Page 13 of Valentine's Day Proposal

My heart was always, and probably would always be only for Willow, even if she didn’t want it.

I looked down, trying to make it look like I hadn’t seen her. Willow protested, reaching for a tray of champagne that passed by. I held her arm down and tried to make her move away, but she smacked my hand playfully and chuckled like a half-drunk, ditzy blonde. I rolled my eyes, offending Peter’s cardinal rule about displaying my distaste for her in public. If he was watching, I’d get a lecture later.

“Charles?” The voice tingled my neck. I cringed, my shoulders dropping. Despite my best attempts to move away from her, Irene had seen us. “Charles Perish, is that you? My god, I thought that was you.” I turned toward the sound of her voice and saw her approaching. As I turned, Willow saw her too, a large smile spreading across both of their faces at once.

“Irene?”

“Willow!”

They spoke at once, their voices colliding in the air in front of me, but it may as well have been the sound of a bomb exploding. I clenched my jaw. If I didn’t control this conversation, I was going to have a very difficult night.

“Irene, you remember—”

She pushed me out of the way and wrapped her arms around Willow. They hugged for a moment then held each other at arm’s length, grinning. My chest tightened. Seeing them together again was a bittersweet moment. They had been like Laverne and Shirley, always together, joined at the hip. Then Willow was gone. I learned from Irene later on that she had just vanished, not leaving a forwarding address or number either. She canceled her cell plan and that was it.

“Oh my god, how are you?” Irene swatted at the air. The giant diamond on her finger bobbling and reflecting light. At least she was engaged so she seemed less threatening if Willow found out.

“I’m good.” Willow hugged my arm like a good little actress. She had traded her empty flute for a full one when I wasn’t looking. I was probably gawking at Irene and trying to come up with a believable story as to why I wanted to leave all the sudden.

“What are you up to? I heard you two got married. Good for you! I let this one get away.” Irene pinched my arm, getting more suit coat than skin, and grinned as she sipped her champagne.

“You what?” Willow took her drink to her mouth and blinked. I could see the way she used the flute to hide her surprise. I wanted to back into the wall and melt away. Pretend this entire night hadn’t happened. I had no way of knowing Irene would be here. Last I heard she was in Boston, working for a law firm up there.

“He didn’t tell you? Well, I suppose not. When you left, everyone was shocked. Charles and I dated for more than a year. I was holding out for a ring, but thankfully it never happened. Now I’m engaged and slated to be partner.” She wiggled her finger in front of both of us, presenting the oversized diamond. So, she was the “sleeping her way to the top” type of woman. Made a lot of sense now.

“Really….” Willow turned to look at me. No shame now in revealing her scowl. “You dated my ex-boyfriend? After I left college?”

“Well, it was really after graduation, but yeah.” Irene seemed to be enjoying this, choking me with my own past. There was nothing there to draw any media circus, but Willow would create a scene. I could see it in her eyes.

“It was nice talking with you, Irene.” Before either of them could protest, I nodded, turned away—Willow still gripped at my side—and started walking.

I didn’t get two steps before Willow elbowed me in the ribs, hard. “You fucking bastard. You waited what, three months before you started dating her?” She charged ahead of me, and I went after her, dodging through clusters of chatting dignitaries and constituents. I apologized at least a hundred times as I weaved my way to the outer hall where we had a bit more privacy.

“Willow, come on and listen.”

“Three months, Charles? That’s all? You got over me in three months?”

“It was almost five, okay.”

I thought her eyes would bug out. Her face was beat red, probably from the rage her face exhibited. Even her chest was flushed, her breasts pink and enticing. I blinked, trying not to be aroused by this even as I realized how angry she was. Willow screamed through clenched teeth, not the first time since our wedding I’d seen her do that. She had clenched fists and tears brimming in her eyes.

“What. I’m sorry. It was over. What did you want me to do? Never date again? You dated people. I saw you at Tifany’s dinner that night with that doctor.”

She shook her head. When she blinked tears streaked across her face. “You’re right. I dated. But it was two years before I even considered it. And I’d never have dated Trevor.”

“That’s because Trevor was a douche.” I laughed, but it was clearly the wrong move. She turned and stormed off.

“Willow…” I didn’t bother following her this time. “Willow, come back. Peter is going to be furious.”

“I don’t fucking care,” she called over her shoulder. Trevor—college friend of mine—was a douche, but I got her point. I knew I was crossing a line when I kissed Irene in that library, and fuck the sex wasn’t even that great. Not like it was with Willow. I pinched the bridge of my nose and closed my eyes.

Had she never heard of a rebound relationship? My heart was broken too, just not the way hers was, and I found comfort in another woman’s arms. I didn’t know Willow would come back into my life like this. I had no way of knowing she would ever be back.

When I lowered my hand, she was gone. Turned a corner or left the building. Either way, I didn’t see her anymore. I kept finding ways to fuck this up. I was no good at relationships at all. I’d proven that years ago when I got scared she was pulling away and dumped her before she could dump me. And here I was contractually obligated to be with her when she clearly wanted nothing but the money.

I sighed and looked back at the ballroom. Peter would have my head, but I couldn’t go back in there. Not tonight. I’d rather collect my coat and walk the streets for a while to clear my head. Maybe by the time I got home, Willow would be sleeping.

12

---