Page 137 of In Spades

Her eyes were trained on Elena who, along with everyone else in the crowd, stared at me.

“What is she talking about?” Kristin’s voice trembled as she whispered under her breath. Her hand, still clasped in mine, was shaking.

“Mr. Solomon,” Elena said from the stage, “Would you come up and say a few words?”

Kristin’s hoarse words were drowned out by the applause. “Is this a joke?”

Hannah Jane and Isaac appeared behind her. Hannah reached out and brushed her arm. “Babe, let’s step outside and talk.”

Kristin’s attention turned to them both. “You knew.”

Hannah Jane closed her eyes, but she didn’t deny it. Just nodded.

Kristin swallowed. “You lied to me. You all lied to me.”

“Sunshine, I’ve gotta go up there or I’ll make a scene,” I said, giving her hand a squeeze. “Don’t leave.” My voice broke on every syllable. “Please don’t leave. Give me a chance to explain.”

With that, I let go of her hand and made my way through the crowd to the stage.

Elena deserved to be strangled right there, but I had to compartmentalize my wrath. I was more concerned about fumbling through a few bland remarks so I could get the hell out of here, sit down with Kristin, and explain everything.

I’d given a few of these little speeches over the years. I could recite them in my sleep—even throw in the quips that were sure to get a few laughs. As my lips mumbled through the pleasantries, my eyes fell on Kristin.

Beautiful Kristin in that red dress had tears streaming down her face as she stared at me like I was a stranger. Hannah Jane stood beside her, saying something, but Kristin paid her no mind. She just stared at me, lip quivering.

Crushed.

I turned to give the jazz band a cue to resume playing. When I turned back around, all I saw was Hannah Jane and Isaac chasing after a swath of red fabric fluttering out the ballroom door.

31

KRISTIN

Red. All I saw was red as tears streamed down my cheeks. How could I have been such a fool? How could I have been so stupid to trust him?

“Kristin!” Hannah Jane shouted my name as I ran across the employee parking lot to my car.

I didn’t know what I would have done if I didn’t have my own ride. The universe was apparently on my side. I would rather have walked the twenty miles back home than gotten in a car with William Solomon.

“Kris! Wait!” Isaac yelled, sprinting out of the building behind me.

I didn’t stop running. Never looked over my shoulder. Everyone could go fuck themselves. I beelined for my car and peeled out of the parking lot.

My phone vibrated inside the cupholder. Will’s name lit up the screen.

“Fuck you!” I shouted and threw it into the floorboard. I smacked the steering wheel again, desperate to pour my anger out on something. “Fuck you, Will Solomon!”

Everything with Will had been so good. We were good. Better than good—we were perfect. But the moment Elena Callaway said his name, my world shattered.

He played me like a fool. And like the fool I was, I fell for it.

I fell hard and fast like a skydiver with no parachute, free falling. Oblivious until the moment I crashed.

Hannah Jane knew.

Isaac knew.

With the way gossip flew through this town, I was certain I was the only one out of the loop.

---