Page 13 of Wrecked
“Well, you kind of have to come. I invited Dimitri tonight, and I told him you would be there,” she mutters. At least she has the decency to sound apologetic.
Dimitri works with my sister at their law firm, Stokes and Baros. In fact, his familyisBaros. They went to boarding school together, graduated pre-law together, and remained friends while at their respective graduate schools. She always planned to work for his family’s firm and often interned there on school breaks.
It seemed like she might have been redirecting her plans when they decided to move back home. Nate’s dad offered her a position with his firm, considering she was going to be family.I wonder if she knew how that asshole treated his family.Regardless,after Nathaniel died, she decided to stay with Stokes and Baros. I was shocked by her decision considering they are Westin & Associates leading competitor.
Katie had garnered quite a reputation early in her education. The cases she took as an intern showcased her talent for discovery and branded her as a rising star in the courtroom. Several law firms were vying for her attention long before she passed the bar exam. The offers only increased during her first year at the firm. She has a talent for defense and only takes on clients she believes are innocent. Most young lawyers don’t get that option, but she’s justthatgood.
It’s likely why Nathaniel wanted her.
He passed away right before she made the transfer, so Katie decided to remain loyal to Baros, staying on with the promise of future partnership. Nate didn’t take his bar exam, despite the years of schooling. Nathaniel died weeks before his scheduled testing date, and he opted out after that. A decision that was shocking to most, but not me. He never wanted to be his father. He never even wanted topleasehis father. The fact that he went away to law school confirms that Nathaniel was firmly in control of him. I just don’t know how.
“What does Dimitri being there have to do with me?” I ask, but I already know the answer.
“Els, come on. Give him a chance? He has such a crush on you, and he is just so sweet. I wouldn’t try to set you two up if he wasn’t genuinely a good guy.”
“A crush, Katie? Are we in middle school? And you know what? If he is so great, why didn’t you ever date him?”
“Funny, Ellie.” She doesn’t sound amused, she sounds disappointed.
“What’s going on, Katie? What is this really about?” I ask gently.
“I just think… I don’t know.” She sighs. “Maybe…if you were seeing someone…it might help. Maybe it would just be good…for everyone.”
I’ve never heard Katie speak so haphazardly before. She is usually the picture of poise, her words are always concise, not…whatever that muddled mess was.
“I’m twenty-five years old. I don’t feel a rush to meet someone and get married. I’m perfectly content to be single right now.” It’s the truth. I’ve never felt compelled to be in a serious relationship with anyone. Not since Nate. I have tried, but it never felt right.
Because you never stopped loving him.
My inner voice needs to learn how to shut the fuck up.
“I’m sorry, El. I know. I just…Nathan is everything to me.”
“That’s great…I’m happy for you.” My lie is laced with confusion. I’m not sure where she is going with this.
“I think if you found your person, things would be easier,” she states quietly.
“What…things? And for who?”
Her silence is deafening. I can hear my heart beating rapidly in my chest as I wonder if this is when she is going to clamp her jaws.
“Nothing. Just…can we forget I said anything? No worries about dinner tonight. I’ll let Dimi know.”
“No, no…it’s ok. I’ll go. Who knows? Maybe he will be the most epic love of my life,” I joke to lighten the mood. I don’t really want to go, but I don’t want to give Katie a reason to worry. She clearly feels threatened by my poorly veiled attraction to her fiancé. I don’t want her to think I would interfere with her relationship, regardless of Nate’s cryptic admission. She’s theonlyperson that has never hurt me, and I owe her my loyalty above all else.
“Thank you, Els, I’ll see you tonight at seven. We are going to Mitchel’s on seventh avenue.” She hangs up quickly, but not before I can hear her soft sniffle filter through the line.
I grab the bottle of Malbec and drink straight from the source. If I get drunk now, I’ll be sober again by dinner. I definitely need the liquid courage to get through the rest of the day without bailing on plans tonight.
Katie loves Nate. Nate loves Katie. And right now, I’m nothing more than a complication. I moved back to my hometown several month ago and thought that exposing myself to their relationship would help me move on. Years of suffering eventually numbed me of all feelings, so it should have been easy enough to finally let go. But every time our eyes meet, that invisible cord tethering my soul to his tugs at my chest and brings my heart back to life. A heart that should hate him. If only it still belonged to me. I gave it away nine years ago, and now it only beats for him.
So…I guess I just have to stop the beating.
I love Katie, and I need to put her first. I would do anything for her, even if it means breaking my own heart.
CHAPTER 7
NATE (SENIOR YEAR, HIGH SCHOOL)
