Page 208 of Ewan

41

SCARLETT

I climbout in front of a nice house in Long Island, a few towns away from where I live.

Several cars are parked in the driveway, and more cars are pulling in. It’s a big party.

Elisa greets me in the foyer, where I remove my overcoat and leave it with the housekeeper.

Colley’s mother moves away from me as a dozen people walk in.

This would be the perfect moment to get lost in their big house and find a guest to talk to for the rest of the evening, but first, I need to find Colley.

He’s the reason I am here.

I find him surrounded by gifts––his mother was right––and girls and boys with flushed cheeks.

His face brightens up when he sees me.

We exchange a few words, and I give him his gift before he thanks me and insists that I allow him to kiss my cheek.

I grant him his wish, a little flushed and emotional as he does that, and then, I let him enjoy his party while I retreat to the foyer.

People are still walking in, and I grab a cocktail from a server’s tray and pull to the side when the door opens again, and two men wearing suits stride in.

The younger one walks in first.

He carries a bouquet of roses while the man behind him has a beautifully wrapped gift in his hand.

The moment I set my eyes on him, the scaffolding of justifications I have created in my mind these two weeks collapses in a cloud of dust.

With a shaking hand, I put my drink on the window sill, and attempt to step back when a voice rings next to me.

“Not so fast,” Elisa says, and I whip my eyes to her.

She grabs me by the arm and pulls me to the side outside of the two men’s view.

“What is this?” I ask, trembling inside.

She nudges me into the reading room and closes the door behind us. A faint scent of mint and orange peel spins around the room.

“You have to give this man a chance,” she says in a firm voice.

My eyes go wide, my mouth pulling open.

“You set me up?” I murmur.

She gestures at me dismissively.

“That’s nonsense. No one has set you up.”

“Does he know I’m here?”

“He’ll find out soon.”

“Uh… What is this again?”

She sucks in a troubled breath.

---