her head.
I sit down.
She smiles in the direction of Sebastian and Kimberley who are dancing and laughing in the middle of the dance floor. “They look so happy don’t they?”
“They do.” I nod. “They’ve been in love since they were teenagers. They lost touch for a while, but it was always meant to be with those two.”
Sierra looks back at me, a teasing smile on her face. “Well, listen to you getting all romantic.” She giggles.
I can’t help but laugh along with her. Am I really becoming a romantic? No, I’m just stating a fact surely.
“I got a call from Sophie Miller yesterday,” Sierra starts.
I reach out and gently put my finger on her lips, feeling that spark of energy flying between us the second my skin touches hers. “No work talk. Sebastian’s rules.” I grin and move my hand away.
She laughs. “Wow! You really are changing. Since when did you start to follow Sebastian’s rules?”
“Well now, he’s married, it’ll be the last time he gets to put his foot down about anything. So, I’ll give him his day.” I laugh.
“Fair enough.” Sierra laughs with me. “You know, that’s got me thinking of something.”
“What?” I ask.
She leans closer to me, whispering and I lean in to hear her. “Technically, we’re still married right now. So does that mean I get to make the rules for now?”
“Not a chance.” I grin.
“Shame,” she says with a twinkle in her eye. “I had some really fun ideas too.”
Oh I bet you did. And I bet I’d love to play along with any of them.
“Is that so?” I say, raising an eyebrow. “I don’t think rules are meant to be fun.”
“Ah well, you haven’t heard mine, that’s why,” she replies. Her phone starts to ring in her handbag beside her. She smiles apologetically and pulls her phone out of her bag. “I have to take this,” she says. “Would you excuse me for a moment?”
I nod, watching her walking away, her hips swaying inside of her dress.
She’s still in ear shot when she answers her call. “Hi baby,” she says.
Baby? Fucking baby?
I stand up so fast I almost knock the chair over. I’ve been taken for a complete and utter fool here. I’m not surprised Sierra was so willing to keep this whole wedding thing discrete. She clearly has a boyfriend. I can’t believe I let myself imagine anything could happen between us again, however fleetingly. This is why I prefer working to dating. Work I understand. This is… well apparently, this is something that I’m totally horrible at.
I stalk back towards my table and sit down. I can’t help but keep glancing at Sierra’s table, even though I tell myself to get a grip.
She comes back after a few minutes. She looks around and spots me back at my table. She takes a step towards me, smiling.
I glare at her.
Her smile drops from her face and she sighs. She sits back down at her own table, her shoulders slumped.
I feel horrible for upsetting her like that, but I remind myself that I’m not the one with a secret partner here. She should be the one who feels horrible, not me. I can feel my temper rising and I remind myself this is Sebastian and Kimberley’s day, their wedding, and I’m not going to ruin it by sitting here with a face like thunder. I can fake being happy for a few hours.
I finish my drink and head over to the bar for another one. As I return to my table, I keep my eyes fixed straight ahead, so I won’t be tempted to look at Sierra.
My mom appears in my line of sight. She smiles and I return her smile, feeling some of the anger leaving me when I see how happy she is. She’s glowing, the picture of a proud and happy mom.
She waits by my table until I reach it. I go to sit down and she shakes her head. “Don’t think you’re getting out of this one, Chance,” she says.
“Out of what one?” I ask, genuinely puzzled.
“Out of dancing with your old mom.” She grins.
The thought of dancing with mom is a whole lot less scary than the thought of dancing with Sierra was, and it will take my mind off her for a while. I smile at Mom and nod my head. I take a sip of my drink and put it down on the table. I offer Mom my arm and lead her out onto the dance floor. At least with her, I won’t be a nervous wreck and stomp on her foot and fall over or something.
We reach a space on the dance floor and I twirl her around.
Mom takes my hands in hers. She leans in to talk to me as we sway to the music, “So, Sierra
