Page 74 of Pulled Away

A server circling the room carrying a tray of champagne glasses stops in front of us, and I take one with a grateful smile. It’s not often I get to drink champagne, so tonight, I’m taking full advantage. Besides, a bit of liquid courage won’t hurt.

“I’m so proud of Maya,” Bailey says, eying the packed gallery. She looks so gorgeous and sophisticated in the floor-length gown that skims her curves lightly, with her hair styled into a loose chignon.

Kallan thinks so as well, judging by the possessive hand he has on her hip and the frowns he shoots at any man bold enough to look at her for longer than three seconds.

“I’m sure this is only the start of good things for her,” Rose murmurs, her eyes scanning the crowd. “How is the new place?” she says, turning to me.

“It’s amazing.”

I look at Kallan, giving him my first real smile of the evening. When Andrew moved out, Kallan offered me the use of the apartment—forgoing a deposit because I was a friend—and I jumped at the chance. I was so grateful I could have kissed him. Bonus—it came fully furnished. All I needed was to buy a bed. I’ve been there for a week, and I’m loving it.

It’s not that I didn’t enjoy living with Carter. I did. We fell into an easy rhythm, and I’ll be forever grateful that he took me in, but it was time for me to strike out on my own.

The apartment isn’t big, but I like that about it. It’s not like I need a lot of space, and it’s cozy and private, away from the main house. Once I have the rescue going, I’m not planning on being there much, anyway. It’s a bit out of the way, but compared to Boston traffic, the commute is a breeze, so I can’t complain.

“Don’t you dare thank me again,” Kallan mutters, making Bailey chuckle.

“Yes, please don’t. He likes to pretend he’s grumpy, and he doesn’t like being reminded that he’s actually a big softy.”

“I’ll show you ‘softy’ when we get home,” he grumbles, tightening his hand on her hip and pulling her closer to him. I have to refrain from fanning myself from the look he gives her.

“Incoming,” Rose murmurs and I see Hannah and Aiden walk up, accompanied by Ryan. My knee-jerk reaction is to look to see if I can see Hadley with him, but then I remind myself that she finally got the message and left town. I have no idea where she is now, and I have absolutely no desire to know.

“Hello, Aspen.”

Hearing his voice after so long evokes a maelstrom of emotions within me. Not so long ago, hearing it every day was normal. Now it’s like he’s some kind of casual acquaintance you see from time to time.

“Hey,” I say faintly, not sure where to look. Fuck, I need to get over this. Squaring my shoulders, I look at him. I can put our past behind me and treat him like he didn’t mean the world to me not so long ago. I can. “How are you?”

“You look beautiful,” he breathes, not hiding the appreciation in his eyes and sidestepping my question.

Buying this dress was the first money I spent on myself in what feels like forever and I felt guilty, but seeing the look in Ryan’s eyes makes it worth it. It shouldn’t, but it does. Even if it is just to show him what he lost.

“Thank you. I think we all turned out quite well.”

And it’s true. In a small town like this, there’s not a lot of opportunity to dress up, and it looks like we all took advantage of it.

“Hey guys,” a jittery Maya breathes, grabbing Piper’s champagne glass and downing it in one go, making us all snicker.

When I got here, she was talking to someone who I hope is interested in buying one of her paintings. I didn’t want to interrupt, so I gave her a little wave and kept myself busy looking at the paintings.

I’m no art connoisseur, but I have no doubt her paintings will be a hit. Maya paints with her soul. She’s quiet and doesn’t wear her emotions on her sleeve, so what she keeps inside comes out in her paintings. In a spectacular way.

“Relax Maya,” Piper says, plucking the glass from Maya’s hands and gripping them. “Everyone loves your paintings.”

“You really think so?”

“Yes,” we all chorus.

“Thank you, guys.” She takes a deep breath, glancing around. “Has anyone seen Nathan?”

Her face drops when we keep quiet. I’m going to punch Nathan in the face when I see him again. Tonight is huge for Maya. Getting this opportunity was a stroke of luck. A case of being at the right place at the right time.

She was painting in the park when the woman who owns this gallery approached her, expressing interest in seeing more of her work. They scheduled a meeting, and the rest is, as they say, history. She likes to promote young talent and signed Maya on immediately. Tonight is the opening night of a gallery showing featuring four young and upcoming artists.

It’s been hours, and he’s still not here.

“Bastard. He promised he’d be here,” Piper mutters.

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