She scanned the book in search for the reservation. “Ah, yes. I have a seven thirty reservation for four under Nick Foti.”
Luke glanced at his watch and scowled. He was a half hour early, knowing his sister and how fashionably late, she tended to be, meant he was really forty-five minutes early. Damn him and his punctuality, just once he’d like to make her wait for him once. He pondered the idea and then shook his head slightly. Never happen. He looked back at the hostess, who looked at him expectantly.
“I’m sorry. Did you say something?” He asked.
“I said you could have a seat at the bar while you wait for the rest of your party.”
He smiled at her and scanned the oversized restaurant and found a large old fashioned bar in the center of the restaurant. He made his way to the bar and took the first open seat he saw. He looked around the heavily packed restaurant as he waited for the bartender.
“What can I get you?” The older gentleman asked Luke. He turned around and gave the bartender his attention.
“I’ll have a Dewar’s on the rocks, sir.” Luke said as he tugged at his tie again.
“Right away,” the bartender said with a smile. Luke had to admit the service was wonderful. Everyone was so polite thus far. He didn’t remember the last time he ordered a drink where the bartender didn’t scowl at him or grimace. He thought about that for a moment, maybe that was because the only bar he frequented was Rudy’s. Or maybe the fact that the only time he had a drink at the bar was if Cara was working.
The bartender slid the crystal glass in front of Luke and nodded in salute. “Enjoy.”
Luke returned the smile and lifted the glass to the gentleman. His hand stilled in the air and he was sure his smile fell when his eyes caught a glimpse of the woman who stared at him. Her hazel eyes pierced him. He felt like a human dart board when she looked at him like that. His gut clenched and he brought the glass to his lips taking the first long sip of the golden liquid. His eyes remained on her long after she looked away from him.
He guessed she was the fourth in the reservation. Great. This night was shaping up to be a disaster. First he got to be stuck in a fancy restaurant with a noose around his neck and now he had to spend his evening receiving dirty looks.
He polished off his scotch and placed the empty glass on top of the bar. Well to hell with that. He tugged at the knot in his tie one final time before he pulled the damn thing off. If he was going to be on edge all night, might as well make himself; more comfortable. He shoved the tie into his jacket pocket and undid the top button of his dress shirt. There, he thought to himself as he glanced back across the bar to steal a look at the auburn beauty that had him in knots. Christ, he flinched. When did he start to think of Cara as beautiful? His eyes met hers and she covered her mouth with the palm of her left hand. The ring his brother had put on her finger, promising to marry her, shined brightly, reminding him he had no business thinking of her as beautiful.
She was too skinny anyway. The scarlet dress she wore should’ve hugged her curves instead it fit her loosely and left all that was underneath to the imagination. She wasn’t taking care of herself, but that wasn’t news to him. Half the time he found her in Rudy’s drunk or high on his brother’s pain pills.
He couldn’t tell the difference between the Cara he once knew and the Cara that had taken her place. He was so used to this version, yet as he looked past the dark circles that she covered with makeup, he saw a glimpse of the old Cara. Her palm was raised to her mouth to cover a smile or maybe it was a giggle. She was laughing at him.
Luke didn’t know what to make of it and he was sure he looked like a fool as he gaped at her in shock. The bartender returned with another glass of scotch for him. He placed it down on the bar and turned, following Luke’s eyes to Cara.
“She’s a sweet young lady.” The bartender said and busied his hands drying a glass.
Luke tore his eyes from Cara and looked at the bartender as if he had just dropped in from another planet. Clearly, he had the wrong woman. The older man looked up at him out of the corner of his eyes and smiled slightly.
“She’s been here about an hour. Little lady likes the whiskey.” He placed the dry glass under the bar and then looked at Luke. “But she’s wearing a ring, lad.” He said before making his way over to another patron.
Well, thanks for pointing that out, Luke said silently as he raised his glass. He looked across the bar, but she wasn’t there anymore. He sighed and downed the scotch, figuring by the time his sister and fuck, his soon to be brother-in-law got here he’d be a drunken mess.
“You never did like to wear a tie.” He heard the familiar voice say from behind him. Her voice was husky but laced with the slightest hint of honey. Christ, he was fucked. He slowly turned and those hazel eyes that gleamed at him were green. Luke knew that meant she had to be drunk. It was so strange how her eyes changed color like that it fascinated him.
“Is that why you were laughing?” He sighed and let his gaze linger on her for a moment before he turned back to the bar, hoping the bartender would notice his empty glass again.
She placed her purse on top of the bar beside him as she leaned into the bar. Luke glanced at her from the corner of his eye and saw her smile at the bartender. “Yes.” She said simply and then she turned swiftly and caught him looking at her. “Johnny Walker. Double-tall.”
Luke drew his brows together. “Excuse me?”
“That’s what I’m drinking.” She said, turning to the bartender who was waiting for Luke. She bit the inside of her cheek and looked away, careful not to let him catch her laughing again.
Luke looked back at the bartender. “I’ll have another, sir.”
“And for the lady?” he raised an eyebrow.
Luke looked at him. Was he kidding? He had been making her drinks for an hour. He told him that she liked the whiskey and now he was asking him what she wanted to drink. He looked at Cara, then back at the bartender, convinced they were working together, against him. “She’ll have a Johnny Walker, double-tall.”
The bartender nodded and then tipped his head towards Cara.
“Luke! Cara!” Sam said, walking up behind them. She had a smile from ear to ear as she walked towards them with her fiancé. Luke turned around and took them in. He had never seen his best friend so happy before, never mind the fact his sister was positively radiating with happiness. One look at her, made you want to smile.
Nick looked over her head towards Luke and laughed. “Sorry we’re late. She was having a wardrobe malfunction.” He said and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling Sam’s back against his chest.
Cara looked Sam over. She was wearing a short pink fly-away dress. It was fitted on top and then started to flow right underneath her breasts. “You look beautiful.” She said as she smiled at her. Sam had told her a month ago that she and Nick were expecting, yet at that moment, one glance at Sam and Cara would’ve known even if she hadn’t been told. Sam was glowing and she wore it well.
Luke eyed Nick. “I suppose you were able to assist in the malfunction?” He said wryly, but Nick knew that Luke was joking around. The truth of the matter was they had this unspoken language between them. Without words, they each knew what the other was thinking. Nick knew that Luke was happy for him. He knew that there was nobody better for his sister to make a life with.
Sam looked up at Nick, she watched the hint of mischief in his eyes as his lips turned upward into a grin. He glanced down and kissed the tip of her nose. “We’re all good now. Crisis averted.” Nick said as he tugged her closer.
Sam leaned over and whispered to Cara. “It’s my boobs. They’re huge. I’m not wearing a bra right now.” She said with her eyes wide as if she was doing something so scandalous.
Cara couldn’t help the laugh that erupted from her and after a moment she blushed when she realized the three of them were smiling at her as they watched her laugh. She cleared her throat and straightened her shoulders. “Should we see if the
table is ready?” She asked, feeling a bit like a fish in a fishbowl.
* * * * * *
They were half way through their meal when Nick asked the waiter to bring over a bottle of champagne and a bottle of their finest sparkling water. The waiter poured the champagne into their flutes and mimicked the task with the sparkling water, placing the flute in front of the mother-to-be. Nick leaned back in his chair and glanced at Sam, who sat beside him, his arm spread out hanging on the back of her chair.
“Are you going to tell them why we asked them to come here or what?” Nick asked her, with a teasing smile playing on his lips.
Sam leaned into him and pressed her lips softly to his before she turned around and looked at Luke and Cara who were staring at them expectantly.
“Okay, so first we wanted to thank you guys for meeting us tonight.”
She looked at her brother. “I know how much it pains you to dress up.” She winked at him before she took a breath. “We wanted to make tonight special. Actually, I did, Nick said we could’ve invited you over for beer and pizza and you guys would’ve been fine with that.”
Luke considered the alternative, nodding at Nick he pulled his tie from his pocket and turned to wink at Sam. Nick laughed beside his fiancé and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
“Anyway.” She said, rolling her eyes at her brother as he stuffed his tie back into his pocket.
“We decided to get married before the baby. We even set a date.” She looked over her shoulder at Nick and he nodded. “There’s just this one little thing.” She bit her lip and turned towards Luke and Cara. When she didn’t inform them of what that one thing was Nick did.
“We’re getting married in Cabo, Mexico.” He said and the both of them waited for their reaction.
Luke squinted and leaned forward. “Like you’re eloping? Are you trying to kill mom and dad?”
“No!” Sam exclaimed. “Mom and dad know. We’re having a destination wedding. We want everyone who is close to us to be there.” She rolled her eyes at her brother. “Like I would cheat mom and dad out of a wedding,” the thought was ridiculous to her.
“Okay, so when is the big day?” Cara asked, reaching for her whiskey, and for the bout of courage she needed to discuss the details of a wedding.
Sam looked at Cara carefully. She knew this was going to be hard on her. Just next week would be September 19th, the day she was supposed to marry Jake. She chose her words carefully. “December 26th.” She knew it was the day after Christmas, but she figured it was the perfect time to get married. She would be on holiday break with the school. The other factor was this would be their first Christmas without Jake and while nothing would ease that, Sam thought maybe the wedding would help everyone heal, even just a tiny bit. She left that part out, not wanting to dampen the mood or the good time that Cara seemed to be having. Sam couldn’t remember the last time she had heard her laugh.
“A Christmas wedding,” Cara said and smiled to the best of her ability. “In Cabo!” She tried to be enthusiastic and hoped she sounded convincing. She paused a moment and then looked at Sam sincerely. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Sam reached across the table, taking her hand in hers and smiled. She felt the tears sting her eyes. Cara was the closest thing she had to a sister. She loved her just as much as she loved her brothers. “That makes me so happy.” She bit her lip, and squeezed Cara’s hand. “There’s just one more thing.”
“What’s that?” Cara asked with their hands still joined.
“Will you be my maid of honor?” Sam asked nervously. She thought it might be a lot to ask of her, especially since she would be such a big part of the wedding, but there was no one she rather have stand beside her as she married the love of her life.
Cara smiled softly and a tear slid down her cheek. “I’d be honored.” She said hoarsely.
“Really?” Sam asked, blinking back her tears. Damn, these hormones. Who was she kidding? She got her emotions from her mother. Even if she wasn’t pregnant, she’d probably be crying. Cara released her hand and pushed back her chair. She walked around the table and leaned down to hug Sam.
“Of course.” Cara assured her as they embraced.
Nick looked across the table at Luke. “That leaves you.” He said in a matter of fact tone, fighting not to grin at his best friend.
“What about me?” Luke said as he leaned back in his chair and matched his friend’s look and lack of a grin.
“You’re going to make me ask, aren’t you?” Nick said as he crossed his arms against his chest.
Luke shrugged his shoulders, mimicking Nick, he crossed his arms as well. “And then I’m going to make you hug me.” He nodded towards the girls. “Just like that, maybe with a little more emotion.” He turned back to Nick. “And I expect tears too.” He said pointedly and arched an eyebrow, waiting patiently with an amused look on his face.
The girls broke apart from their embrace and looked between Nick and Luke. Nick cracked his neck from side to side and then winked at Luke.
“You want me on my knees too? Should’ve I gotten you a ring too?” He sighed and looked at Luke. “Will you be my best man?”
Luke looked at his oldest friend and unleashed the grin he was holding back. “Sam had more emotion in her pitch.” He heard his sister and Cara laugh and then he raised his glass tipping it towards Nick. “It would be my pleasure.” He said sincerely.
Nick raised his glass toward Luke in return salute. He spoke his gratitude with his eyes and their secret language. Luke nodded as they both downed their drinks.
“So it’s set! We’re getting married in Mexico with the two most important people in our lives standing beside us!” Sam said as she wrapped her arms around Nick. He turned in her embrace and their lips met. They kissed one another as if they were the only people in the restaurant.
Luke turned his gaze from Nick and Sam to Cara. He watched her intently as she stood to her full height and smoothed down the front of her dress. Her hands paused and something changed in her facial expression as she glanced at her hands. When Nick and Sam broke their kiss, Cara snapped out of her trance, forcing a smile towards the happy couple.
“I’ll be right back, and then we’ll toast the happy couple?” She looked at Sam who nodded in response. “Good. Excuse me.” She said softly. Turning around she walked towards what Luke suspected was the ladies room.
Sam watched her brother’s eyes follow Cara as she disappeared from their view. She saw the dark weary look fill his eyes and the memory of his argument with Leah ran through her head, followed by her conversation with Cara.
His leg fidgeted beneath the table and he looked as if he was about to jump out of his seat, but he seemed to be struggling with himself not to. She knew he wanted to go after her, but she had no idea what was pulling her brother towards her like that. Could it really be the promise he made to Jake?
She reached across the table and placed her hand over her brother’s. He turned to face her, startled. “You have to ease off, Luke.”
“What’re you talking about?” He said automatically, almost defensively.
Sam cocked her head to the side and looked at him knowingly. She didn’t need to say the words. They were evident in her eyes. Luke drew out a shaky breath and then nodded towards her. She patted his hand after a moment before pulling it back and picking up her fork again.
Luke glanced in the direction that Cara had walked and sighed before he looked back at his plate pretending to finish his meal. What he really wanted to do, was to throw his napkin onto his plate and stalk off to the bathroom. He wanted to take the pills out of her hand and flush them down the toilet and then when she fought him, knowing very well she would. He would grab her and push her against the wall. He’d fight her back only with his mouth instead… He closed his eyes and dropped his head. Where did that come from? What was he thinking?
He was out of control. For the first time in his life, he was completely, hopelessly out of co
ntrol.
* * * * * *
Cara locked herself in the ladies room. She leaned over the sink, staring at her reflection in the mirror. The stranger reflected in the glass stared back at her, taunting her. Nervously she looked away and dug into her small clutch in search for the only thing that made her forget. She needed the escape. She found the orange bottle and with trembling fingers she opened the bottle. She shook it until the little white pills fell into the palm of her shaky hand. She brought her palm to her lips and threw her head back. She had become accustomed to taking three or four pills at a clip. She didn’t even need to chase them down with water anymore. A fifth wouldn’t be a problem.
She closed her eyes as they traveled down her throat, making their way home. She told herself it wouldn’t be long. They’d kick in right away and wash away her pain. She felt the tears slide down her cheeks and she wiped at them angrily. She looked down at her hands and the reason the pain flooded back tonight stared her in the face.
The ring Jake placed on her finger twinkled at her, a constant reminder that he was gone and she’d never hear his voice, feel his touch, or see his smile again. Tonight they were celebrating Nick and Sam’s upcoming nuptials. Sam was wearing a ring that held promise. Cara looked back at the ring on her finger, and all it held was absence. She would never marry Jake. There was no promise left. Slowly she slid the ring off her finger. She let out a gasp when she stared at her naked hand that showcased the faint tan line. It would fade over time, just like all his promises, until there was no trace left.
She heard a knock on the door, pulling her out of her trance. She must be holding up the line out front she realized. She shoved the ring into the pill bottle and closed it tightly before dropping it back into her purse. She composed herself quickly and headed out of the ladies room.
She found her way back to the table and took her seat beside Luke. She could feel him staring at her. He knew her secret and she suddenly felt ashamed. She lifted her champagne flute, trying desperately to hold it with her trembling hand; she still smiled at Nick and Sam.
Broken Pieces (The Riverdale Series) Page 28
