"I don't know. I guess it just didn't seem like you wanted to talk about it..."
"Uh-huh." I rubbed my face and let out a low groan. "So I'm guessing everyone knows then?"
"Well...I wouldn't say everyone … "
"Great," I deadpanned. "That's really reassuring."
Jada gave me a sympathetic look, resting a hand on my shoulder in what I could only assume was her weak attempt at being comforting. "Doesn't it seem a bit ironic to you?" she said after awhile. "All the event planning firms in D.C. and he just happens to end up at this one … "
"Are you saying that he knew?" I challenged, fed up by her vagueness. "Because he didn't."
Jada raised an eyebrow at me. "So you really think it's all just one big coincidence?"
"Yeah," I said, hardly even believing myself. "You should have seen his face. He was just as surprised as I was. Plus, that fiancée of his seems like the type who probably cuts his meat into tiny little pieces before she lets him eat it. I doubt she keeps him in the know about this kind of stuff."
"This kind of stuff? You mean his wedding?"
I nodded.
"Right," Jada said, giving me a disagreeable look on her way over to the door. "Anyway, I should get back to work, but the offer still stands if you need me to take on a couple of your clients."
I mumbled out a thank you and hung back until she was gone. As soon as she was, I pushed open the door and found myself face to face with the very last person I wanted to be alone with.
"Just let me explain," Jack pleaded, gripping hold of my arm to stop me from storming off.
I sighed and glanced back into my office to make sure Lauren wasn't eavesdropping. Much to my relief, she was still very much immersed in the catalogs I'd given her. She probably hadn't even noticed Jack was gone.
"I didn't know anything about this," Jack said, his tone thick with desperation. "If I'd known I would have never-"
"Don't," I hissed, pushing past him without making eye contact. Lauren turned around when I entered the room, giving me a look that screamed 'took you long enough'. "Sorry about that," I told her, sitting back down at my desk. "Things can get pretty hectic around here."
Lauren pursed her lips. "I see," she said in a slightly condescending manner, doing a slow once over of my appearance. I was sure that I probably looked completely frazzled, but at this point I didn't care. I just wanted to get this over with.
"I hope those catalogs gave you some insight on our venues," I said, getting back on topic. "We have an in with some of the best spots in the city. If you'd like I can go over them with you one-by-"
"That won't be necessary," Lauren cut in, glancing over at Jack as he reentered the room and sat back down beside her. "We actually already have a place in mind."
"Oh?" I picked up my pen and prepared to jot down the location.
Lauren nodded. "We're having it at my father's estate in The Hamptons." She grasped hold of Jack's hand and exchanged a forced smile with him. "It's actually where we got engaged."
How positively adorable.
Lauren grabbed her phone when it beeped and took a moment to read over an incoming text. "I need to use the ladies room," she announced rather abruptly, meeting eyes with me again. "Would you be kind enough to direct me?"
"Take a right out the door," I directed. "If you pass reception you've gone too far."
Lauren thanked me and left the room.
"You don't have to do this you know," Jack spoke up the moment she was gone. "It's obvious you're uncomfortable."
"Don't flatter yourself," I said, busying myself with organizing my desk to avoid looking him in the eye. "I'm fine."
Jack started to say something else, but Lauren waltzed back into the room before he could. "I can't believe this," she said to him, holding up her phone. "Daddy just called. He needs me to go mediate a deal for him. You wouldn't mind handling things here while I'm gone, would you?"
"Wait, what?" Jack frowned at her. "I thought he gave you the week off."
"I know, but this will only take a few hours at most." Lauren turned to me, flashing me a smug smile. "Besides, Ms. Woods seems like a bright enough woman. I highly doubt she needs us to hold her hand through the entire planning process."
Bright enough?
This woman was incredible. I'd worked for my fair share of snobs over the years, but I had a feeling she'd end up putting them all to shame. "She's right," I assured Jack. "I've actually already collected enough information to move forward on my own."
"Exactly," Lauren said, giving him a tense peck on the cheek before waltzing from the room.
Jack met eyes with me as soon as we were alone again. "So," he spoke up, getting more comfortable. "You wouldn't happen to be hungry, would you?"
"Seriously?" I narrowed my eyes at him, studying his face for any sign that he was kidding. "You're asking me if I'm hungry?"
This was so like him.
"Because I'm starving," Jack continued as if I hadn't said anything at all. "Lauren is dieting to prepare for the wedding, so of course that means I am too. I haven't had a greasy anything in weeks. What do you say? You still a diehard Capriotti's fan?"
I stopped what I was doing to look up at him and scoffed. That was low. He knew damn well that I couldn't resist that place. If I had any vice that wasn't alcohol, their club sandwiches were it.
"Fine," I agreed, grabbing for my jacket. "But it's on you."
~ CHAPTER SIX ~
I took slow bites of my sandwich and eyed Jack as he stuffed a handful of French fries down his throat. "Impressive," I deadpanned, taking a sip of my soda. "I guess you weren't kidding about being hungry."
Jack snickered, pointing a finger at the neglected half of my sandwich. I slid it over to him knowing he wouldn't take no for an answer, watching as he devoured it in three large bites.
"Work?" Jack questioned, nodding at my phone.
I shrugged and slid it shut. I hadn't stopped looking at it since we'd arrived at the restaurant, but it was more of a distraction than anything else. My hope was what that he wouldn't attempt to unearth topics I wanted to leave buried if I looked busy. Unfortunately, luck still wasn't on my side. As soon as I made eye contact with him he started reminiscing on the first time we'd ever eaten here together like I didn't have a crystal clear memory of that night myself.
"Like you'd know," I said when he made a comment about how much I'd changed since then, not realizing how harsh my tone was until after the words had been spoken.
"What?" Jack said, feigning offense. "The Chantel I knew crashed parties. She didn't plan them."
"Yeah, well, the Chantel you knew was an idiot," I said, looking everywhere but at him. "Besides, I'm a whole lot happier now than I was back then."
"Obviously."
Jack's words dripped with sarcasm, but I didn't bother commenting on it. I'd learned a long time ago to pick my battles with him. "It's good to see you haven't lost your charm," I said instead, rolling my eyes.
Jack laughed. "This is killing you, isn't it?"
"What?"
"Being here with me," Jack clarified, brushing his leg against mine beneath the table. "And don't lie. It's pretty obvious that you'd rather swallow hot coals than spend even another second with your only brother."
"Former Stepbrother," I corrected. "And really, you were never even that. My mom marrying your dad for a couple handbags and a spot in the White House doesn't make you any more related to me than that guy is."
I pointed a discreet finger at a man in a booth a few feet away, dropping it as soon as he looked up from his meal.
Jack snickered.
I studied the countertop and frowned when my eyes landed on a small heart that had been carved into the wood. There were initials in the middle of it, but time had faded them to the point where they were unrecognizable.
"You remember when you did that?" Jack questioned, suddenly serious. I hated how sentimental he sounded. All it did was make my heart ache.
"Barely," I mumbled, looking out the window.