“Jules squeezed my hand. “We did it.”
“We fucking did it,” I replied.
A valet opened the door and Cole stepped out, helping the three of us out of the car. Jules kissed him on the cheek before linking one arm through mine and one through Aurora’s. We walked the red carpet, stopping and smiling for the cameras, and answering questions linked together in the ultimate girl power.
The venue was magical. Huge posters of indie author covers were hung on the wall. We had multiple photo ops. My favorite was an old school bodice ripper with a tanned man. His open shirt appeared to flap against the wind as he held a woman with milky white breasts. The person posing in the picture would put their face where the cut out was, allowing them to be the captive woman, heaving bosom and all.
Jules and I took multiple pictures with that one when we were getting it ready that morning.
Twinkling lights made the ambience calm. Two bars flanked the side of the venue, and front and center was the stage the JackholeS would be playing on later. The background was the cover of Faith’s newest book.
“This is incredible.” Aurora spun in a circle, taking everything in.
“We’re so proud of you. Thank you for letting us be a part of this,” I told her, hugging her.
“I knew you were the right ones,” she said, still taking in all the details of the room.
“I’m glad Easton didn’t talk you out of it,” I said, wanting to feel his name on my tongue. Wanting some semblance of him still in my life.
Aurora tilted her head and shot me a weird look. “Easton told me I should pick your company. He said you were the right choice.”
“That asshole. He told Rachel he tried to talk you out of choosing us.” Jules scanned the growing crowd, looking for Easton.
“He’s not here and he’s not coming.” My heart, which I didn’t think had anything left in it, withered.
I missed him. I missed everything about him … His dry humor, his smell, his smirk when something amused him, his face when he wanted me, or when I called him, sir. I just missed his essence.
Jules wrapped me in a one-arm hug. “After this party is a success we will spend all day tomorrow nursing our much-earned hangover and making a voodoo doll in his likeness.”
“I love you,” I told her. “You really are my soul mate.”
“I know. You’ve picked me up so many times, the only reason I know what to do is I’m always thinking, WWRD? What would Rachel do?”
“And voodoo dolls are what came to mind?”
Jules hip-checked me. “There she is. We’re going to get through this. No, we’re going to thrive.”
I nodded.
“Do not cry and mess up my amazing makeup job. Come on, the guests are coming in, and we need to wow them with our fabulousness.”
Cole walked over and kissed Jules, handing us both glasses of amaretto sours in champagne flutes. “I know you both hate champagne. I improvised.”
Jules wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him with more passion than should be shown in public.
Good for her.
I moved away, giving them some privacy. She’d find me when she detached. The night was a whirlwind. Jules and I shmoozed and networked our tits off.
Kelly Ann and Robert walked up to us, giving both me and Aurora a huge hug. “We are so proud of you,” Kelly Ann gushed.
Jules glanced at me and I made the introductions. “Jules, this is Kelly Ann and Robert, Easton’s parents.”
Once again, his name rolled over my tongue. I decided when I got home, I’d say his name over and over again as a sort of exorcism.
If only I wanted him out of my system.
Jules’ body jolted when I introduced them. Kelly Ann and Robert blushed pink at the ears and gave a sheepish smile.