Page 33 of Third Time is the Charm
Shit.
He’d probably texted her. As soon as Nicole turned to look through her lip-gloss shades, Beth reached into the waistband of her yoga pants and pulled out her phone; she must have completely missed the vibrations from his messages.
11:00 -Just boarded. Can’t wait to see you!
12:32 - Just landed!
12:35 - I'm sure you’re just busy, but is everything ok? Haven’t heard from you…
12:47 - Just got in the car. Hope you are still expecting McDreamy as your date.
Beth groaned. He’d referred to himself as ‘McDreamy’, which meant he was worried there was something wrong.Crap.She hastily typed back to him.
~omg I’m so sorry. It’s been a crazy morning… hair… makeup… can’t wait to see you, too!
She partially regretted her words the moment she sent them; she was excited to see him, but probably not in the way that he was excited to see her. If her confrontation with Darcy had shown her anything, it was that she clearly hadn’t resolved the feelings that she had for him.
Maybe it was time that she stopped running and let her heart finally finish breaking. Maybe then she could feel something for someone like Col who was only trying to help piece it back together again.
“Beth!” her mother yelled, snapping her fingers in front of her face. “Where’s your dress? You need to get dressed! We need to leave in fifteen minutes.” Irene was in full-on frantic mode, trying to get everyone organized and ready even though it seemed like most everyone was.
“I’m going. It’s in my room. I’ll meet you at the limo,” Beth said quickly, brushing past her mother’s shocked and reddening face before she could be scolded any more for not bringing her dress to change into here.
Closing the door behind her, she breathed in the silence of the hall, before hurrying back to her room; she’d wanted to change alone, but she also didn’t want to hold everyone up. She tossed on her dress, doing a double-take as she passed by the mirror, not used to seeing her hair and makeup especially while wearing a fancy dress. These few months had done a lot to remove the frequency of galas, balls, and parties from her memory.
Her makeup wasn’t overdone – a gentle neutral gold around her eyes, but enough foundation to conceal the dark circles beneath them. Her hair was just what Jane had briefly described. Pulled back in a low, curled mass, with wisps of waves framing the sides of her face, softening the sadness that seemed to linger there. It flowed with the style of the dress – a comfortable chiffon, not too low or too form-fitting; she looked nice. Not sexy or evocative, just nice.
Good.
She’d unknowingly evoked enough in the past few days; now, she just wanted to blend in and resolve the tumultuous emotions that circled inside of her. Beth shook her head, the time-crunch breaking her trace. She hastily grabbed her clutch, shoving her phone inside the handy, concealed pocket in the dress, and darted out the door.
Leaving her room should have been like crossing the street – where you look both ways before stepping away from the safety of the sidewalk. Instead, Beth liked to rush headfirst into oncoming traffic… or, in this case, Mr. Darcy.
He was also leaving his room, closing his door just as she hurriedly stepped out of hers. By the time she spun around and realized his presence, he was already staring at her with that same hunger melting through his gaze.
“Darcy,” she gasped softly.
He cleared his throat before he found himself able to speak. “Beth…” They stood in silence; their eyes locked, remembering their last encounter. “You look beautiful,” he said hoarsely. His eyes left hers as his hand came up to rub his temples. He hadn’t wanted to say that, but he’d been unable to stop the words from coming out of his mouth, their truth needing to be free.
Beth felt her face flush. “I… ahh… I have to go,” she mumbled, awkwardly turning to start down the hall.
“Shit, I’m sorry. Beth,” his words soft, yet frustrated, “I didn’t mean… I would really like to talk to you. Please.”
The plea in his voice had her stop and turn, seeing the hurt etched across his face and knowing that it was reflecting her own.
“I… um… ok. Maybe. I just… I have to go now,” she conceded, hating herself for still wanting him and wanting to give in to him yet, maybe just a discussion – a good one – could just put their past behind them, and allow her to move on.
His small nod of acknowledgment set her free and she swiftly continued down the hall to the stairs to the lobby, meeting a waiting limo and an annoyed mother inside of it.
“Beth,” Irene huffed. “I was about to tell them to leave without you; we cannot be late!”
Beth just nodded; there was no point in arguing that she’d climbed into the car at exactly one thirty – the time when they were scheduled to leave.
~Just leaving to go to Blue Hill,she texted Col.
-Dang! I’m about five minutes away from the hotel. Just have to change and then I’ll be over. Don’t trip down the aisle ;)
Beth laughed, excited for the comfortableness of his presence; he was the eye, the calm, in the center of this storm.
