I took one last look at my phone before putting it to sleep and sliding it back into my pocket.
My doubts would have to wait. It was time to work.
15
QUINN
It wasn’t easy keeping my pageant smile on while seething inside, but I was used to it. Event planners had to make it seem like things were perfectly wonderful even when the world turned to shit.
Thankfully, things were going just fine tonight—as long as you ignored the large crater in my chest, which I was very much attempting to do—so I’d managed to go through the motions of doing my job and making polite chitchat without anyone noticing that my heart wasn’t in it.
During a quiet moment, I’d even taken a call from one of my favorite repeat brides, Posy, who was planning her fourth attempt at “forever” and was just as freaked-out as she’d been during the first.
“I can’t have the apricot Juliet roses I wanted, Quinn, because Tarquin’s mother looks hideous in apricot. But since everyone knows apricot Juliet roses are the only flower worth having, that means I simply cannot have any flora whatsoever, which leaves… fauna. I’ve decided I’ll carry a whole bouquet of emu feathers—from coral-colored emus dyed specifically to match my bridesmaid dresses, of course! Do you think if I pay extra, they can dye the whole emu? Because I was thinking… you know how some people release doves?”
For one heart-stopping moment, I envisioned a scenario where Posy released a flock of pissed-off coral emu into a crowd of socialites and the unholy carnage that would follow.
The vision was hella distracting, and while I gently redirected her to some non-emu-based options, I didn’t think about Champ or racing out to Drakes Farm to confront the bastard about reneging on his promise at all.
Sadly, that only lasted four minutes.
I knew the best way to get over my anger and disappointment was to focus on work, as I’d done in the past. That should have been easy because Taffet Events was having a phenomenal night. Bunny, despite being utterly blind when it came to spotting a real relationship, was a beast when it came to sales, and she’d spent the last few hours of the SnoBall on some kind of campaign to drum up business for me. By the time the band played the last song, I’d been approached half a dozen times with inquiries about planning various events in and around the Thicket, as well as two more potential weddings in Nashville.
For the first time in my entire career, I had so many leads, I could pick and choose which events I most wanted to handle. It was a dream come true. The culmination of a ton of hard work. A moment I wanted to hold close and revel in… but it turned out that was really hard to do when the person you most wanted to revel with wasn’t around to celebrate because the mission had to come first.
Logically, I knew Champ was making the smart choice. The choice I would have made even a few months ago. But I hadn’t been acting smart for a long time where Champ was concerned, and it was a little humiliating to know that I was the only one.
As the caterers began cleaning up and the band put away their instruments, I said goodbye to the last few straggling guests.
“Quinn, you’ve gotta come to the Tavern with us for the after-party!” a slightly-tipsy Ava insisted. Her pretty blonde hair had tumbled from its updo, and she carried her strappy red shoes in her hand. “We want to toast you and your hard work!”
“Aw. That sounds like fun,” I agreed half-heartedly. “But rain check, okay? I’m tired, and—”
“And your date’s a dumbass, right?” she concluded. She took a step toward me and slung a slender arm around my shoulders. “I saw him duck out earlier with Kev and a couple of his guys.” She rolled her eyes. “Which is it, a work issue, or are they headed for the bar?”
“I, uh…” I had no idea how to respond to that. I couldn’t believe she’d noticed Champ and the others leave. When she was done running the Beautification Corps, I was pretty sure she could have a second career as an international spy.
“Either way, this was your special night, and he’s been a dick. So come out with us and have a few drinks. We’ll get you hopped up on moonshine and righteous indignation, and then you can go home and get all up in his grill. You’ll feel better.”
“Oh, hayel no. I’m not going anywhere near Champ’s grill,” I assured her. “And he’s not getting up in mine either. That’s what started this bullshit.”
“Quinn.” Ava tilted her head like I was the one being silly. “I meant talk to him. Don’t be afraid to lay on the volume if you need to. Tell him exactly how you feel. It’ll make you feel better and give him a chance to make it right.”