My heart stuttered painfully.
“I hope he’s alright,” I sighed. I knew he would have found it so difficult to open up. “Hold on, Alex had a heart-to-heart with him?” As my brain caught up with Avery’s words, I couldn’t help the amusement showing on my face, and Avery let out a small laugh. Our eyes met each other’s reflections.
“Yeah, can you imagine? He’s probably traumatised for life.” She glanced at her phone. “Sorry to change the subject, but the taxi’s due in about five minutes. Are you ready?”
“I think so. Are you?” I stood back, taking her in. “I love your dress. Red is such a good colour on you.”
She smiled, doing a graceful twirl, her long scarlet gown flowing around her. “Thanks. It’s kind of my signature colour now. You look bloody gorgeous, by the way. Eddie has a great eye for clothing.”
Grabbing my clutch bag from the bed, I nodded. “He did well. I had no clue.”
My midnight-blue, floor-length gown clung to my curves as I made my way across the hotel function room. The clingy, off-the-shoulder design, flowing down to a skirt with a split that went almost to the top of my thigh, was classy but sexy—according to Eddie, anyway.
Hyperaware, constantly checking for Luke’s presence, I glanced around the large space, dimly lit by soft magenta-hued spotlights. Clusters of circular tables, covered in white fabric, congregated in front of a stage area with a huge projector screen playing images of campaigns by the agencies nominated for awards. A bar ran along one side of the room, and Avery and I headed over, spotting Ethan ordering a drink. He was alone, Luke nowhere to be seen.
His face broke into a smile when he spotted us. He pulled Avery into an embrace, and their lips met. I turned towards the bar to give them a moment. Both bartenders were busy serving other patrons, so I clambered onto a stool to wait, adjusting my dress so I didn’t show too much of my legs to the people milling around.
“Liv,” Ethan rumbled, disentangling himself from Avery with a kiss and striding the few steps towards me. I smiled at him.
“I need to talk to you quickly,” he murmured, his face turning serious. “Do you have a minute?”
“Of course.” I raised an eyebrow, but deep down, I already knew who the subject of the conversation would be. With a glance at Avery, he led me over to the far corner of the bar.
“I’ve spoken to Luke. It’s not my place to interfere—”
“Not that it’s ever stopped you.” I rolled my eyes but gave him a fond smile.
“Ha. Anyway, he’s coming tonight, but he asked if I would be okay with him waiting until after the actual awards ceremony.” Ethan leaned down, gently gripping my shoulders, his gaze imploring. “He really wants to speak to you, to give you the explanation you deserve. I’ve spoken to him, and I believe it’s worth listening to him, at least.”
“Do we have to do this tonight?” I stared at him.
“Please, Liv. Look, I’m sorry to put you in this position. I need to let him speak for himself, but from everything he’s told me, I feel that you need to hear what he has to say.”
“I suppose I can hear him out.” My voice was small. “But why is he waiting until after the awards have finished?”
Ethan exhaled on a weary sigh. “He didn’t want to have to sit at a table with you while the awards dragged on, unable to speak to you until they were over.”
“I guess that makes sense.” Conflicting feelings raced through me, making my stomach churn; anticipation, worry, anger, and excitement, all combined to send me on an emotional roller coaster.
Closing my eyes, I took several slow, deliberate breaths, counting in my head.
“Liv? Are you alright?” Ethan’s concerned voice sounded close to my ear.
“Yes,” I said, straightening up and meeting his gaze. “Yes.” My voice rang out, firm and clear. “This is long overdue. We need to at least clear the air, and I’m willing to hear him out.”
The awards ceremony seemed to last forever. I fidgeted in my seat restlessly, unable to concentrate, my gaze constantly straying to the empty chair where Luke should have been sitting.
Eddie, who was sitting next to me, nudged me to pay attention as the compère announced the nominees for best ad campaign. When Barrett London’s name was read out, our whole table erupted into cheers. For a boutique company, to even be nominated alongside the giants in the digital marketing industry was such an honour.
We didn’t win. As the winner’s name was read out, Ethan shrugged, unconcerned, looking around the table at each of us in turn.
“I want you to know that I’m so proud of each and every one of you. This is the first time that a small company like ours has been nominated in this category, and it’s all thanks to your hard work. We’re a team, and you all played a part in making this happen.” Eyeing the award winners up on stage, he waited until they’d finished their speech and turned back to us. “Drinks are on me.”
I watched detachedly as my colleagues exchanged delighted glances. Ordinarily, I’d be excited with the thought of free drinks, but as the awards ceremony came to a close, only one thought filled my mind.
“Come with me,” Avery spoke in my ear, making me jump. She inclined her head to the doorway. “Let’s go and get some air while they clear the tables and set up the dance floor.”
Walking back inside from the hotel grounds, my steps faltered. James Arthur’s “Naked” was playing through the sound system as we re-entered the room, where some of the tables had been pushed aside to form a dance floor area. The magenta spotlights had been replaced by tiny white lights that sparkled around the room, reminding me of the night sky.