Page 93 of Vow to Hate You

I watched him disappear around a corner as I hung my purse on the back of my chair. The restaurant was busy, everyone enjoying the food and atmosphere.

A warmth spread through me, making my heart skip, and I shifted in my chair, blowing out a long breath. It was far too easy to forget about the rest of my life when I was enjoying my time with Damian. Which I had been ever since we talked.

I’d gone to his club a couple times, and while I hadn’t gone on stage, I helped in the back. Watching Damian in his element during the rehearsals, creating new dances, was one of my favorite things. There was no doubt he loved his club. I’d even helped with new music, and Damian had loved all my choices.

The more time I spent there, the more I realized how important the club was to him. He was happy when he was there, and he worked his ass off, especially when he had to balance being in business with his father.

My phone dinged, and I looked at the new text, a frown forming at the unknown number. I opened the conversation.

Unknown:

Hello, Natalia. Your husband gave me your number. This is Georgia, and I’ve been wanting to meet again since the amazing seafood dinner you hosted. I would love to have dinner to talk more about your overseas adventures. Please let me know what day works for you, and I’ll fit it in my schedule.

It took me a moment to put her name to a face, but then I smiled. She was the woman who was supposed to go into business with my father to invest in Charleston Tower. I quicklytexted her back, giving her a few days when I could meet with her. In all the years of meeting people in my father’s life, she was the only person I enjoyed talking with.

After putting my phone away, I lazily looked around, only to freeze when I spotted a familiar face a couple of tables away. Jack was sitting by himself, and panic set in, wondering if my father-in-law was here since Jack was always with him. If that were the case, this night was about to be ruined.

He glanced up, meeting my gaze for a moment before giving me a small nod. After throwing some bills on the table, he got up, striding toward the exit. He only had a glass of water on the table. I frowned, watching him leave.

“Here you are.”

I raised my eyes to see Lorenzo approaching the table. The bottle of wine in his hand had me going still. He set the two long-stemmed glasses on the table. My heart tugged painfully as memories swarmed me.

“Is red okay?” Lorenzo asked, studying my reaction. “Damian orders it every time he comes in.”

I stared at the wine label. “He does?”

“He’s told me it’s his favorite.” He set the glasses down and began pouring one for me, giving me a kind smile. “It reminds him of his wife.”

My eyes snapped to his, shock coursing through my veins. “Damian said that?”

“What did I say?” Damian appeared behind Lorenzo before making his way toward me and brushing a kiss on my cheek. “Sorry I’m late.”

Straightening up, he froze at the sight of the wine bottle. It didn’t take long to curb his surprise, and he greeted Lorenzo warmly. “Thank you for saving the table for us.”

“Of course.” Lorenzo finished pouring the second glass before setting the bottle on the table. “You two enjoy.”

Damian unbuttoned his suit jacket before taking the seat across from me. My pulse was still beating wildly as I wrapped my fingers around the wine glass to take a sip.

“This is your favorite wine?” I questioned. “Since when?”

He chuckled. “When do you think, Talie? I think that night is one of my favorite memories.”

My stomach fluttered. It had been a month before my eighteenth birthday when we took wine from his father’s collection. That night it had been only us two, and not our usual group of friends. We’d spent hours dancing and making different mixes of music. If I was being honest, it was one of my favorite memories too.

I swallowed thickly before saying what had been nagging me for years. “You didn’t kiss me that night.”

A muscle in his jaw clenched. “No, I didn’t.”

“Why?”

He sighed, leaning back while drumming his fingers on the table. Indecision was sprawled on his face, giving me a rare look at the emotions he usually hid. His reaction was causing my pulse to race.

“Why?” I repeated. “And why do you look scared to answer?”

He hesitated. “Did your father ever talk to you about…your marriage choices?”

Ice slid through my veins. “What?”

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