I knew those guys.
I dropped Lily’s hand and walked closer. Standing at the edge of the stairs, I recognized a few of the girls’ faces from grad school at Stern. My eyes redirected to the horseshoe of men in the booth, also from Stern. Lars Jefferson was the bookend to the group. In grad school he was always the loudest, most obnoxious, and most arrogant guy on campus. He held his elite social status as a pass—a pass to do and say anything he wanted. Unfortunately, he was also Dawson’s best friend.
I never could stand him.
He leaned forward and that’s when I saw the blond hair I’d have known anywhere.
Dawson.
I froze, glued to the spot I was standing in.
It had been three months since I’d broken up with Dawson. Six weeks after we set the date. The day I was supposed to move in with him. Now I couldn’t help but stare. Of all the places to run into him, I never thought I’d see him here.
Lars stared at the women. He took his time choosing the girl he wanted and then beckoned her with his smile. I watched as it went down, needing to see if my ex-fiancé did the same. Lars tipped his chin and sure enough the woman beamed with glee. Dawson just sat there while a few of the other guys followed Lars’ lead.
The girl Lars showed interest in brushed her jet-black bangs away from her face, patted her hips with her hands, and walked slowly to the table. I was certain she must have known who he was and probably also knew he was involved with someone, but from the white-toothed smile Lars gave her as she walked over, she must have been confident that didn’t matter.
“Hi,” she said to him.
I was good at lipreading. I’d spent a great deal of time watching people. No, I’d studied couple’s interactions. It was an unhealthy habit I had picked up when I was lost. But it was Dawson who had helped me stop. It was Dawson who helped me live again. It was Dawson with that group of men looking to fuck any girl they could. And it was Dawson who I had let go.
Ice formed in my belly.
Lars ran his eyes up and down the girl’s body, as if he was trying to assess her dress size. Then he gave Dawson a sideways look. Dawson shrugged. If it was because he wasn’t interested or didn’t care, I couldn’t tell. But then Dawson shifted his eyes toward a pretty blonde who walked by and Lars did the same. I had to assume Lars maybe just wanted what Dawson was interested in.
Prick.
Hand on hip, the woman did a runway turn, like a schoolgirl in front of her bedroom mirror and started to walk toward them again. When she passed, Dawson nudged Lars. Comically, Lars got up and chased her.
My eyes settled on Dawson. There were so many guys in the club and they were just as handsome as the ones at that center table, but none of them were as eligible as those bachelors sitting together. None of them had ever been married, each was under thirty years old, and surprisingly, each was very gainfully employed. They were New York City’s biggest catches and every Eloise could only hope to land one of them.
Why had I been the exception?
“Stop shooting daggers his way. He’s not doing anything wrong,” Lily barked at me.
I blinked a few times, suddenly realizing I was doing just what she said I was. The shock I felt that Dawson would join that crowd looking for a meaningless hookup was quickly replaced by hurt.
Over the thumping bass of the music, Lily said, “Come on. You’re staring.”
I gaped at her. “I’m not staring,” I snapped.
She took my hand. “Hey, are you okay?”
I nodded.
“Do you remember why you broke up with him?” she asked.
I nodded again.
“Then let’s go.”
I didn’t move. “I just feel a little confused right now.”
Her grip around my fingers tightened. “I know. And you know I love you and I’m only looking out for you when I remind you again that you broke up with him for a reason, and a good one. So quit looking like you wish you were still together.”
My eyes focused on my best friend. “I don’t regret the breakup.”
She dropped her hold on my hand and moved to stand in front of me, blatantly blocking my view. “I know you don’t and you shouldn’t. He wasn’t right for you.”
I pursed my lips. “I wasn’t right for him.”
Her face filled with concern. “You weren’t right for each other. So why the sad face?”
I bit my lip in contemplation. “This is the first time I’ve seen him since he brought over my stuff. He looks happy.”
She grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “Good. Now you can stop feeling guilty.”
I nodded.
I wished it was that easy.