Page 42 of I'm Not Done with You Yet

“Oh, Brooklyn! I know the area well; my aunt lives there. Great, I’ll pick you up first thing tomorrow morning.”

And just like that, it’s been decided.

19

Nine Years Ago

Oxford, England

When I get back to Chapel Quad, everyone is streaming slowly toward the entrance of Haygrove Hall. Shit, I guess it’s time for the meal to be served. I hurry across the quad and find Thalia, Ivan, and Ani.

“Jane, there you are!” Thalia says, her face shining with joy.

Have I missed it? Did he propose already? But her ring finger is still empty, thank god. I force a smile at her and follow after the group, my mind and heart both racing. This is okay. I’ll text Antoine and let him know we’re going to the dining hall. If he confronts Thalia indoors, it’ll make for even more drama, right? Yes, that’s okay. That’s good. I’m doing this for her own good. Yes.

But as we across the grass, Thalia suddenly stumbles forward with a cry. Ivan grabs her arm in time to keep her from falling over. She looks down at her feet in dismay; one of her heels has stabbed into the grass and broken off her shoe.

“Crap,” she groans. “I’m going to go up to my room to change into a different pair. You guys go ahead.”

“Are you sure?” Ivan says. “I could come with you—”

“No, it’s totally fine!” she says, forcing a laugh, still playing the easy-going, drama-free girl of his dreams. “You guys go. I’ll meet you all at Haygrove.” With that she walks away, leaving the three of us looking at one another awkwardly.

“Oh well,” Ani says with a shrug, making her way to the dining hall.

Ivan gives a small laugh and shakes his head. We walk slowly, a few paces behind Ani. “She’s so independent, isn’t she?” he muses to me.

I nod slowly. “Uh-huh.”

“I really, uh, I really love her,” he says.

A thousand fire ants crawl and prick at my skin. Why is he telling me this?

As though reading my mind, Ivan says, “I’m telling you this because, um, I know it sounds really rushed, but I’m planning on asking Thalia a very important question later tonight... and I wanted your help to make sure everything goes smoothly.”

I refuse to look at him. “You’re right, it’s too rushed.”

“I know, but...” He sighs dreamily. “There’s no one quite like her, is there? I would be a fool to let her go.”

I suppose he is not wrong. “Well, good luck with it.” I gather my dress in my hands and hasten my steps so I won’t have to keep talking to him.

Haygrove Hall was already beautiful to begin with, but now, with huge flower arrangements and fancy plates and glasses decorating the long tables, it’s been transformed into something that looks out of this world. As it turns out, there are placards on each plate, and I find myself sandwiched between Pam andAni. Across the table is Ivan, who is—thank god—hidden behind a ridiculously tall tower of hydrangeas and peonies. The seat next to him is empty, awaiting the queen of the ball.

Fortunately, both Ani and Pam are too busy talking to other people, so I take the chance to check my phone. No messages from anyone. I try calling Antoine, but he doesn’t pick up. I steal glances at the doorway, wondering who’ll show up first. Antoine or Thalia? It doesn’t matter, as long as they both end up here, causing a scene in front of Ivan. I’m filled with so much anticipation that I actually feel my mouth watering.

Minutes trickle by and still no sign of either of them. I peer round the flowers, sneaking a glance at Ivan. He’s busy texting, probably yet another business-related thing. The servers stream out of the kitchen and place our appetizer on our gold-edged plates. A single fat scallop, gleaming atop a bed of crushed peas, topped with a dollop of caviar.

It should taste amazing, but it might as well be plain bread for all that I notice.

“This is exquisite, isn’t it?” Pam says. She’s the only person I’ve ever heard using the word “exquisite” in casual conversation.

“Uh-huh.” I glance at the doorway again.

I can barely choke down the remaining bite of scallop, grimacing as it makes its gelatinous way down my throat. Where the hell are they? Has something gone wrong? What if—oh shit—what if Antoine runs into Thalia outside, at the Chapel Quad? They’d have their talk in private then, and Ivan would never know about it. Thalia would ply Antoine with her usual charm and tell him to go home, and he would. He doesn’t stand a chance against her intelligence, her eloquence.

Just then, my phone buzzes with a phone call. Antoine? Iturn it over and my breath catches when I see Thalia’s name flashing on the screen.

“Hello?”

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