Page 10 of Hold Me
“What?” I hover the lipstick above my lips.
“Red is better.”
I eye the lipstick for a moment, then put it down. I rarely use the red one, but maybe Caleb is right. I can always wipe it off if it doesn’t look good. After I finish, I smack my lips together and look at myself in the mirror.
“You look absolutely breathtaking,” Caleb says, and I can’t help but smile because he looks sincere. I almost feel as if he were really my boyfriend, except I know almost nothing about him, and what I do know is probably just a part of his act.
“We’re going to be late. Let’s go.” I pick up my black purse and Caleb offers me his arm. As I slip my arm through his, I take a shuddery breath. Mark has never been so nice to me. And I know he and many other men would have rather jumped off the top of a building than help a girl with her hair or makeup, but Caleb seems different, and part of me wants to believe that this side of him is real. As we walk through the door, I hope I’ll find out.
I can’t hide my smile as Caleb and I enter the restaurant where my father’s party is being held. The restaurant is closed for anyone other than the invitees, and my dad made sure that the staff who usually takes care of his parties is here. The room we enter is completely in golden tones, and it’s not too big, but enough for dozens of tables. There’s also a big table with food in the middle. A dance floor is more in the background, and soft music is playing.
“Honey!” my dad says, a broad smile on his face as he approaches me. “You look lovely.” He frowns when his eyes fall on Caleb. “And this is...?”
“Caleb,” I say.
“Pleasure to meet you, sir.” Caleb extends his hand to my father. My father nods at him as they shake hands, the smile never leaving his face, but he casts a questioning look in my direction. My dad never cares much about who I date, but he’s probably surprised I haven’t brought Caleb with me before. Still, he doesn’t ask anything else.
“Well, I have to attend to some things. I hope you enjoy yourselves.” He strolls off, and I let out a sigh of relief. But when I spot my mother’s suspicious face across the room, I want the earth to swallow me. She strides toward me, her red hair flying around her, as fast as her high heels let her. She’s wearing a tight silvery dress that reveals her still perfect figure.
“Lilith, can I talk to you for a second?” Her fingers wrap around my arm as she flashes a fake smile in Caleb’s direction.
“Sure.” I glance at Caleb. “I’ll be right back.”
He just nods, and I let my mom drag me all the way to the end of the room.
“Who’s that?” she hisses.
“Caleb,” I say. “My new boyfriend.”
My mom rolls her eyes. “Did you really have to bring him with you? Mark’s going to be here!”
“Mom, in case you didn’t notice, Mark and I broke up, and he’s bringing a date too.”
“I know you’ve had your differences, but he’ll come round when he sees you. Men like to have fun until they find the right woman. He’s just not ready for you yet, but he will be.”
I pick up a glass of champagne from the nearby table because I’m not sure I can listen to this without alcohol. “What are you talking about? I’m not in love with Mark anymore. We’ll never get back together.”
She pats my shoulder. “You’re still so young. After you both have your fun, you’ll find a way to each other. I’m sure of it.” What she’s actually trying to say is that if Mark and I get married, his father’s and my father’s company will possibly merge one day. That would be a whole lot of money and a very secure future.
Maybe I should tell my mom exactly why Mark and I broke up. I was too embarrassed to talk about it to anyone at first, so when she asked, I told her Mark and I had a huge fight. Mark’s always been nice around my mother and she got to really like him, so I doubt she’d believe me if I told her the truth now.
“I think you’ve had too much champagne.” I take a big gulp of my own drink. “Caleb is much better than Mark will ever be.”
“Really? And where did you meet that boy?” She eyes Caleb across the room, her lip curling. “I haven’t seen him before. He looks dodgy. Are you sure he isn’t with you just because you’re rich?”
I nearly choke on my drink. She couldn’t be more right, just not in the way she thinks. “He’s a law student,” I say.
My mom scoffs. “Get rid of him before Mark comes.”
I shake my head, put the empty glass back on the table, and walk away. My mom’s intentions might not be bad, but I don’t want Mark anywhere near me ever again. And if my mom knew the truth about Caleb, she’d probably freak out and be relieved at the same time. I could partly understand my mom’s paranoia about me ending up with the wrong guy.
She came from a wealthy family too and was lucky enough to find my father, but her sister didn’t find such happiness. My aunt fell in love with a drug addict who used her money to pay off his debts and get more of his fix. He even got her hooked too. I doubt he ever loved her, because he sure as hell didn’t bother to get her to the hospital in time when she overdosed. I suppose what my mom likes most about Mark is that he doesn’t smoke or do drugs, as if that somehow magically makes him a good person.
“Are you okay?” Caleb asks, concern written all over his face.
“Yeah, it’s just my mom. She still wants to hook me up with my ex.” I sigh and look for another glass of champagne, but Caleb takes my hand.
“Would you like to dance?” he asks, and I gape at him. Sure, the music is nice and slow, and the guests are gushing around my father and eating, and I don’t really want to get involved with that, especially because someone could ask about Caleb, but dancing on an empty dance floor? The corners of Caleb’s lips are tilted upward, and I can see the challenge in his eyes.