Page 38 of Must Have Been Love

“I expected that to already happen,” I confess. But somehow Autumn – who has the complete knack for party organizing – has kept them apart. She’s even got a timer set on her phone for making sure that Eileen takes the shuttle home an hour earlier than Mylene.

She showed me the whole schedule on her tablet screen earlier. The amount of planning she put into this sends shivers down my spine. I can’t even plan what I’m having for breakfast tomorrow.

Jesse drives out of the hotel parking lot and I walk back into the reception area, coming to an abrupt halt when I see Hudson talking to the woman dressed as Princess Diana again.

She’s laughing at something he said, her fingers casually tracing the lapel of his suit jacket, though I know enough to tell there’s nothing casual about it. And suddenly all those gazing battles seem juvenile.

Rolling onto the toes of her stupidly high heels she whispers something in his ear, her lips curling like a smug cat who just found a vat of cream. Hudson nods, murmurs something back, and she laughs again.

God, she’s acting so obvious. And I’m so stupidly jealous it’s not funny. There’s a twist in my stomach I hate so much.

What’s your problem? Are you the only one allowed to tease him?

Yes, yes I am. I’m not an idiot, I know there can never be anything between us. He’s him and I’m me and we’re so different it’s not funny. But seeing this woman – who’s completely at his level – flirt so effortlessly, and him act like he’s enjoying it.

It makes me want to throw something.

Instead, I act like the fool I am and stomp through the reception area loud enough for the two of them to stop murmuring sweet nothings and look at me.

“Don’t let me interrupt,” I say. Then I look at Princess Di. “But you should know, he may look pretty now, but he turns back into Shrek at midnight.”

She laughs and he turns to look at me, those dark eyes scanning my face.

I don’t let my gaze get caught by his this time, as I try to sidle past them with some level of dignity. But instead – because the world hates me – the tip of my boot hits the corner of one of the velvet brocade sofas that fill the reception area and I lose my footing. My whole body launches forward as I fly through the damn air and land straight down on my face on the marbled tiles.

“Shit,” I groan, willing the tiles to swallow me up right now.

“Oh my God, are you okay?” Princess Di clacks over. I feel her shadow come over me.

“Skyler?” Hudson murmurs, hunkering down next to me. “Are you bleeding? Jesus, let me look at you.”

I blink, completely dazed. “What?”

“You tripped. Let me look at your face.”

“No need.” I sit up, then scramble to my knees because I need to get out of here,now. “I’m fine. Just a little trip.” Somehow I manage to push myself up to my feet without falling back over, because my head is so damn dizzy from the fall. Then I go to walk away. Okayrun.

Because I can deal with many, many things. But embarrassing myself in front of Hudson and the woman he’s almost certainly going to fuck later isn’t one of them.

I nearly make it out into the garden – where a couple are eating each other’s faces in front of the roses – when a hand wraps itself firmly around my wrist, causing me to skid to a halt.

Some kids party this is turning out to be.

When I turn around, I’m feeling furious. My eyes clash with his. “What do you want?” I ask him. I can deal with him disliking me. But I don’t like the look of concern in his gaze at all.

“To see if you’re okay.”

“I’m fine. I told you I’m fine.” I try to pull away.

He sighs, sounding exasperated. “Come with me.”

“Where?”

“To my office. Let me check you over.”

I look around for Princess Di. “Where’s your friend?” I ask, trying – and failing – not to sound bitchy.

“Gone back to the party. Now come with me and let me check you out.”

---