“Oh, thank you, but I’m here with Talia. I might find you and say hello again later,” I say politely, making it clear that I amnothis date for the evening and that was his choice, not mine.
He scowls, but, reluctant to make a scene, he lets me go.
Sometimes Talia is with me, sometimes she gets whisked away by someone she knows. But I’ve grown confident enough that I am wandering the party on my own and meeting a lot of people.
But as I move through the crowds having different conversations, I can always feel Simon’s eyes on me. To be fair, I can’t keep my eyes off him either. He looks absolutely gorgeous in his black Armani suit, perfectly fitted over his broad shoulders.
“Hi,” a friendly voice chimes, and I turn to see a beautiful girl standing in front of me.
She holds out her hand. “My name is Lindsey.”
“I’m Blair,” I smile, shaking her hand.
“I saw you talking to my future in-laws earlier. The older couple over there,” she points into the crowd. I look where she’spointing at an older couple. They were lovely. Very sweet and very friendly.
“I’ve been meeting some wonderful people this evening,” I smile, reassured that she will be similar to them if she is about to marry into their family.
“My fiancé’s parents are lovely. Have you met their son yet?” she asks.
“Oh, I’m not sure. He wasn’t with them when we were talking,” I say.
“Mm. Jaco is around here somewhere,” she says, glancing over the crowd. “You really should meet him. You know, Jaco and Simon used to be very good friends.” Her voice has turned sly and cold, and it’s making my skin crawl as I realize she’s referring tothatJaco.
I press my lips together, tilting my head to the side. “You know Simon?” I ask, as my heart skips a beat. He told me Jaco stole his girlfriend. Could this be her?
“Of course, I know Simon,” she giggles. Lindsey leans a little closer and lowers her voice. “I know him better than anyone. We were very close. We dated for a while. I know all of the things that drive that man wild with desire. You’re with him, aren’t you? If you like, I could give you some tips.” Her lips curl into a nasty smile.
Anxiety knots in my stomach as I do my best not to show how much her words are getting to me.
Simon told me she was the first girl he ever loved. Maybe even the only girl he’s ever loved. And now she’s standing in front of me, telling me she knows all the things he wants from a woman, and I’m so clueless about those things that I wouldn’t even know the slightest bit about turning him on.
I bite my lip and swallow hard.
“Simon told me you two were together once. How are things between you and Jaco?” I ask, trying to change the subject.
“Simon once told me that being with me was the most incredible thing he had ever experienced in his entire life. I think we just had a connection that was deeper than anyone else could understand,” she says.
My stomach churns, and I glance nervously around, looking for a way out of this conversation. I’ve never felt so inadequate and embarrassed in my life. How can I compete with a girl as beautiful as her? Perfect blonde hair, red lips, and bright blue eyes. And apparently, a connection to Simon so deep that she could give him everything he ever needed.
I guess I can see now why he is so angry at Jaco for stealing her away.
He probably still dreams about being with her.
Suddenly, I don’t just want to escape the conversation; I want to escape the whole event.