Page 22 of Love, Second Chances and Other Nonsense
I follow him out to the living room, where I’ve spent most of the day decorating. Orange and black streamers hang from the ceiling, fake cobwebs stretch across corners, and plastic jack-o’-lanterns glow on every surface. The table is covered with Halloween-themed snacks—deviled eggs with olive spiders, mummy-wrapped hot dogs, a cheese ball shaped like a pumpkin, and a centerpiece of cupcakes frosted to look like little ghosts.
“This looks incredible.” Adam squeezes my hand. “I can’t believe how much effort you’ve put into this.”
I feel a flush of pride at his praise. “The sangria is in the fridge. I made a big batch of it. And there’s a pot of chili keeping warm on the stove.”
Adam shakes his head, still looking around at the decorations. “You’re amazing, you know that?”
“So you keep telling me.” I smile, feeling some of my anxiety ebb away.
The doorbell rings, and Adam gives my hand one last squeeze. “Showtime,” he says with a wink.
The first guests are a couple of people I barely know, friends of Adam’s from high school. I greet them warmly, offering drinks and directing them to the food. Adam stays by my side, his hand at the small of my back, a steady presence as more guests arrive.
For the first hour, everything goes smoothly. Adam introduces me to people I haven’t met before, makes sure I’m included in the conversations, refills my drink without being asked. I relax, thinking maybe I’ve been worrying for nothing.
And then the door opens, and Millie walks in.
She’s wearing a witch costume, but not the kind with warts and a green face. Her dress is short and tight, cut low enough to show an impressive amount of cleavage. Her long black hair falls in loose waves down her back, topped with a small pointed hat perched at a jaunty angle. Her makeup is flawless; her eyes smoky and mysterious.
The room’s energy shifts immediately. People call out greetings, several of the men openly staring. Adam’s head turns toward her like he’s being pulled by an invisible string.
“Millie’s here,” he says unnecessarily, already moving in her direction.
I nod, forcing a smile. “I’ll get her a drink.”
“No, I’ve got it,” Adam says, already halfway across the room. “You mingle.”
And just like that, he’s gone, swallowed up by the crowd gathering around Millie. I stand alone by the snack table, watching as she greets him with a hug that lasts just a bit too long, leaning in to whisper something in his ear that makes him laugh.
I turn away, busying myself with the food. When I look up, a woman I vaguely recognize from previous gatherings is standing in front of me.
“Great party,” she says, helping herself to a deviled egg. “I’m Brooke, by the way. We met at Eric’s funeral.”
“Oh right, of course,” I say, although I still don’t really recognize her. “Thanks for coming.”
“So you and Adam went with The Princess Bride, huh? Cute.”
There’s something in her tone that makes me think she doesn’t find it cute at all, but I push the thought away. “It’s one of our favorite movies,” I say.
“Mmm,” she says noncommittally, then brightens as she looks over my shoulder. “Oh, there’s Millie! Excuse me, I should go say hi.”
And she’s gone too, leaving me alone again. I scan the room for Adam and spot him still by Millie’s side, the two of them laughing with a group of their friends. Their friends. None of these people here are interested in becoming my friend.
I take a deep breath and move through the crowd, attempting to join various conversations. Without Adam by my side, people are polite but distant, their eyes sliding past me mid-sentence to check if anything more interesting is happening elsewhere. I chat with a few of Adam’s coworkers, but the conversations die quickly, leaving awkward silences.
“Princess Buttercup, really?” Hailey’s voice comes from behind me, and I turn to find her dressed as Catwoman, sleek and predatory in black leather. “Isn’t that a bit… juvenile?”
“Adam and I love The Princess Bride,” I say, trying to keep my voice light. “We thought it would be fun to do a couples costume.”
Hailey’s eyes flick to where Adam stands with Millie, still deep in conversation with several other people. “Hmm. Well, I guess it is a classic. Though I always thought Buttercup was a kind of passive character. Just waiting around to be rescued all the time.”
The barb finds its mark, and I feel my cheeks warm. “She had her moments of strength,” I say lamely.
“Sure.” Hailey’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “Anyway, great party. Though if you want a tip? Next time, maybe go easy on the decorations. It’s a bit much.”
She slinks away before I can respond, and I’m left standing there speechless, feeling as though I’ve just been slapped. I glance around for Adam again, hoping he might have finally extricated himself from Millie’s orbit, but he’s still with her. She has her hand on his arm now, leaning in close to be heard over the music.
“Don’t let her get to you,” Lauren says, appearing beside me with a glass of wine in hand. She’s dressed as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, complete with ruby slippers and a small stuffed dog in a basket. “Hailey’s just being Hailey. Nothing makes her happier than knowing she’s gotten under someone’s skin.”
