Page 95 of Eight Steps to Alpha

Chapter 34

For a moment,when she glanced out the window of the Uber, she wasn’t sure she would make it. She felt sick to her stomach, light headed, and dizzy. Elliot sat in the seat beside her, wearing the grey tailored suit they’d purchased together weeks ago. She knew if she told him how she was feeling, he’d have the driver turn around immediately, and that would be the end of it. But that was the last thing she wanted.

Slipping her gold clutch down on her wrist, she counted to ten. She could do this. She needed to do this. She needed to make things right.

The car pulled up to his office building a few minutes later, and when they climbed into the elevator she realized she’d never been quite so nervous. Maybe because she was about to walk out on a balcony and meet hundreds of people she’d never met, or maybe because she still worried she might throw up. But if she was honest with herself, it was because for the first time since all of this happened, she’d see Elliot with Mary.

The doors opened on the floor of the balcony, where Elliot immediately placed his hand on the small of her back urging her forward. She took a deep breath, taking in the scene before them, as dozens of people gathered around the bar, the small tables, drinking champagne and other spirits.

She twisted the strap of her clutch around her finger. “So this is it?” she asked.

He nodded, taking two glasses of chardonnay from a passing tray and handed one to her. “You okay?” he asked

She chewed on her inner cheek and nodded. She wouldn’t let this night be about her. She wouldn’t let her anxiety get the best of her. “Yes. I’m fine. Do you want to sit?”

His mouth was set in a hard line, but he finally nodded, taking her hand as he guided her toward the bar. She hooked one heel up on the rung of bar stool and hoisted herself up to sit, carefully smoothing the fabric of her skirt into place.

“You look beautiful,” he whispered to her.

Her heart skipped a beat and she nodded. “You too.”

She forced a smile, then brushed a lock of hair away from his face so she could see him better. “It’s time for another trim I think.”

His brow furrowed but he pulled back from her touch. “Probably.”

She bit her lip, then turned her face to one shoulder, because she thought she might cry. She deserved it. Why in the world would he want her to touch him after all of this.

A boisterous laugh came from the end of the bar, and Fe followed the sound, welcoming the interruption. An old man with a round belly sat in the corner of the room, laughing so hard he looked like he was about to choke. She glanced back to Elliot and swallowed. “Is he okay?”

Elliot nodded. “That’s Joe. He’s always coughs like that.”

“Really?”

“Yeah…he’ll be passed out drunk on the bathroom by the end of the night.”

“Poor Joe.” But truthfully she loved Joe. Because Joe, he’d given them something to talk about. Something that was easy, and normal. She scanned the rest of the patio, her shoulders starting to relax. There were so many people, all tiny pieces of Elliot’s existence.

He leaned in close to her ear then, and nodded toward another man sitting alone at a table. “See that guy over there?” he whispered. “That’s Fred.” His voice was soft and low, meant just for her.

He turned in the opposite direction and pointed at another woman. “And that woman with the red hair, that’s Jill. I found them naked in the mail room the other day.”

Fe covered her mouth. “Seriously?”

His lips turned in an adorable grin and he took a drink. “No.”

“What?” Now she was confused. Did he? Or did he not?

Elliot’s jaw tightened, and he set his drink on the bar again. “You looked stressed.”

A lump formed in the back of her throat, and she swallowed. He wanted to make her feel better. After all of this. She didn’t even have words to express how she felt right now. Her nose began to burn and her chest tightened at the same time. How could Mary not immediately see what was right in front of her? How could anyone not—

But in that moment, glasses started clinking together, and people started hollering all over the patio.

Without asking, Fe knew it was Mary. She was here. After all these weeks, after all these days.

Turning in her seat, Fe locked eyes on a woman with blond hair that was pulled back into a perfect French twist. Her skin was flawless, her body slender. But at the same time, she wasn’t what Fe was expecting. When Elliot had described her, the vision that popped into Fe’s mind was of a supermodel. Tall, gorgeous, and perfect. This woman was pretty, sweet even, but still… real.

Elliot lifted his head, following her line of vision, and she knew right away he’d seen her too. His body language immediately changed. Became stiffer, more at attention. She wanted to turn away from it all, to close her eyes, and pick up her glass and down the whole thing, because she didn’t want to see that reaction. She was sure he was nervous, and excited, and a whole gamete of other emotions after not seeing her for so long, but she didn’t want to see it.

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