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“Addison!” said Shelley, waving me over from a nearby table.
I smiled and made my way over.
“Wow. You look fantastic.” She stood and gave me a big hug. “How far along are you now?”
“Seven months,” I said, taking a seat once she released me.
“Incredible.”
I picked up my menu and scanned it quickly. I had already looked it over online and decided what I could afford, which was an appetizer. I made sure to eat a light dinner before I left. Since I wasn’t drinking, I was saving money by not getting an expensive cocktail.
Shelley and I placed our orders and began catching up about work and everything that had been going on since I left. I was happy to know she had taken over my position. I couldn’t think of anyone more deserving.
When our food arrived, she asked about my pregnancy, but never snooped as to who the father was. She was genuinely curious about symptoms and baby names and birth plans. While I still didn’t know the half of it, it was nice talking about it with her. She was so non-judgmental.
After we paid our bill, Shelley excused herself to the restroom. I looked around the restaurant and let the memories flood in. The taste of that cosmopolitan on my tongue, my leg brushing against Daniel’s, his eyes intent on me when he asked me back to his place. It was that night that changed everything. I glanced over at the corner of the bar once more, but this time there was someone in his seat. Someone I knew.
I did a double-take as I realized it was Kiera. She looked irritatingly stunning in a sapphire blue strappy dress. A dazzling smile was plastered on her face as she talked animatedly with the man in front of her. A man who wasn’t Daniel. I sucked in a breath as she leaned in and whispered something in his ear, her hands straying dangerously far up his legs.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. This was supposedly Daniel’s fiancée—or soon to be. As much as I hated the idea of them being together, he didn’t deserve this.
I suddenly felt angry. Erratic. Without really thinking, I picked up my water glass and walked over without a real plan in my head. As I approached, I heard her asking him back to her place and that’s when I lost the little bit of control I still possessed. As I walked by her, I poured my drink down her back, pretending I had tripped.
She shot up out of her chair, the ice water running down her back and darkening the color of her dress to a dark blue. She whipped around and faced me, a look of discomfort and irritation on her face.
“What the hell?” she asked shrilly.
“Sorry about that,” I said, biting back a smile as best as I could.
“Oh, my God, you fat freak! Did you do that on purpose?”
I realized she didn’t recognize me from the one time we met in my office. I didn’t expect her to remember a nobody like me, especially now that I was pregnant.
“Of course not. I don’t even know you,” I lied.
“My dress is ruined!” she said, her voice shrill.
“It’s water,” I said smugly.
“Get the hell away from me! I’ll call security on you!”
Her date tried to calm her down, but she pushed him away as she searched for napkins and started to try to dry herself off. He looked at me sympathetically, and I realized I had gotten away with it. No one would ever blame a pregnant woman for being clumsy.
I noticed Shelley was back at our table and looking over curiously. I backed away from Kiera, who was having a full-on meltdown, and made my way over to Shelley to grab my purse that hung from the chair.
“What’s going on?” asked Shelley, looking from me to where Kiera was still fuming.
“No idea.” I shrugged innocently as I pulled her with me toward the front door, feeling victorious.
Chapter 46
Daniel
“Margaret says you’re not coming tonight,” said Brody, peeping his head in my office.
“I didn’t realize my secretary was such a narc.” I rolled my eyes.
“Oh, come on. She has probably just been worried about you. Just like I was.”