Chasing Heartbreak (Dark Love 6)

“I heard you needed a date,” he simply states.

My head tilts to look behind him as if I expected someone else to be hovering around him. Eric is my first thought, but then, I see no one besides strangers and, of course, Lex and Charlie, brows raised as they wait for my reaction.

I retract slowly, examining the man standing before me. It’s been over three years since I last saw him at the hospital. The day I decided to walk away and start a new life. The same day he told me he loved me yet, in the same breath, announced he was about to start a new journey by welcoming a child with Morgan.

That moment was the final puncture to an open wound I’d allowed to be exposed for too long. Undeniably, I miss having him as my best friend, some

one I grew fond of and relied upon during our time together. But something never meshed with us. We were great as friends, but nothing more. And no matter how much I tried to ignore the said fact, Noah’s admission sealed the deal. He’d fallen in love with another woman, and they were to make a life together.

As for me, I did what I’ve always done in life, moved on to a new adventure and focused on myself, closing the final chapter on that book.

We remained friends—‘friends’ being the operative word—via social media, but I rarely logged into my account and never posted anything. Unlike Eric, I didn’t find any use in the platform. There are better things to do with my time than aimless scrolling and ‘liking’ someone’s post.

Neither one of us reached out to each other, aside from a message I passed on through Charlie to congratulate him on the birth of his daughter. And so, we drifted apart and haven’t spoken since.

Now, he’s standing before me, still looking as heartbreakingly handsome as ever.

Noah is dressed similarly to Lex in a black costume, possibly designed by Adriana if the ruffles are anything to go by. On closer inspection, he looks slightly thinner than I remember him but still appears muscular beneath the tights he’s wearing.

Though behind the black and gold mask, his face tells a different story. His eyes don’t shine as bright as I once remembered, and his cheeks have thinned out—another sign of his weight loss. His normally freshly shaven face is smothered with a thick beard yet manicured and not overgrown like I’d noticed on some men. It adds to his masculinity and somewhat suits him.

“Can a long-lost friend get a hug, or do you prefer I stand here so you can continue to stare at me in silence?” He rubs his beard, a smirk following. “I’ll tell you now that I charge a dollar a minute.”

I shuffle closer to him, wrapping my arms around his neck. His body is flush with mine as he laces his arms around my waist, bringing me in for a very tight embrace. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath at the same time my heart begins to weigh heavily. In Noah’s embrace, his scent is even more memorable. Slowly, my memories drift to the countless nights I’d rest my head on his shoulder or the few times I would lay my head against his chest and listen to his heartbeat. There was a time when I could memorize it’s beat, almost like it played a tune whenever I was around him.

“You’re here…” my words fumble out in confusion. “I don’t understand?”

Releasing himself from me, he remains a few inches away as my hands fall back to my sides.

“The question-and-answer portion of the date is now paused.”

He motions for me to watch the fountains. The water sprays up with lighting surrounding it. The people watch in awe, and all the while, my confusion is firmly at the forefront of my mind.

Noah leans over, his breath close to a whisper. “I can hear your thoughts. Charlie said you need a date, and I need a drinking buddy.”

Just as my mouth begins to open, fireworks shoot into the sky again, the ray of colors starting the grand event in style. Everyone watches with excitement until they finish, followed by the large crowd assembling like a herd toward the main entrance.

“Are we ready to head in?” Charlie asks, biting her bottom lip.

I nod, choosing to keep my opinion on her elaborate stunt to myself. If I cause a scene about the issue, she’ll assume it’s because I have unrequited feelings toward Noah. Annoyed with her secrecy on his attendance, I opt to pick a better time to discuss this, which will most likely be soon after the champagne has flowed through my veins, giving me the courage to say what I really think.

The four of us walk toward the VIP line, which is moving quicker than the general admission. A few months ago, when Charlie told me she wanted to attend, I spoke to a few colleagues who suggested we purchase the extravagant tickets. It would give us lavish tables to sit at, buffet food, and unlimited drinks.

The selling point being the unlimited drinks.

As we enter the main ballroom after checking in, it’s like stepping into a dance party with performing acts. Everywhere you turn, there’s something to look at, which momentarily distracts me from Noah grabbing my hand and pulling me along with Lex and Charlie.

Some performers stand on podiums, moving their limbs in what I assume is interpretive dance. Another is doing a juggling act with fireball lanterns, drawing a crowd to watch their amazing skills on show.

Strobe lights dart across the large event space, neon colors against the dark walls in beat with the music which is playing. There’s so much to take in, and I begin to understand why people lose themselves for hours amongst the entertainment, which is so much more fun while dressed in a costume.

Lex finds our table and, of course, he pulls some extra strings and makes sure we have the bells and whistles. We’re positioned upstairs with the best view of the entire venue, close enough to see the main stage. The table is also near the buffet and bar, plus restrooms.

A bucket of chilled champagne sits in the middle of our table. Without delay, I pop it open and pour myself a glass, drinking it without even releasing a breath. Lex and Noah watch me in amusement, whereas Charlie cocks her head to the side, knowing she’s just about to encounter the peak of the storm.

“How about we grab more drinks?” Lex suggests to Charlie.

“You stay, Lex,” I almost push him back onto the seat. “I need to have a word with Charlie.”