Page 58 of More Than Nothing
“And yet still we find ourselves blessed with your company tonight.” Caitlyn’s words were sweetly delivered as she refilled her glass with water and offered the bottle to the rest of the table.
Trust Cait to provide the light relief. Elenie wiped away a smile that fought to surface against her will. Finding no ready answer to the putdown, Craig leaned back in his chair and began a loud conversation over his shoulder with someone on another table as they waited for their entrées.
Zena delicately buttered a wholewheat roll. “What do you do for a living, Melanie?”
“Elenie,” said Caitlyn and Roman together.
“I’m a waitress.”
“Interesting,” Zena said in a voice that could not have been less interested. “Are you looking for a real job?”
Elenie’s fingers tightened around the stem of her glass.
“Zena.” Roman’s use of his fiancée’s name was glacial.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. I’m happy for you if you like what you do.” She wrinkled her perfect nose the perfect, adorable amount. “But I couldn’t work in that kind of sweaty, steamy atmosphere day after day. I can feel my pores weeping in sympathy just thinking about it.”
Across the table, Thea rolled her eyes.
Elenie took a sip of wine. “Did you know your skin loses its elasticity as you get older? That causes it to sag, making your pores seem larger. If you can feel them doing anything, they’re probably drooping rather than weeping.” She flashed Zena a careful smile. “Not that you’re old. Just older than me.”
Roman’s fiancée gave a tight laugh. “It’s so interesting to have you and your boyfriend here. Your attendance fills a much-needed gap in the guest list.” She laid her napkin with deliberate care on the table and rose to her feet. “Excuse me for a moment. I need to use the bathroom.”
“Wow,” Caitlyn murmured sarcastically to Milo. “Roman’sfiancéeis kind of an ass. Who knew.”
Thea glared at Roman. “No wonder you only brought her home once.”
Elenie hoped the tips of her ears weren’t as hot as they felt. “Sorry,” she mouthed at Roman. The air crackled between them as their eyes caught and held. For a searing, molten moment in time, nothing else existed. Roman’s pupils flared.
Craig chose that minute to swing back to the table, slamming Elenie’s shoulder as he did. She jolted forward, catching her glass with her hand and sending white wine spilling across the tablecloth. “Bloody hell, babe,” he groused. “It’s a good job the wine’s included in the ticket. You threw the last one I bought you on the fucking floor!”
A waitress appeared at her shoulder with a plate of food and Elenie had to fight to find her voice. A sideways flick of her eyes caught unguarded fury on Roman’s face for just a second. He looked one small step away from a table-flipping rampage. Was it so wrong to hope he was fighting an overwhelming urge to grab Craig by the collar and smash his head into the table? Just the thought of Roman breaking Craig’s nose into a plate of mediocre beef tenderloin and gravy gave her a sense of grim satisfaction.
Zena slid back into her seat.
Howard speared a carrot and eyed Elenie. “You’re related to Frank Dax?”
“He’s married to my mother.”
He gave a sniff, his eyes flat like pebbles behind round glasses, and turned his shoulder to her. She was doing well with the small talk this evening.
Elenie focused on her meal; the food smelled better than it looked. It was warm and tasty but she could barely eat a thing. The lemon and blueberry cheesecake dessert, both sharp and sweet on her tongue, should have been delicious. Instead, it stuck to the roof of her mouth and she struggled to swallow it.
Zena held court while coffee was poured, recounting legal battles she’d fought and won. She was enviably self-possessed. Over the rim of her cup, Caitlyn caught Elenie’s eye, rolling her own in an arc so huge she nearly sprained them.
Eventually, Craig pushed back his chair. “We’re going to love you and leave you. It’s been a pleasure but I need to socialize.” He winked at Zena and circled an impatient hand in Elenie’s direction. “Come on, Ellie. Chop, chop!”
Then he whistled at her. Like a dog.
Caitlyn’s eyes went wide and then narrowed. Milo let out a strangled cough which sounded suspiciously like “what a dick.” Elenie appreciated their support even as a flush of embarrassment climbed her neck.
“Excuse me,” she murmured quietly, tucking her chair under the table. “It appears I have to chop. Twice.”
Thea snorted. Caitlyn grinned. Elenie gave Roman a sideways glance and then she followed Craig across the room.
The evening dragged painfully on.
Craig drank more and laughed louder. He either ignored her or grabbed her ass, depending on whether he was talking shop or trying to impress his buddies. Less and less networking was conducted as his alcohol consumption increased. Two of Craig’s friends hit on Elenie with him standing right beside them. He roared withlaughter and took it as a direct compliment to his manliness, rather than the insult to his date their lewd comments implied.
