The Billionaire's Best Friend(67)
“Don’t you think he should have told me his plans before now?” she asked, her voice laced with sarcasm. “I feel like he’s making all the decisions for us. Controlling our relationship.”
“He should have said something sooner, but I don’t think he did it because he wants to control you. Think about it for a minute. In all the years you were together, did he ever try to control you? If that was the kind of a guy he was, don’t you think he would’ve done it back then?”
Callie’s question cut off any argument she had prepared. She had not stopped to consider that before, but now that she did, Callie was right.
“If you push him away now, you might regret it. Besides, moving isn’t the end of the world. I did it. And they need teachers in Virginia, too. Before you do anything, take some time and consider if ending things is what you truly want, Lauren. Maybe go home tomorrow and talk things over with Nate. Explain to him why you got so upset and ask him point blank why he never told you. Then if you decide you still want to marry him, set a new date for the wedding. It would be tight but I think we could get everything rearranged for Fourth of July weekend.”
Lauren appreciated Callie’s complete honesty. Not that she expected any less. They had been friends too long not to be completely honest and open with each other. She’d done the same thing in the early stages of Callie’s relationship with Dylan when they hit a snag.
“Do you think so? I’m not saying I’ve made my decision, but do you really think we could make it happen for that weekend?”
Callie nodded and squeezed her hand, a small knowing smile on her face. “Just say the word, and I’ll make it happen for you guys.”
Lauren didn’t know what she’d done to get a friend as loyal and loving as Callie, but she was darn glad she had. “As soon as I decide, I will let you know. Now, we probably should get ready for tonight.”
***
Kevin surveyed the room. So far that night, he’d been unable to find Lauren, but his instincts told him she was there somewhere. The fundraiser was for a new education initiative that Callie had backed the year before so it made sense that Callie would’ve invited Lauren, her best friend and fellow educator. They had not spoken since she had returned the ring and he had lost his temper. He’d expected her to come around by now, to realize what she’d given up by turning down his proposal. Yet she hadn’t made any effort to contact him. Rather than track her down at her house, he’d decided to purchase a ticket to the fundraiser with the expectation of running into her. Perhaps surrounded by the lifestyle that was within her reach if she married him, she’d reconsider, realizing the mistake she’d made.
He still believed she would eventually regret her decision, but he needed that to happen sooner rather than later. Sherbrooke Enterprises would be calling for bids on their new development soon, and he needed to start positioning himself for the election in another year.
Not to mention, he found himself missing her. That wasn’t to say he was heartbroken, but he missed the time they spent together. While she may not be a part of his society, Lauren was a good woman and she’d never made any demands on him. Unlike many of the women he’d dated in the past who were after him for something, she’d never asked for anything but his time.
Finally after thirty minutes of discreetly searching the ballroom, Kevin spotted her in conversation with Allison Sherbrooke. Dressed in the gown she wore to his parents’ dinner party, she looked beautiful. An uncommon case of nerves passed through him. Most of the time, he walked into a situation confident he’d get the outcome he wanted, but not tonight. Lauren had already proved she was a wild card in his well-ordered life. Deciding it was better to wait until Lauren was alone, he snagged an hors d’oeuvre off the tray of a passing waiter, all the while keeping Lauren in his sight.
At least I look like I belong. Lauren surveyed the other guests mingling in the ballroom. She’d picked the Dolce & Gabbana gown Callie gave her for her birthday for the fundraiser. In fact, she’d seen two other women here wearing dresses by the same designer. Shifting her weight to the other foot, she searched for a familiar face among the sea of beautiful well-dressed people. Already she felt out of place, but by standing alone the feeling only intensified. She’d attended several similar fundraisers as Callie’s guest in the past. She’d met Kevin at the last one. Tonight, however, she felt more uncomfortable than she had in a while. Kevin’s words the night she returned his ring sat in the forefront of her mind. She did only get invited to events like these because of her friendship with Callie. Before he’d said it, she hadn’t considered it. Now as she looked around, the truth sank in.