“So far so good,” I agreed, signing an order slip for the table linens and handing it back to the delivery person.
“I can’t wait to see how it all turns out. It’s one thing to imagine it in my head; it’s something else entirely to see it on the actual night. I just hope everything goes smoothly,” I said with an edge of panic as Theo and I walked over to the giant screen being put up on the wall.
It was the perfect space for the event. The entire back of the room was composed of windows that overlooked the river. The room was grand and expansive and would be filled with twinkling lights and swaths of blue, silver, and white. I had envisioned a classy but eye-catching event. I was scared that something would happen to screw it all up. Because lord knows, that would be my luck.
“So how was Cole after I left the other night?” Theo asked and I sucked in a breath. I hadn’t expected him to ask about Cole. I sort of hoped he’d let us pretend the whole thing hadn’t happened.
I forced a smile and shrugged. “He was hung over.”
Theo’s piercing eyes seemed to look straight through me. “And how are things with the two of you?” he queried.
Why was he asking me about this? Why in the world would he want to know?
I prayed he hadn’t held out hope for us. Because that was never going to happen. Even if I wanted to make myself go there, I knew it wasn’t right. I couldn’t flirt and lead him on when I knew that Cole would always be there in the back of my mind.
And now that the L word had been thrown into the mix, I was even more of a lost cause.
“Couldn’t really say,” I said caustically, wishing he’d drop it. I was at work. I couldn’t fixate on Cole. I couldn’t think about how things were going for him in New York. I couldn’t allow myself to wonder whether he would call when he was finished.
“Because, I was wondering if you wanted to go to the gala with me. And I didn’t want to ask if the two of you were together.”
“Um. . .” I began, not sure what to say.
Hadn’t I stomped all over him enough for one lifetime?
Theo chuckled at my horrified expression. “As friends, Viv. I just want to escort the amazing person responsible for all of this. Just a night of fun, and dancing, and hanging out with someone I enjoy being with. Just don’t get high on antihistamines beforehand and we’ll be good,” he teased and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Well, I’m supposed to go with my friends.”
Theo shrugged. “I rented a limo. The company always springs for them. We could all go together,” he offered and that seemed to take some of the pressure off.
“Sure, that sounds great,” I agreed. I was relieved that Theo didn’t seem to be holding my idiotic behavior against me. He was such a nice guy and I really needed more nice in my life.
“Great! I’ll pick you and your friends up at your place around eight on Saturday!” Theo gave me a wave and headed over to several of his co-workers that had come in to see the progress.
My phone beeped in my pocket and I pulled it out to find a text from Cole.
In New York. Wish me luck.
Six words. That was it. But it lifted my mood instantly.
Not even hesitating I quickly typed out a response.
Good luck, Cole.
I didn’t get a reply. I hadn’t expected one. But my day felt a whole lot brighter.
By the evening, however, I was on pins and needles wanting to know what had happened in the meeting with the label. After receiving the text from Cole earlier, I had honestly thought he’d call afterwards. But there had been nothing but radio silence.
I tried calling Maysie several times but her phone went straight to voicemail.
“Have you heard from Maysie?” I asked Gracie after she got home from her last day at the coffee shop. She had gotten the job with the garden magazine and was set to start on Monday.