Page 119 of Catch You

I lift a brow. “You can be ready for a gala in thirty minutes?”

“Okay, forty … forty-five tops.”

“I’m going to go now—I want to check all the details, make sure everything is as it should be. You’ve got a ticket, so just turn up tonight as a guest and find me once you’re inside. You’d be bored.”

“You’re right. I could never look good enough for all your wealthy and famous guests in only forty-five minutes.”

“Brooke, you’re gorgeous just as you are. Any guy would be lucky to have you.”

Her eyes widen.

“You just haven’t found the right one yet.”

Thankfully, my cell alerts me that my car is outside before Brooke can cause me any harm.

Lifting up the front of my full-length, navy evening dress, I make my way toward the front door.

It feels weird, taking a step outside, but at the same time it feels good. I inhale a deep lungful of fresh air and take a moment to center myself. This is what my aunt would want: for me to see this event through and to hold my head high and continue with my life.

I rub my hand over my belly. She’d have loved to meet this one. But clearly it wasn’t meant to be. Much like Corey and I might not be. Only time will tell.

But I can do this.

As I take one step after another, my confidence grows, and a little happiness begins to creep its way in.

My knee bounces on the ride to the venue, nerves fluttering in my belly. But all of that is washed away when I step inside and see my plans in real life.

The rooms look exactly like I’d pictured in my mind, and I can’t help but gasp as I walk into the main room to find the tables laid up as I imagined with the black, white and silver centerpieces looking incredible and drawing everyone’s eyes to the floor-to-ceiling windows on the other side of the room that showcase the ocean beyond. Reese did an incredible job bringing this to life.

“Is it as you hoped it would be?” the woman herself asks, appearing around a corner, looking like a total knock-out in a floor-length red dress.

“And then some. It’s incredible.”

“I’m glad you approve.”

“I can’t thank you enough for all this.”

“You’re more than welcome.”

I look behind her, waiting for Fletch to emerge and knock me on my ass. “Fletch not with you?”

“He’s coming later. He had an errand to run last-minute. Come on, we need to make sure the kitchen’s on schedule.”

With everything running like clockwork, Reese, Mags and I make our way to the entrance to greet our guests as they arrive.

Their limos and expensive cars file around the entrance before the couple of paparazzi snap photos of them.

Reese is cool as a cucumber as she greets everyone enthusiastically, no matter if they’re lifelong Vipers season ticket holders, or A-list celebrities we’ve managed to entice to spend the night parting with their well hard-earned cash. I feel like a hot mess who needs to go and compose herself by the time the stream of people lessens and we’re able to move from the entrance.

“That guest list. You did good, girl.”

“Your boyfriend and the team sure helped. Did you notice how many are women?”

Reese shakes her head, a knowing smile on her face. “I’ll allow them to look—for the cause, you know. But there’s only one bed he’ll be in tonight.” She winks, and I laugh—until my own reality chooses that moment to slam into me. I’ll be going home and climbing into an empty and cold bed.

Reese must see my mood change, because she reaches out to touch my arm. “Still no word?” Brooke couldn’t keep her mouth shut yesterday as she explained that Corey was once again MIA. I was just grateful she managed to keep the reason for it under wraps. For now, at least.

“Nothing.”

---