“Oh, that’s great. I’ll grab a gift. No problem at all. Can you tell me about the person, though, so I know what to buy?”
The elevator doors open, and we step into the parking garage. She motions to the left, indicating where she parked.
“I’m on the other side,” I say. “The party is for Aria. She’s the features editor.”
“Aria Carmichael,” she says with a nod, proving she’s done her homework. “She wasn’t here today.”
“No, she wasn’t. Anyway, she’s not big on gifts, but she loves Tony’s. That’s the place where we grabbed lunch today. A small gift card would suffice.”
“Done.” She places her hand on my forearm. “Thank you, Nate. You’ve really helped me out the past day and a half. I mean, you didn’t have to take me to dinner last night.”
“You just moved in and didn’t have any food in your apartment, I’m sure.”
She shakes her head. “I could have ordered out. You’re a really sweet guy.” She leans forward and kisses my cheek. When she pulls back, she looks a little horrified. “I’m sorry. I’ve been told I’m overly affectionate at times. I hope that wasn’t out of line.”
“It’s fine. Oh, the party is at Last Call. It’s on Front Street. Do you know where that is?”
She shakes her head. “I’m sorry.”
“Okay, well, if you’d like I can pick you up at your apartment complex.”
“Really? You don’t mind? I mean, I could always just use my GPS.”
“Not at all. Oak Grove Apartments on Willow Court, right?” I ask, remembering from last night.
She laughs. “Yes. I only know that because I had to memorize it for all the paperwork Terrance had me fill out.”
Terrance? No one calls Monohan by his first name. “The party starts at eight, so I’ll pick you up at 7:40. Does that work for you?”
She nods. “See you then.” She starts for her car, and I turn in the opposite direction.
Less than two hours to pick up Aria’s gift, shower, change, and drive to Charlotte’s place. I pick up my pace, but with each step I question the gift I picked out. Aria has always loved dragonflies. She told me she used to catch them when she was a little girl. She even has a dragonfly tattoo on her lower back. Two months ago, I snapped a picture of the tattoo when she fell asleep on her couch during a movie marathon night we were having. Her tank top had ridden up, and the tattoo gave me the idea to have a matching necklace made. I sent the picture to a designer I know, an old college buddy who owns a jewelry store that focuses on custom pieces. He sent me pictures of the necklace a few days ago, and it looks perfect. But I’m afraid Aria isn’t going to want me at her party, let alone giving her a gift like this. I’ll have to explain how I managed to match the design so perfectly, and the thought of me taking pictures of her while she slept might come across the wrong way now that she’s not speaking to me.
I drive the twenty-five minutes across town to Eldridge Designs. Even if I don’t give Aria the necklace, I have to pay Tommy for his work. I park and jog into the store, knowing I’m short on time.
“Hey, Nate.” Tommy greets me with a one-armed hug. “How the hell are ya?”
That’s a loaded question. “Fine, Tommy. You?”
“Same old.”
I look around the store. Every item in the place is one of a kind. “How are sales?”
“A little slow at the moment. They’ll pick up again, though. No worries.” Tommy always was an optimist. “I’ve got Aria’s necklace gift wrapped for you. Figured you wouldn’t have time, picking it up the night of the party.”
“Thanks, man. You’re a life saver.”
He brings me to the counter, where a small package in silver paper and a mini teal bow rests next to the register. I hand him my credit card, not bothering to ask the price because I know Tommy will give me the best deal possible. When I raise the pen to sign the screen, I see the total is much less than anticipated. I pause and frown.
“Tommy, this can’t be right. You have to charge me more than this.”
He crosses his arms. “Sign your name, Nate, or I’ll sign it for you.”
I sigh and scribble my signature. Returning my card to my wallet and picking up the package, I say, “I’m running an ad for you in Priority News. If you want anything specific on it, let me know. Otherwise, I’ll draft it up and send it to you to approve.”
Tommy nods. “Free advertising? I’m not going to say no to that.”
If Aria was still speaking to me, I’d ask her to have one of her staff writers do a piece on Eldridge Designs. Maybe I still will. I’ll let her know Tommy designed the necklace. I’m sure she’ll do it as a thank-you to him, if not for me.
“Wish Aria a happy birthday for me,” Tommy says, pulling me in for another hug.
“Will do.” I wave and walk out, not wanting to divulge the many things that are wrong with my relationship with Aria. I haven’t even told Caleb. I’m not sure I could talk about it without ramming my fist through something. I should have tried harder to tell her what’s going on. Hell, I should have had the balls to tell her how I feel.
I force the thoughts from my mind before I ram my fist through my own head.
Chapter Nineteen
Aria
I take a deep breath as we pull up to Last Call. My eyes immediately scan the lot for Nate’s truck, but I don’t see it anywhere. I’m not sure if I’m happy, relieved, or completely on edge at the thought.
“Party time!” Ashley says from the front passenger seat.
I force a smile for her, knowing she wants me to have a great time. “Let’s do this.”
After parking, Neil gets out and walks around to open our doors. He extends an elbow to each of us. “I’m the luckiest man at the party tonight because I have the two most beautiful dates.”
I take his arm and close the car door. “The thought of dating the same man as my sister is more than a little nauseating, so let’s not ever say anything like that again, okay?”
“Whatever the birthday girl wants.” He smiles at me and leads us inside.
“Hey!” Caleb says when he sees us. He rushes over and hugs me. “How’s my favorite birthday girl?”
“You know someone else with the same birthday?” I ask.
“No, not at all.” He laughs. “Still makes you my favorite, though.” He brings me to the back room. “I hope you’re ready to party because I’ve concocted a signature drink, which I’ve appropriately named ‘the Aria.’”
“I get to drink myself. Interesting.” I elbow his rib to show I’m only teasing.
“As soon as you taste it, you’re going to thank me. It’s delicious. It’s also highly addictive, so go slow.” He looks around. “Where the hell is Nate?”
“He’ll be here,” Ashley says. “I told him I wanted to bring Aria.”
I’m grateful she stepped in with an excuse. Nate clearly hasn’t told Caleb we aren’t speaking.
“Okay, you three go party. I’ll see you in a bit. I’ve got a bar to tend for another thirty minutes. Then Lonnie will be here to take over.”
“Lonnie?” I ask.
“New girl. Totally hot. You have to see the crowd she draws.” He rubs his hands together and walks away.
Neil opens the door to the party room at the same time a rush of hot air blows into the bar from the entrance. I turn to see Nate walking in with the woman from the restaurant last night. Our eyes meet for a split second before I turn and follow Ashley into the party.
I’m greeted with hugs from the staff at Priority News as well as some people in my apartment building. I’m making idle chitchat, but I don’t comprehend anything because all I can think about is Nate with that woman. How could he bring her to my party? Then again, why wouldn’t he? We talked about her. I knew he was seeing someone. But still. To show up after not talking to me for days, after weaseling his way into a job I also put in for, after sleeping with me and not having it mean anything to him at all...
I
blink back tears, which I pass off as tears of joy from having all my friends together in one place. I fan my eyes with my hand. “Thanks, guys. Sorry for getting emotional. I’m overwhelmed by it all.”
Ashley thrusts a drink in my hand. “Then start drinking.” Even though she’s twenty-eight, Ashley still acts like she’s twenty-one. I doubt she and Neil will have kids for a few more years. She’s not ready to grow up and stop partying yet. Which is fine. She knows how to enjoy life—something I envy most days.
I manage to avoid Nate for about a half hour, but then he wanders my way without his date. His hands are shoved into his pockets, and his eyes are downcast.
“Happy birthday,” he says when he gets close enough for me to hear him over the music.
“Thanks. Glad you could make it,” I say, trying to be polite.
He raises his head. “I haven’t missed one of your birthdays since we met.”
“I know, but...” I take a long drag of my “Aria,” which is actually really good, even though I can’t seem to identify a single ingredient. “So, I guess things with your mystery girl are going well.”
“Oh, um—what the hell do you think you’re doing?”
I whirl around to see what has Nate’s face as red as a tomato.
“Aria, happy birthday,” Aaron says, reaching to pull me into a hug.
Nate side steps me and blocks him. “Don’t touch her.”
“You crashed my party?” I say, placing my drink on a nearby table before I do something rash like throw it at Aaron’s head. How can’t he take a hint? This is seriously bordering on stalking at this point.
Aaron holds his hands up. “Relax. Why is everyone so tense?” He looks back and forth between Nate and me. “I was in the bar.” He jerks a thumb over his shoulder. “When one of your guests arrived with a gift bag and opened the door, I saw you and figured this was your birthday party. I wanted to stop in and say happy birthday.”
“Well, you have, so leave.” Nate’s chest heaves, and it’s clear he’d love to throw a punch at Aaron. No doubt he’s just waiting for a reason.
“Do you mind?” Aaron glares at Nate. “I’d like to speak to Aria alone for a moment.”
“Not going to happen,” Nate says through gritted teeth. His fist clenches, and it’s that much closer to making contact with Aaron’s face.
Aaron looks around Nate at me. “What the hell is this? Since when does he talk for you?”
“Since I became her boyfriend.” Nate steps back and loops his arm around my waist.
My jaw nearly drops to the floor. We told Aaron we were dating just to keep him away, but why would Nate continue with the ruse when he brought his mystery girl to my party? It’s too risky. My eyes find her in the crowd, talking to David and Emily. She hasn’t seen Nate’s arm around me. Part of me wants to lean into him and hope it drives her away with Aaron. She’s the biggest obstacle between Nate and me. But I care too much about Nate to hurt him that way. He clearly likes this woman.
“Aaron—”
“You two are dating?” Ashley walks over with her pink Aria in hand. “Since when? Did you make up today? And if so, who is she?” She motions to Nate’s real date.
“Well, this just got interesting.” Aaron crosses his arms, waiting for an explanation.
“Not for you,” I say. “You’re leaving.”
“But—”
I raise my hand to stop him. “I’m the birthday girl, and I want you gone.”
“You heard her.” Nate steps toward Aaron. “Now, you can save what little dignity you have left and walk out of here on your own, or I can throw your ass out. Which one will it be?”
Aaron meets Nate’s glare. “What, you’re going to physically remove me? Is that it?”
“This is ridiculous.” I step around Nate. “Aaron, get the hell out.” I point to the door. “Now! I don’t know how else to tell you I want nothing to do with you.” I’m yelling now, and everyone is looking in our direction.
Aaron scans the room, noticing the gazes. “Whatever. I was right to break up with you. Have a nice life, Aria.”
“I plan to.” I turn around and head for one of the servers holding a tray of Arias. I grab one and down it, placing the empty glass back on the tray. “Thanks.”
He nods to me and starts circulating the room again. Conversations resume, and Ashley pulls me into a corner.
“Okay, what the hell is going on? You and Nate are together now?”
“No. He only said that to get Aaron to leave me alone. Not that it worked.” The only thing it actually did was make me realize Nate and I aren’t going to happen. We’ll always be friends. “I wish the night would hurry up and end already.”
She rubs my arm with her free hand. “Don’t say that. It’s your birthday. You haven’t even opened your presents yet.” She offers me a weak smile.
“I don’t care about presents, Ash.” My eyes find Nate, who is back with his date now.
“I bet if I wrapped him up with a strategically placed red bow, you’d open him up in a heartbeat.” She bumps her hip into mine.
“Never going to happen. He’s already spoken for.” I watch the woman with sandy brown hair smile at Nate. Does she have any idea how lucky she is? Nate turns his head, finding me. I immediately look down. “Let’s go find Neil.” I take Ashley’s hand and go in search of her husband.
He’s talking to one of my old college roommates, who lives only about an hour away. “Hey, there are my two girls,” he says when he sees us. Ashley steps into his embrace.
“Happy birthday, Aria,” Shauna says, reaching for me.
“Thanks for coming.” I hug her and then start searching the room for another server.
“So, what was with you, Nate, and Aaron over there? Everything okay with you three?” She tilts her head, sympathy written all over her face. Shauna and I haven’t spoken much over the past six months. She tends to work nights and weekends, which makes it difficult to get our schedules to mesh.
“Aria kicked Aaron to the curb,” Ashley says. “And as usual, Nate was coming to her rescue unnecessarily. Aria could probably castrate Aaron with words alone.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Shauna says, giving me a smile. “Who’s the woman with Nate?” She points a finger while holding her drink.
“I haven’t met her yet, but she’s his new girlfriend.” I swallow the pain of tears burning the back of my throat. I will not cry on my birthday. I don’t care if there’s a song saying it’s okay.
“I kind of always thought you two would end up together.” She cocks her head. “I know you’re really good friends, but I guess I thought that would develop into something more.”
“Maybe a relationship isn’t more, though,” Ashley says. “What Nate and Aria have is pretty special already. And with no chance of a breakup, it’s pretty permanent. In some ways, that’s worth a lot more than a relationship that could end badly.”
She’s right. Nate’s going to move away if he gets that job. As friends, we might stay in touch, but I couldn’t handle a long-distance relationship. I wonder if his mystery girl will go with him. No, it’s too soon for that. But then, why would he start dating her now? He knows he’s a ringer for that job. That’s not the Nate I know.
So much about all of this is bothering me. I excuse myself to the bathroom, wishing I could keep walking and leave the party altogether.
“Aria!”
I pause at Nate’s voice. Taking a deep breath, I turn around. “Yeah?”
“Where are you going?”
“Bathroom.” I motion over my shoulder.
“I was hoping we could talk.”
About his date or about the job he encouraged me to go for even though he knew it was his? “I’m listening,” I say, twirling the pearl ring on my pinky. My mom bought it for me on my seventh birthday. I had to wear it on my thumb back then.
Nate sighs and looks down at his shoes. “I don’t know where to start exactly.”
“How about with
how you’re leaving?”
His head jerks up. “You want me to leave the party?”
I know he would if I asked him to. “No. I meant leaving Priority. Mr. Monohan said you already have the job, right?”
“I tried to back out of the interview.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Why would you do that?”
“For you.” His voice is soft, and he takes a step toward me but then steps back again. “I didn’t know he’d already recommended me to Paul Weston when I asked for the interview. I never would have told you to try for it if I did.”
Relief washes over me. He’s still the same Nate I’ve always known. “You should take the job. It’s a great opportunity.”
“I’d have to move.”
I nod. “I hear it’s not much different in Pennsylvania.”
“You’re not there.” His voice cracks, and he coughs to clear his throat. “What will I do without my best friend?”
I blink against the tears threatening to spill. “What about your girlfriend?”
“Who?” His brow furrows.
“The woman you brought here tonight.” I lower my gaze to avoid his prying eyes. “I was leaving the restaurant last night when you two were arriving. She’s pretty.”
“Charlotte?”
“She’s...” His voice trails off. “It’s not what you think.”
“She’s not the girl you’ve been telling me about?”
He shakes his head. “Not at all.”
So she’s a random woman he met and asked out? Maybe he realized pursuing his mystery woman before moving was a bad idea. “Oh. Well, I guess it’s good to keep things casual at a time like this.” A nervous laugh escapes my lips. “I really do need to use the bathroom.”
“Okay. Yeah. I’ll head back inside the party room.”
“Great. See you there.” I turn and walk into the ladies’ room before he can say anything else, and with each step I feel Nate slipping away a little more.
Chapter Twenty
Nate
Normally, Aria and I would have driven to The Sentinel together, but she’s still upset with me. I can tell. She avoided me at the party on Friday night after our talk by the bathrooms. I know she’s bent out of shape over the interviews. I hope Mr. Monohan is right and this interview impresses Paul Weston enough that he keeps Aria in mind when he has another editorial position open up. If she moved here too, things could be...
It Was Always You (Love Chronicles Book 1) Page 12
