"I'm s-s-sorry," she stutters. "Please forgive me."
I chuckle. "How quickly you break, Elise."
I don't tell her this is exactly why she isn't the woman for me – I'm sure she can figure it out by herself.
"Come on," I go on. "The cab's waiting."
We exit the building minutes later. I pretend not to notice how badly she wants me to hold her hand after she brushes her palm against mine for the second time. I open the cab door for her – I'm not a savage, after all – and we sit in silence while we drive up to the charity event Elise is hosting tonight.
"By the way," she says calmly. "You might know one of the assistants who helped with this charity ball."
"Oh?" I ask, feigning interest. "Who is it?"
Probably another one of her loaded, vapid socialite friends with Daddy's Amex.
"Dove Canterbury," she smiles innocently. "Oh, I suppose it's Dove Miller now. Do you remember her?"
She doesn't need to ask me, the answer is written all over my face. Of-fucking-course I remember Dove – she's the one that smashed my heart into a million pieces. But the pain I anticipate every time I think of her doesn't come this time. I feel strangely numb at the thought of seeing Dove after all these years.
"I remember her," I finally answer. "But that won't be a problem in case you're worried about keeping this business arrangement under wraps for your friends."
"You sure about that?" Elise narrows her eyes at me. "As far as I can remember, you were infatuated with Dove. I don't want anyone to suspect our relationship isn't as solid as we make it out to be. Especially not Dove."
"Yeah, you always hated her, didn't you," I mutter. "Jealous, Elise?"
She purses her lips just as the car pulls up in front of our venue. I tip the driver and plaster on my fake as fuck happy mask, getting the door for Elise and walking into the architecturally impressive building with our arms linked.
Surprisingly, I'm not constantly on the lookout for Dove. The benefit is for the homeless people of LA, so it really shouldn't surprise me she would be assisting with it. Frankly, what surprises me more is that they put Elise in charge of the ball instead of Dove.
Absentmindedly, I find myself wondering whether Dove will come with her shady as fuck husband, Nox. I always hated that bastard. He stole Dove away from me, after all.
"There's Dove." Elise tugs on my sleeve and nods to the left. "Come on. Let's go say hello."
I groan. "Why?"
"Because," she hisses stubbornly before flashing me a winning smile. "I got the man, not her."
That's hardly true, but at least it makes me fucking feel better as I follow Elise through the crowd and to a dazzling couple in black chatting to a group of animated people.
It's nice to see Dove Canterbury hasn't given up on her signature color. The darkness embraces her like an old friend. Tonight, she's not hiding her scars – they're plainly visible in the sleeveless, backless dress with a slit running up her thigh.
Even her criminal of a husband looks alright in an expensively-cut tux and Italian leather shoes. They barely look older than they did when I met them for the first time, and it makes me feel like an old man. There's no trace of silver in Nox's hair and beard. Not like mine.
"Dove!" Elise taps my old flame on the shoulder and Dove turns around, her lips tightening as Elise air-kisses her. "How wonderful that you came. I have a little surprise for you?"
"Oh?" Dove smiles uncomfortably, glancing around the room as if looking for a way out.
"This is my fiancé. I think you know each other?" Elise babbles innocently.
Dove looks up at me right at the second Nox turns around and wraps his arm possessively around his wife's waist.
"Hello again," I get out in a low mutter. "Good to see you."
"Raphael!" I have to give Dove credit – she actually looks excited as she smiles widely at me. "How wonderful to see you after all this time."
"Likewise," I say, leaning in to kiss her cheek purely out of politeness. But her prick of a husband isn't having it and he shoves me back. "Relax, man."
"Don't kiss her," Nox says in a growl.
"Nox," Dove laughs nervously as a couple people turn to look at us. "Relax. It's nothing."
And just like that, she's reminded me yet again how much I mean to her.
It's fucking nothing.
"It's fine," I say in a clipped tone. "I should have known better. Have a pleasant evening."
"Wait," Dove insists. I'm surprised her husband doesn't growl at the word. "I... We'd love to catch up."
"Oh, there are Mimi and Kiki," Elise mutters distractedly. "I have to go say hello, darling."
"Sure," I nod, allowing her to kiss my cheek, leaving a lip print in her wake. She couldn't be more obvious in wanting to impress Dove. The woman from my past and I share a secretive smile before I remember Nox. That motherfucking bastard. "So. Catching up."