“I thought I’d see you here tonight.”
Lauren turned toward the familiar voice. Anyone who could afford a ticket was welcome; still the sight of Kevin surprised her. He’d never struck her as much of a philanthropist. He’d only been at the last fundraiser because his mom wanted someone to accompany her and his father had been sick. “How are you?” Lauren smiled.
“Good, but busy. I spent last week in New Jersey. What about you? Are you here alone tonight?”
“Yes. I got here yesterday. Sara wanted help with some plans for a party.”
Kevin’s arm brushed against hers when he moved closer. “I’ve been thinking a lot about you. I miss you, Lauren. Let’s start over. Have dinner with me this week.” He brushed a hand down her neck, and Lauren took a step back before she realized she’d done it.
“We can make things work between us.” He closed the new gap between them. “My offer still stands.” His voice turned seductive. “We make sense together.”
Lauren studied Kevin and then looked around the ballroom again. Despite her previous rejection, Kevin wanted her back. Yet even though Kevin offered her a place in the society around her, a chance to no longer just be the tag-along, but to belong, she didn’t want it. At the beginning of their relationship, perhaps she had, but what she truly wanted was love. If that meant she never attended another event like this, that was fine.
“I’m sorry, Kevin, but nothing has changed. The kind of marriage you want doesn’t work for me.”
Kevin’s nostrils flared, and the muscle in his jaw flexed. “You won’t get another chance, Lauren. Once I leave tonight, I won’t be back. “
How had she missed his conceit before? Had he done a better job of hiding it or had she intentionally overlooked it? Either way, it didn’t matter. Unlike Nate, Kevin never really knew her. “I know, Kevin. If you’ll excuse me, I need some fresh air. It was good to see you again. Enjoy the evening.”
Lauren stepped around Kevin without a backward glance, as snippets from each conversation she’d had that weekend played over in her head. She had allowed the pain from the past to cloud her judgment. She realized that now.
Making her way through the crowd, she spotted Charlie and Jake dancing. With their arms around each other, they moved as one, oblivious to the crowd around them. At a cocktail table along the perimeter, Sara and Christopher sat so close together she was practically in his lap, while their hands were clasped together on the table. Across from them, Dylan sat with an arm around Callie’s shoulders.
A knot of pain started in the center of her chest and radiated outward as she watched the other couples. She wanted what they all had and not just with anyone. The same love reflected in these couples burned inside her for Nate. No matter what else happened, he’d always be the one. A move to Virginia was a small sacrifice when she considered the alternative.
***
Two hours after leaving Cliff House Sunday morning, with a promise to call Callie and let her know how things went, Lauren pulled into the driveway at Nate’s apartment. She was halfway up the steps near the garage when Mrs. Callahan came out of her house.
“Lauren, what you doing here?” She stopped at the bottom of the steps.
Her reason for being there seemed obvious. “I’m here to see Nate.”
“Why would he be here, dear? Isn’t he living with you now?”
Had he moved back into the apartment without telling his mom? Did she not know the engagement was off? Since she planned to rectify her mistake, she decided not to mention it now. Thinking fast, she came up with an excuse to explain her presence. “He mentioned that he might pick up more of his stuff today while I was in Newport. I thought he might still be here. I haven’t stopped home yet.”
“No, I haven’t seen him all weekend. Say hi to him for me when you see him. And maybe one night this week the two of you can come over for a cookout and fill me in on the wedding plans.”
Lauren walked back down the stairs and gave the woman a quick hug. “Sounds good. How about Wednesday night?”
“I’ll invite Ryan over, too,” Mrs. Callahan said, smiling. With plans to have dinner with his parents later in the week decided, Lauren headed for home.
Nate’s Mustang was parked in the garage when Lauren pulled in. Should’ve known. Why she thought he wouldn’t stick around and try to change her mind was beyond her. After all this time she should know Nate Callahan better than that. Even though he’d gone against her wishes, she didn’t mind. It showed how much he loved her and how determined he was to keep her in his life.