Terrell shrugged, laughing a little. “If I’m not, I will be come tomorrow. I put too much money into this,” he replied.
I smacked his arm like Maisha would’ve done if she’d heard, shaking my head as I finally allowed myself to scan the room. The smile faded from my face when I locked in on AJ’s deep stare already set on me. Feeling the temperature rise in the room a few degrees, I ran my fingers through my freshly-highlighted hair, letting it settle on my shoulders as I sighed. Just like old times, realizing that I’d caught him watching me didn’t make him look away.
His fiancé was still attached to his arm, mingling with a couple standing nearby, but AJ wasn’t paying the conversation any attention. To my surprise, his focus was completely on me. I cringed at the thought of how he must hate me. I imagined him standing there thinking of all the things he wanted to say to me as soon as he had the chance – cuss me out for making a move that had to seem completely selfish to him at the time.
Jason did a quick estimated headcount. “How many of these people are actually in the wedding?” He asked.
Terrell thought it over in his head. “Twelve on each side, so twenty-four, but friends and family were welcome to come today too. I guess the mention of ‘free food’ got everybody’s attention.”
They shared a laugh and I tore my eyes away from AJ. Terrell excused himself and left Jason and me standing there. I looked everywhere but the direction where I knew a pair of eyes remained trained on me.
“I think I’m gonna grab something to drink. You want me to bring you a glass?” Jason asked.
I nodded with a smile as he made his way over to the bar. “Thanks. Something strong, please.”
He shot me a look and then walked away. I felt awkward and nervous, but I held it together. While I waited, I didn’t wander far, but there were a few cheap paintings on the walls that I decided to check out. They were the usual still-life replicas that can be found in thousands of hotels across the continent, but today, they gave me an excuse to turn my back on the room and catch my breath.
The sound of high heels approaching from behind made my posture stiffen.
“Aren’t these things nasty?” An unfamiliar voice asked.
I tilted my chin to the left and a breath hitched in my throat when I saw AJ’s fiancé standing beside me. To conceal the fact that she startled me, I gave a polite smile and nod. “Yeah…they’re pretty disgusting.”
She laughed easily and then went right into an introduction. “I’m Kira.”
I hesitated, but shook her hand when she extended it. “Sam.”
Judging by the knowing expression on her face, I knew that I’d guessed right; she did know who I was. “Nice to meet you.”
Again, I only smiled.
Kira placed the hand not currently cradling her glass of wine on her hip. She stared at the pictures and didn’t make eye contact when she spoke. “I just want you to know that there doesn’t have to be any weirdness or anything between us just because…well…you know.”
I drew in a deep breath and continued to evaluate the hideous green vase of flowers in the print. “I’ll take that,” I replied.
Kira nodded in my peripheral. “AJ didn’t want me to come over here and say anything, but I thought it’d be best to clear the air. With the wedding tomorrow and everything, it just seemed like the mature thing to do.” She let out a nervous laugh.
I glanced over at her when I felt her staring. She looked me up and down a little like any woman would, smiling shyly when she realized I’d noticed.