Page 94 of Succeeding Love

Preston shrugged. “Mom’s was saved on my phone. It’s not a big deal.”

“It is a big-” I stopped myself before I let my frustration show too much. Jessie’s smile had already dropped, and she was looking at us like she was scared we were about to fight. “It’s fine,” I said to myself more than to him. “I’ll just pay her back.”

“Why? She won’t care. Vin’s probably paying for her food all weekend.”

I gritted my teeth to keep myself from exploding. Every chance he gets, Preston brings up Fay’s new boyfriend. It’s like he’s just trying to rub it in that she’s moved on and I’m alone without her, miserable in my mistakes.

I grabbed my keys, heading for the door. “I’ll be back in a few hours.”

“Bye, daddy!” Jessie waved after me. “I love you. Have fun!”

“I love you too, honey. I’ll try.”

I looked one last time at Preston, but he was still staring at that damned phone. If it wouldn’t damage things more, I’d take the thing from him.

I was irritated on my drive to the gardens where the charity dinner was taking place. If my bosses were not the ones that invited me to this event, I wouldn’t be going. They purchased the table for our firm and it was an invitation I couldn’t refuse.

The drive was short. Living downtown, all my drives are short, seeing as everything is within a few blocks from my condo. Even with the convenience of a short drive, I still get hits with waves of loneliness at every turn.

Fay is moving on. I’m trying so hard to accept that, even keeping my distance, but it seems to just get harder and harder as time marches on.

My weekends with the kids haven’t been helping. Jessie being Fay’s little clone and Preston rubbing his mother’s relationship in my face at every opportunity keeps me with a bottle of Johnny Walker next to my bed at night for the rest of the week.

Pulling up in line for the valet, I strum my fingers with annoyance on the steering wheel, itching for something to help wain my irritation now. Staying sober with my kids at the condo isn’t the easiest thing.

“Sir,” the valet handed me my ticket as I got out of the car.

I grumbled, “Thanks,” while passing him a twenty.

The stairs leading up to the building were awkwardly spaced, which was great if you wanted to pause and talk to others, which I did not. I just wanted to get this night over with and get back home to spend some time with my daughter and try to turn things around with Preston.

Memories flooded me of Fay on my arm at these events, hugging and talking in that excited way she does to everyone, even acquaintances she’d only seen in passing a few times. She made these events tolerable.

I tried going with Arlene a few times after the divorce, but it was never the same. Arlene felt like a weight, making events like this drag even longer. With Fay, I never noticed the time passing by. She lit up the room just being in it.

“Nick! You made it,” Leroy slapped my back as I walked into the dining area outside of the main conservatory.

Grabbed a glass of wine off the tray from a passing server, I lifted it in greeting before taking a long sip. It was going to be a long night of forced smiles.

“Glad you made it out,” Stevens said, lifting his glass too. His wife was hanging on his arm, clearly already drunk.

“Nick,” she squealed, holding her hand out awkwardly. I gave it a gentle squeeze.

“Your date arrived before you!” She laughed, tossing her body drunkenly against Stevens.

Another wife tried to shush her, but she just looked glossy-eyed and confused, before giggling again.

I was confused. Were they talking about Arlene? She had left this past week for another job, I had thought.

“You’re mistaken, sweety,” Stevens whispered to her.

“Am I?” SHe furrowed her brows, then shrugged. “Okay.”

Another wife or girlfriend hooked her arm in Steven’s wife’s, then pulled her away to the bar.

“Sorry about that,” Stevens said dismissively, but there was still an awkward set to his jaw. “Let’s get you another drink.”

The women love this event every year because of the venue. The gardens and koi ponds get them excited as the men talk business and network. Networking with the city’s most influential people is why the firm buys a table every year, but I’m not in much of a mood for talking with a fake smile today.

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