He had work to do.
Chapter Six
Lydia tilted her head back and stared at the high ceiling of the ballroom, ignoring, for the moment, the crowd surrounding her. A crystal chandelier hung in the center of the ceiling, but it wasn’t actually centered. Whoever had hung it must’ve been drunk or dizzy, because it was at least two feet too far to the left. It bugged her.
Almost as much as it bugged her to be where she currently was.
Steven had begged for her to come out to eat with him, since his heart had been “broken,” and she’d agreed. She’d dressed up, as requested, and met him by her door at six o’clock sharp—only to be told upon arrival that the “dinner” was actually a work event. Her initial reaction hadn’t just been no. It had been a hell no. She couldn’t risk running into Holt. Not after last night.
But then Steven had gone on to say how he’d broken up with Heather, and Lauren wasn’t available. He’d already responded with a plus one, and his buddy Holt wouldn’t be there to distract him either, and he needed her to come so badly. And since her reason for not going, AKA Holt, wasn’t a factor…she’d agreed.
Of course, now she regretted it.
He might not be there, or be planning on coming, but it didn’t stop her from staring at the door every time someone came inside wearing a black suit. Or from having a mini-heart attack every time she heard his name. Which was a lot. Too much.
When she looked over her shoulder for the millionth time, Steven sighed. “Relax, Lyd,” he said, resting his hand on her upper back. “There’s nothing to be so wound up about. You’ve been to these things before.”
Yeah. He had no idea why she was worked up, and he never would. “I’m not wound up. I’m just watching everything and everyone.”
“Tell that to the poor sugar packet you mangled.”
She glanced down at the pink packet on the table in front of her. He was right. She’d totally butchered it. “It had it coming.”
“Oh yeah?” he asked, cocking a brow.
“Shut up, or I’ll mangle you next.”
Shaking his head, he said, “So mature.”
“Yeah, that’s me,” she muttered.
Steven sighed and took his hand off of her. “You’re being awfully antsy, even more so than usual. What’s going on in that pretty little red head of yours?”
“My hair isn’t red,” she said, tossing another destroyed sugar packet into a pile with the first. “It’s strawberry blonde.”
Steven rolled his eyes. “Yeah. Sure.”
“How late is this thing?” She picked up her drink and took a big sip, her heart skipping a beat when someone said Holt’s name. No matter how hard she tried not to react, she couldn’t help it. “I have a headache.”
“Out too late last night?” Steven asked, one brow raised. “What happened, anyway? I heard you and Sam broke up.”
“Yeah. We had a differing opinion on who he should sleep with. As in, he felt the need to sleep with other women, and I didn’t agree with that decision.”
Steven snarled. “That little shit. I’ll kill him.”
“It’s fine.” She waved a hand. “I’m over it. It actually happened like three days ago, but I didn’t mention it, because I really didn’t care.”
“Yeah, well, he made a huge mistake. He’ll never find another girl like you.” He squeezed her hand, then leaned back in his chair and glanced over his shoulder. “And he didn’t deserve you, obviously.”
Lydia smiled at him. “That’s sweet, but according to you…no one does.”
“Truth.”
She took another sip of wine. “So what happened with Heather, anyway?”
“According to her, I never let her in, and refused to open up to her…whatever the hell that’s supposed to mean. Oh, and she didn’t think I loved her.” He paused, tugging on his bowtie. “I didn’t, so she was right about that, at least.”
“She didn’t deserve you either, then,” she said softly.
His grip tightened on his tie. “You’ve got it wrong. If anything, I didn’t deserve her.”
Ever since he’d gotten out of the SEALs, Steven had been different. No big shocker, there, but he used to be so open and free. “Steven…”
“I’m fine. Seriously. We didn’t work out, so it’s over. That’s all.” He turned away and finished his drink. “But I wish Holt was here.”
She nibbled on her lower lip. “You guys seem awfully close.”
“We are.” Steven shrugged. “I like him. He’s been through a hell of a lot of shit, but he just keeps going. Doesn’t let it get him down.”