Our Way

“Good to hear. A change is as good as a holiday, or so I hear.”

Nathan falls back into the seat beside me. “Peter, Nadia.” He smiles as he kisses her cheek and shakes his hand. “How are you both?”

They fall into conversation as Nathan’s hand slides under the table to hold mine on my lap. I sip my champagne and smile as my world returns to normal again.

Dr. Dreamy is here, and I am his faithful patient.

Nathan smiles as he holds me on the dancefloor. We’ve had a wonderful night, with great company.

“Can we go home now?” he murmurs into my ear.

“I thought you’d never ask.” I kiss him softly. “I’m going to the bathroom before we go.”

“Okay, I’ll meet you back at the table.” He kisses my cheek, and I weave my way through the tables, out into the lobby. There’s a bathroom attendant, and she opens the heavy door for me.

Wow, it’s all marble in here with large palms in matching plant pots.

I go to the bathroom and come out and wash my hands. I reapply my lipstick, and the attractive, dark-haired woman in the red dress comes out of one of the cubicles—the one who was talking to Nathan.

“Hello.” She smiles when she sees me. She washes and dries her hands. She definitely is friendly enough.

“Hi.” I smile.

“It’s a beautiful turn out, isn’t it?”

“It is.”

“I love your dress. It’s Eliza, isn’t it?”

“Yes, thanks.” I smile as I roll my lipstick together on my lips. “I’m sorry, I’m terribly rude. I know we’ve met before, but I can’t recall your name.”

“Oh.” She holds her hand out to shake mine. “I’m Stephanie.”

I stare at her as my brain misfires.

What?

But he knows that Stephanie from the gym, not work.

“You go to the gym with Nathan?” I ask as a test.

“Yes.” She smiles warmly. “We work together, too. I’m a cardiovascular surgeon. We operate at the same hospitals.”

“Ah.” I fake a smile. “How wonderful.”

I stare at her beautiful face as the sky turns red. I begin to hear my furious heartbeat in my ears.

This is Stephanie?

A woman that he is friends with. A woman he works with. A beautiful woman that he trusts and knows well is who he went to… over me.

I get an image of the two of them together, kissing—her on her knees, drinking him down.

“Goodbye,” I force out.

“Lovely to see you.”

I fake a smile and storm back to the table. Nathan catches my eye, and I glare at him as I fall into my seat.