Page 171 of The Temporary Fiancée
My father’s arm is around my mother’s waist, his other hand resting gently on her shoulder for support. As I watch them, shestops for a moment and turns to gaze up at him, adoration in her eyes. He smiles at her, then leans down to plant a soft kiss on her forehead.
They work,I think to myself.They just do. Undeniably. And it’s because they would each give anything to make the other happy.
I wonder if Reed and I were ever like that.
Maybe we never were.
Chapter 40
Reed
It’sten at night on December thirty-first, and I’m sitting alone in my living room with a rocks glass of scotch and a skein of yarn, struggling to make my clumsy fingers move in the right ways to form a scarf.
I brought the knitting supplies from my office back to the penthouse. I no longer needed them at work, where I already had plenty to do to occupy myself. After Olivia left, I started to need the distractions at home more than anywhere else.
I’ve been struggling. The past few days have been among the most miserable of my life.
No matter how hard I try, I can’t wrap my head around what happened. I don’t even understand it, not fully. I’m sure I could ask my father for the details, but I’mnotsure he’d tell me the truth—and even if he would, I’m not sure I want to hear it.
The bottom line is, this fucking sucks, and there’s no way around it. I just have to put my head down and make it through.
Outside, my view over the city skyline gives me a good vantage point on the tiny, distant fireworks across the river. They shoot up into the air sporadically and shower sparkles back down to the earth.
Simple, small fireworks, being set off a little prematurely. Nothing like the big display that I’ll inevitably see from my apartment, when it happens. There are too many windows to avoid it.
And I’ll be watching it alone.
I take a gulp of the scotch, then turn my attention back to my ill-formed scarf. This must be the first New Year’s Eve in my entire life where I haven’t done anything. I just don’t feel up to it. I’m not sure where I would go, and all of the usual plans seem hollow and unappealing.
On the coffee table, my phone vibrates. I pick it up; it’s Shane. He’s been calling every day since Olivia left, just to check on me.
In some ways, it feels nice—I think we’re closer now than we’ve ever been in the past. I couldn’t imagine Shane doing this a year ago, let alone two. But here we are.
I answer the call. “Hello?”
“Hey, what are you up to, man?” Shane’s voice is slow, cautious.
“Nothing.”
“What do you mean, ‘nothing?’ It’s New Year’s Eve. Shouldn’t you be out?”
I breathe out quietly, pinching a fraying piece of yarn on the scarf. “Out where?”
“I don’t know. At the club. At a party. I’m sure you got a dozen invites.”
He’s right; I did. I ignored each and every one of them. I’ve ignored multiple calls from several celebrities.
“Come on, Reed,” Shane sighs. “Let’s do something. It’s New Year’s Eve. Thought that was your favorite holiday.”
“It used to be,” I say.
“Please come out. I don’t want you to be alone.”
I frown. “What if I want to be left alone? You ever think of that? Maybe I’m staying in because I’m enjoying my own company, for once.” It was supposed to be a joke, but the words fall flat. I don’t have the energy to crack jokes anymore.
“I’m headed to a party,” Shane says after a short pause. “You should come with me. It might be fun, and if it’s not, you can just head out. But you should at least try to make it to midnight.”
I deliberate for a few seconds, trying to decide whether or not this is worth it. On the one hand, I really,reallydon’t feel like I’m in my best party mood.
