Page 24 of Love, Second Chances and Other Nonsense
We lapse into silence, and I’m grateful when Lauren returns, linking her arm through Jake’s.
“Everything okay?” she asks, looking between us.
“Fine,” I say, forcing a smile. “Just feeling a bit of a headache coming on.”
Lauren’s brow creases with concern. “Do you want me to get Adam?”
“No,” I say quickly. “He’s busy. I think I’m just going to lie down for a bit. Would you mind… would you mind keeping an eye on things out here?”
“Of course not,” Lauren says, squeezing my arm. “Take all the time you need.”
I slip away, moving through the crowd without drawing attention. No one stops me; no one even seems to notice as I retreat to the bedroom.
Once inside, I close the door behind me and lean against it, letting out a shaky breath. The noise of the party is muffled in here, just a distant hum of conversation and music. I move to the bed and sit down, carefully arranging my skirts around me.
I don’t know how long I sit there, staring at nothing, before there’s a soft knock at the door.
“Caitlin?” Adam’s voice. “Can I come in?”
“Sure,” I say, not bothering to get up.
The door opens, and Adam steps inside, looking concerned. “Lauren said you weren’t feeling well.”
“I have a headache,” I lie, unable to meet his eyes.
He sits beside me on the bed; the mattress dipping under his weight. “You sure that’s all it is?”
I shrug, picking at a loose thread on my skirt. “What else would it be?”
“I don’t know.” Adam sighs, running a hand through his hair. “But you’ve been off all night. And now you’re hiding in here.”
“I’m not hiding,” I say, but the protest sounds weak even to my own ears. “I just needed a break.”
Adam is quiet for a moment, studying my face. “Is this about Millie?”
The direct question surprises me. Adam usually dances around the subject, pretending not to notice the tension Millie causes. “Why would you think that?”
“Because every time she’s around, something like this happens,” he says, sounding frustrated. “You get quiet, and find some reason to leave.”
I finally look at him, anger flaring. “Can you blame me? You haven’t spent more than five minutes with me since she arrived.”
“That’s not fair,” he starts, but I cut him off.
“Isn’t it? You promised you’d stay by my side tonight, Adam.”
He has the grace to look ashamed. “I know. I’m sorry. It’s just—”
“It’s just what? You got distracted? Forgot I existed? What?”
“It’s not like that,” Adam protests. “Do you know what a rough time she’s been having lately? She wasn’t even sure if she was going to feel up to coming tonight. So yeah, I’m happy she’s here and having a good time and I’m going to spend some time with her.”
“It’s always something with her,” I say, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice. “There’s always some reason she needs your attention more than I do.”
“That’s not fair,” Adam repeats, his expression hardening. “She’s my friend, Caitlin. I can’t just ignore her when she’s hurting.”
“And what about me? Do you not care that I’m hurting too? Do you have any idea what it’s like to stand in a room full of people who’ve known each other forever, who all act like I’m completely invisible? To watch my fiancé ignore me while he tends to another woman?”
Adam opens his mouth to respond, but before he can, a voice calls from the hallway.
