Page 24 of Heartsmashed
The welcome party was being held just off the main resort, and as we stepped inside it was instantly sensory overload. The voices of well over a hundred people chatting and laughing layered over the music, over the glasses clinking and the blaze in the massive stone firepit in the center of the room. One entire wall was nothing but glass, showing off the mountain view, and everywhere I looked were faces I recognized.
“Sawyer, where have you been hiding?”
I barely had time to brace myself before I was pulled into a hug by someone I hadn’t seen in years, followed by another greeting, then another, names and faces blending together as I smiled and nodded and introduced Beckett to all of them.
We’d barely gotten in the door before being bombarded, and I didn’t have a clue how either one of us would manage without any alcohol.
Okay, maybe I was speaking for myself there. Or thought I was, because as I was stuck mid-convo trying to remember the name of the person I was speaking to, I felt Beckett’s hand on the small of my back and he leaned in.
“I’ll grab drinks.”
I gave him a grateful smile. “You read my mind.”
He winked and drifted through the crowd toward the bar, and it was hard not to keep watching him instead of returning to the couple I’d been speaking to.
Which was probably how I didn’t notice Peter until he was suddenly there.
“Oh, Peter, I was wondering where you were,” said the woman—oh, it was Mrs. Green, who used to do Mom’saccounting before she retired. She patted Peter’s arm, and he grinned down at her like he deserved to be there. “I was just about to tell Sawyer you two should visit next time you’re in the Hamptons.”
“Actually, we’re not—” I started, and then all eyes were on me and I began to sweat. What I wanted to say waswe’re not together because Peter’s an asshole, but I didn’t. “We’re not together anymore,” I said instead.
She blinked, glancing at Peter, then me again. “I’m sorry?”
“We broke up.” God, could I make it any clearer? “I’m with someone else now.”
A soft gasp left her and she rested her hand on Peter’s arm. “Oh, Peter, are you all right?”
Oh…my…God.
I tried, really. I didn’t want to show a reaction, because tonight was supposed to be calm, cool Sawyer—buthell no, I wasn’t about to stand here and let everyone think this wasmyfault.
“You’re sweet,” Peter said, smiling down at her. “I’m?—”
“The one who broke up withme,” I interrupted. “And he also has a boyfriend, so trust me, he’s just fine.”
Shit, where was Beckett with that drink? I could’ve used it…or thrown it in someone’s face. Either way.
Mrs. Green dropped her hand and gave her husband an uneasy look as she took a step back. “I see. We’ll just leave you two to…”
She didn’t finish her sentence before they both hurried off, and I sighed.
Great. A few minutes in and I was already causing a scene.Fucking Peter.
Thank God a waiter with a tray full of champagne passed by us then, because I grabbed a flute and took a huge swallow of the bubbly stuff.
“There he is. I was wondering if the radio thing was just an act.” Peter smirked and lifted his tumbler to his lips. “Guess not.”
“Are you stalking me now?”
“It’s not hard to hear from everyone about how your ex has gone off the rails in public. Really, Sawyer, the name calling? Childish, isn’t it?”
“Nah, felt pretty cathartic to me.”
“How does your boyfriend feel about your crying over me on the radio?”
I stopped scanning the room for Beckett and narrowed my eyes on Peter.
It took longer than it should’ve to really let what he’d said sink in, because I thoughtsurelyI must’ve heard him wrong. Because how could someone you’d been with for two years of your life suddenly be such a heartless prick?
