Unlike some people…
Damn Tracy and Mr. GQ.
No one made eye contact with him and he wasn’t offended. The last thing he wanted was more sympathetic glances. He had a feeling he’d be seeing an abundance of them in the coming days and weeks so if he could avoid a few right now, he’d take it. When they were outside by Tyler’s car, Elliott stopped.
“You know what? I think I left my phone back in the suite.”
“Want me to go grab it for you?”
But Elliott waved him off. “You go ahead. I’ll go grab it and I think I’m gonna just walk around for a while and then grab an Uber or something. Or maybe ask Josie for a ride. I’m sure she’s going to hang around with her staff for a while.”
“Dude, don’t just wander around the city in your tux. That’s just sad.”
“Yeah, well…kind of fitting, don’t you think?”
“Don’t do this,” Tyler pled. “Get your phone and we’ll get out of here. I hate thinking of you being alone right now. It’s not good for you.”
“Maybe not, but honestly, it’s what I need. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”
With a silent nod, Tyler waved and climbed into his car, and for the first time in over an hour, he felt like he could breathe.
Pulling his tie from around his neck, he stuffed it in his pocket and opened the top button of his shirt before heading back into the catering hall. Making his way across the event space, he wondered if this kind of thing had ever happened before to anyone else. He was fairly certain it had, but…he kind of wished he had some idea of what he was supposed to do or how he was supposed to feel. Was there a support group he could join to find out what he should be doing next?
Other than being forced into an embargo.
He snorted at the thought. Embargo. It was ridiculous. No one could honestly expect him to just change who he was and stop wanting to be involved with a woman for a year, could they? Of course, there was some merit to the idea–after all, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to take on a new hobby or find something new to do. If anything, it would be a great way to meet someone new.
“Ugh…just stop,” he muttered, spotting someone walking into the groom’s suite. He saw the swish of a long, blonde ponytail and immediately knew it was Skylar. She was probably just doing her job–cleaning up another spot after an event.
When he stepped into the doorway, he stopped in his tracks. She wasn’t cleaning up.
She was looking through his phone! Seriously, could this day just stop already??
Storming into the room, he yelled, “What the hell, Skylar?” and then watched in horror as the phone slipped from her hand and crashed to the floor.
She gasped.
Elliott froze.
And he heard the distinct sound of glass breaking.
Why didn’t I get the screen protector when the salesman told me to?!
Rushing across the room, he crouched down and went to pick up the phone. Unfortunately, so did she, and their heads crashed together.
“Ow!”
“Dammit!”
Steadying himself, Elliott reached out to do the same for her. With his hand on her arm, he asked, “Are you okay?”
Rubbing a hand over her forehead, she nodded. “Yeah. Sorry.”
Releasing her, he picked up his phone and stood before extending a hand to her again. Once she was on her feet, he looked at her with annoyance, then down at his phone.
And its cracked screen.
“I am so sorry,” she said breathlessly. “I was cleaning up in here and saw the phone and was trying to see if I could tell who it belonged to. I swear I was going to come out and try to find you!”
It sounded plausible, but he wasn’t in a particularly trusting mood right now. He knew he was seconds away from a complete breakdown and decided to just take his busted phone and go. He’d made it all of three steps before she spoke.
“Hey, I said I was sorry.” And then she was standing in front of him looking sincere. “Please, I’ll even pay to replace it, Elliott.”
All he could do was stare.
“I’m serious,” she went on, as if sensing that he was having a hard time believing what she was saying. “I mean, it was an accident, but I could have been more careful. I know I tend to be a klutz sometimes and I try to avoid handling things that aren’t mine, so…”
“It’s fine, Skye. Really. I just want to go.” He made it two steps farther before she called out to him again.
“And I’m sorry about what happened out there. I can’t imagine how you’re feeling, but…at least you were surrounded by so many people who care about you.”
“Yeah. Lucky me.” And then he stepped around her and started toward the door again.
And she was in front of him in the blink of an eye.
“Look, I get it. You’re having a crappy day.”
“Ya think?” he asked, hating his own snarky tone.
“But…let me be the one person today who maybe does the right thing for you,” she said softly and damn if her big brown eyes didn’t convince him. “I didn’t mean to break your phone and I’m sorry that it all happened the way it did. I’m sure this is like the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back for you right now.”
“Something like that.”
“So…can I please fix your phone? Or replace it? It would really make me feel better.”
“I don’t see why,” he commented. “It was an accident. If I had been paying more attention, I wouldn’t have left it in here. So really, it’s okay. You’re not responsible. I’ll take care of it.”
“But…”
This time Elliott stood a little taller and did his best to sound firm. “We’re good.” And then he stepped around her and finally–finally!–walked out the door. He avoided talking to anyone and breathed a sigh of relief when he was outside and no one was talking to him. Looking around, he wondered where he should go and what he should do and…nothing came to him. Going home seemed like the obvious choice, but the thought of being alone was suddenly beyond unappealing. He could walk around but…Tyler was right; walking around the city in his tux just seemed a bit pathetic.
“So now what?” With a weary sigh, he found himself standing on the sidewalk watching the traffic speed by.
Then he continued to stand there and lost all track of time–not that it mattered; he had nowhere to go and no one was waiting for him.
And that was the way it was going to be for at least the next year, thanks to his family.
Chapter 3
I never fall in love, because everything that falls breaks.
Unknown
“You broke his phone?” Josie cried.
“I broke his phone.”
“What is wrong with you? How could you do something like that? Hasn’t the poor guy been through enough?”
Groaning, Skye rubbed her temples and willed herself not to lose her patience. “It wasn’t like I did it on purpose! I went to clean up the room, saw the phone, and knew it had to belong to him. I had just seen him walk out a few minutes earlier, and I figured I’d slip it into my pocket and go after him.”