Page 26 of The Perfect Mistake

We arrive at the venue. Connie and Gabriel have rented a rooftop location, complete with a glass ceiling and a giant outdoor terrace, in central Midtown. The fall air is too cold for spending much time outdoors, but infrared heaters keep the terrace warm and well lit.

There are elegantly dressed people everywhere, none of whom I know.

Heads turn toward Alec when we walk in. I might not know anyone here, but it’s clear they all know him. Whether personally or by reputation, I’m not sure.

And then, their gazes shift to me. Speculation is clear in many.

A dark-haired man approaches us. I’ve never met him, but I recognize him from the pictures. “Hey,” he says to Alec with indifference that only a little brother can exhibit. Then, he turns to me with a smile. “You, I haven’t met. I’m Nate.”

“Isabel,” I say and extend a hand.

His eyebrows rise. “Oh, you’re Connie’s friend?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

He glances at Alec before giving me another smile. “I’ve heard a lot about you. Come on, let’s get you a drink.”

It takes me a second to understand why he may have looked so excited as he walked over. Did he think I arrived as Alec’s date?

Did the other guests who noticed us?

Nate starts heading toward the bar, and I glance back at Alec. His unreadable eyes are on me, and he gives a tiny nod. Go. So I do.

The bar is sleek and modern, all dark wood with a few silver accents. Just like the rest of the décor. A pulsing, melodic beat streams from the hidden speakers. It’s a beautiful venue, filled with beautiful people.

Nate’s charming and easy to talk to. It’s clear that he’s taken me under his wing, and I wonder if it’s because Connie told him to do so. I can see her in the distance, but everyone at the party is eager to congratulate her, and I’m not about to interrupt her victory parade.

“So you’re working for my brother,” Nate says. “How did that happen?”

I give him a rueful smile and the entire story, albeit a condensed version, over a glass of champagne. My fingers feel tight around the delicate stem of the flute. For many years, I rarely drank. It was a liability, a detriment to my dancing. My physical health. Now, that’s no longer a factor… but it still feels like I’m doing something I shouldn’t.

Breaking the rules.

“My deepest condolences,” Nate says when I’m done. “Not just for the hip injury, but also for having to put up with madness.”

“Oh, I like my job. Sometimes it’s challenging, but Willa and Samuel are fun. I enjoy spending time with them.”

Nate’s smile widens. “Yeah, my niece and nephew are great. My brother on the other hand… He’s the one you have to put up with.”

I look across the dance floor and the few couples swaying in tune. It doesn’t take long to spot Alec. He’s taller than most, and his profile cuts a sharp line in the distance. He’s talking to a few other men in tuxes.

Even from afar, he looks tense.

I wonder if he ever relaxes. If anyone can ever persuade him to.

“He hasn’t been so bad,” I say. “At least… not yet.”

Nate chuckles. “That’s the right attitude. If he tries to boss you around, take it with a grain of salt, will you? He has the best of intentions but terrible bedside manners sometimes.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Connie speaks highly of you, and I’d hate for an employment-related misunderstanding to ruin your friendship.” His eyes are kind, but there’s clear calculation there. Of course. He’s a Connovan, too.

While he’s fun to talk to, it doesn’t last long. Nate gets pulled away by other guests, and I’m left alone by the bar, hand around my glass and looking out at the crowd. Several couples have started to dance. Across the room, I spot Connie and Gabriel surrounded by a group of people.

This past spring, she was single. Now she’s married and in love, busier at work than ever, and happy. While I’m… single as ever… and feeling rudderless.

I take a long sip of my drink. I haven’t attended many parties, gone out, or done anything but focus on routines, stretching, sleep, and nutrition.

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