Autumn Night Whiskey (Tequila Rose 2)

My heart breaks in a way where I know it’s saying goodbye. That he came here to say goodbye in a way and instead I held on. If only I don’t move, if only we stayed here forever, the shards of my heart wouldn’t fall, they’d stay right where they should. But we can’t stay here like this. There’s so much more to life than the whispered declarations of two kids in love making promises they can’t keep.

“I love you,” he reminds me in between heated kisses and that’s all I need to cling to him and get lost in the moment again. Simply loving him back like I have all my life is all I need to think about for tonight.

Magnolia

“All is fair in love and war” is a downright dirty lie.

I know darn well what happened last night wasn’t fair.

There’s nothing fair about having your heart ripped out of your chest, and I feel every bit of that pain as I stand here.

The lights are dim enough to feel romantic, yet the spotlights showcase each piece with pride. The music is soft enough for the chatter to carry throughout the space, yet the bass is felt just slightly.

The aroma of sweet wine and delicate hors d’oeuvres expertly passed around on silver trays is subtle, yet appetizing. Everything for the gala is perfect. It’s as if I’ve plucked it from my dreams and delivered it on one of those silver platters myself.

And yet all I can focus on in this moment is the fact that Brody is waiting for me back at his bar once I close down the event.

It feels like I’ve betrayed him. Even if I was with Robert first. Even if he knows I care for Robert and he cares for me in return. Even if we aren’t exclusive. All is not fair in love. Maybe there’s nothing fair about love at all.

Still, I did what my heart wanted me to and it felt right, even if it felt like goodbye.

“Literally gorgeous,” Mandy repeats for at least the fourth time tonight, her flattened hand gesturing twice in the packed space with the tips of her fingers pointed up to the ceiling. She’s three champagne glasses in and it’s noticeable, given that the fluttering hand nearly smacks against her husband’s glass. He’s quick to avoid the disaster and he gives her a smirk, his arm wrapped around her waist. Sean pulls her in tighter as she continues.

“I knew putting my faith in you was the right thing to do.” Her comment comes with a vigorous nod.

I’m not going to lie, I’m grateful she went out ahead of time with Samantha and a few other artists. From what I’ve gathered through social media, Sam’s a heavy drinker and it appears that my boss tried to keep up with her. It also appears her husband finds it humorous as he tucks his tie back inside of his jacket, just in time for her to tug it out again playfully. Her hands haven’t left him since they walked in. All in all, that means the pressure I felt before she walked in has greatly subsided.

“Is there anything you need me to do?” Mandy questions, straightening and seemingly sober for a moment, as if she just heard my thoughts.

With a quick shake, I widen the smile I’ve had plastered on my face for the last hour and answer, “Not a thing.”

Which is true. I’ve hired help for the night. A great deal of the budget actually went to labor costs. It started with a whirlwind of men helping me set up three hours ago, and it’ll end with a cleaning crew in the morning. Only three pieces have yet to sell of over twenty on display; the night has just begun as most guests didn’t arrive until just a half hour ago.

“Everything’s going perfectly,” I say and the response to Mandy feels like a lie, but not because of the event. Literally every aspect is just how I wanted it to be. It’s perfect, but I’m not faring as well.

It’s the fact that Robert walked in five minutes ago, brushing elbows with a couple. The man is in a tailored dark gray suit that’s obviously expensive, but pales in comparison to the dress perfectly hugging his companion’s curves. It’s seductive and a bit overdressed for a cocktail event, but gorgeous nonetheless. It’s better to be overdressed than under, anyway. I imagine he’s the politician in for the weekend whom Robert’s planned to woo.

The second I laid eyes on him, he smiled at me, this charming and confident smile. It breaks my heart because I don’t want to take that smile away from him, but after last night, I know things have to change between us. Even if he doesn’t want it to.