Page 43 of The Wicked

“See, that wasn’t so difficult, was it?”

15

SARA

“So, why’d you run out on me last week?”

It was the question I’d been both expecting and dreading, and Garrett waited until the main course had been served—a mouth-wateringly delicious stone-baked pizza topped with pepperoni and artichokes—to ask it. Coincidence? I didn’t believe that for a moment. Apart from his little speech in the car, he’d remained steadfastly in control at all times.

“I didn’t run out on you. I ran out on the situation.”

“You didn’t want to take off your mask?”

“I crashed the party, remember?”

Luckily, that answer seemed to satisfy him.

“Shame—you missed the catfight between Lillian and Hadley.”

A piece of pepperoni went down the wrong way, and I had a coughing fit.Way to impress the hot out-of-your-league guy, Saralisa.A waiter materialised with a glass of water, and I drank nearly all of it before I could speak again.

“Are you serious?”

“That’s what happens when you mix alcohol and the glitterati.”

“Why? What were they fighting about?”

“A guy. Lillian was flirting—futilely—and Hadley took offence because she’s made a number of ill-conceived passes at the same man over the years and thought that gave her some sort of claim on him.”

“Wow. I thought Lillian looked slightly bruised on Sunday.”

“You saw her?”

Ah, crap. Lillian wasn’t the only person who needed to think before she spoke.

“Uh, only in passing. Who was the guy?”

Charming gave a little smirk. “Me. And while I was busy untangling Hadley’s hair extensions from Lillian’s jewellery, my brother decided to go skinny-dipping, and his girlfriend snuck out the side door because apparently one DUI isn’t enough for that brat.”

“Did she get pulled over?”

“No, thank fuck, but she lost the side mirror off her friend’s car.”

I noticed that Garrett was drinking water tonight, even though he’d ordered me a glass of rosé. It seemed he took his chauffeuring duties seriously, and for that I was grateful.

“I’m sorry they gave you trouble. Do you have any other siblings?”

“An older sister. She lives in New York. How about you?”

“I’m an only child.” An only child who didn’t want to discuss her family or her past. “Have you been to this restaurant before? The food’s really good.”

This was no cheap chain place. The pasta was home-made, the music was soft and classical, and the furnishings bordered on opulent, although the number of naked flames did concern me. There were three candles on our table alone, and were the padded velvet chairs fire retardant?

He shook his head. “I found it online while you were fixing your hair.”

“Mental note: next time, bring more hair ties. Not that I’m assuming there’ll be a next time. I mean, a next time with you. I might just go skydiving on my own.”

“Unless you flee the state.”

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