Finding Olivia (Trace + Olivia #1) (28 page)

“Avery,” I groaned.

“What? I’m just being honest,” she smacked my butt and started packing up her stuff.

Trace ventured out into the living room area and I was left alone with Avery once more.

As she gathered up her various items, she rambled, “I know you’re really nervous, but don’t be. Enjoy tonight and don’t overthink it. Okay?”

“Okay,” I agreed to shut her up. I knew it would be impossible for me to relax.

“Good,” she smiled, and slung her bag across her shoulders, leaving the garment bag behind. “I’m sure you’ll be playing doctor with Tracey-poo later, so I’ll just leave that.”

She didn’t give me a chance to complain about her com
ment. She hugged me quickly, whispered, “Good luck,” in my ear and headed out the door.

The door had barely clicked closed behind her when Trace announced that it was time for us to go.

He held my hand as we descended the steps, while I silently prayed I didn’t fall, and cut my head open.

He stopped when we reach
ed the bottom step, instead of rounding the corner, and heading toward his car.

I looked up, away from my feet, and gasped.

“A limo? We’re going in a freakin’ limo,” I mumbled.

“Of course,” he smiled crookedly as the driver held the door open.

Trace helped me inside and slid in beside me.

“Unfreakinbelivable,” I gazed around the limo. I had never been inside one before
, and found myself mesmerized by the many seats, and the ceiling that glowed with small lights meant to look like the night sky.

Trace straightened his tux jacket
, and sat back, holding my right hand tightly in his.

After I had committed every piece of the limo to memory, I relaxed.

My nerves were beginning to bubble to the surface again and I took deep breaths so I didn’t get sick.

“Calm down,” Trace smoothed a thumb over my hand. “Everything will be fine. It’s just a little party.”

I snorted. I doubted this was just a
little party
.

My suspicions were confirmed
, when the house came into view, along with a gazillion limos and town cars.

The circular driveway in front of the house, which I hadn’t noticed before
, since it was hidden with snow, was filled with limos and cars pulled up to let guests out.

Our dri
ver pulled up to the front and opened the door for us.

Trace slipped outside and held his hand inside the limo to help me out.

He drew me tightly against his side and nodded at the driver before walking inside the open double doors.

We followed the other guests to the massive ballroom.

The tables and chairs that had been stacked against the walls the last time I was here, were now set up with white tablecloths covering them, and white slipcovers over the chairs. A large area in the middle was cleared for dancing, which many people were taking advantage of, and a band played on the corner stage.

People that weren’t dancing, were either sitting, or walking around mingling.

“Thank God you’re here,” a voice said from behind us and we turned around to come face to face with Trent. “If one more person asks me about the holes in my ears I’m going to blow up.”

Trace laughed. “Guess you shouldn’t have gotten the gauges.”

“You have tattoos!” Trent cried.

“So do you,” Trace shrugged. “Just ignore these people,” he indicated the whole room.

“Ugh,” Trent groaned. “I’ll try. But mom wants me to ‘be nice’ and ‘make connections,’” he held his hands up in air quotes. “Whatever the fuck that means. I’d rather be in my room. There aren’t even any hot girls here. Just stuffy old people with no sense of humor.”

“I feel you, man. But we have to do what we have to do,” Trace shrugged.

“Whatever,” Trent cracked his neck. “I hope you two don’t mind company, because I’m about to be a fucking leech and latch on, and never let go.”

“I don’t mind,” Trace shrugged. “Olivia?”

“I don’t care,” I smiled at Trace’s younger brother.

“Thanks,” Trent
grinned and stood on my other side.

I felt even shorter than usual, despite the heels I was wearing, standing next to the Wentworth brothers.

A waiter with a tray of food passed us and my stomach rumbled. The cereal I ate earlier had done little to quench my appetite.

I eyed the food longingly and Trace chuckled.
“Hungry?”

“Starving,” I bit my lip.

Trace sought an empty table, and pulled out a chair for me, taking the seat to my right, while Trent took the one to my left.

We hadn’t been
seated for long, when a waiter appeared with menus in hand, and glasses of water and champagne.

We each scanned the menu and made our choice out of the three options. I opted for the steak since it seemed like the safest option.

I took a sip of the champagne and gagged. The bubbly liquid tasted disgusting. I couldn’t figure out exactly what the flavor was, I just knew I hated it.

Trace and Trent got quite the chuckle out of my reaction. Neither of them seemed to mind the overly bubbly liquid
, but it wasn’t passing through my lips ever again, that was for sure.

What felt like an eternity later, our food was brought out.

I ate it like someone was going to come steal my plate before I had the chance to finish.

“Slow down,” Trace chortled, “you’re going to choke yourself.”

“At least if she chokes herself the party will end early,” Trent mumbled.

Trace glared at his brother. “Thanks for your concern.”

“Hey,” Trent put his hands up in defense, “the sooner these stuffy old farts get out of my house, the sooner I can get the fuck out of here, and to the real party.” An older man glared at Trent as he passed. “Yes, Melvin, you’re one of the stuffy old farts I was talking about,” Trent added loudly to the older man.

The man, Melvin I assumed, shook his head and shuffled away.

“At least there will be fireworks at midnight,” Trent took a bite of asparagus. “That’ll be fun.”

“Hey boys,
” I heard Trace’s mom, and turned to find Lily striding towards us, from a few feet away. “Olivia,” she added, smiling at me.

“Hi,” I waved awkwardly.

“Mom,” Trace grinned.

Lily stopped beside Trent’s chair and glared at her youngest son. “Melvin Cross just came up to me and-”

“I’m out of here,” Trent jumped up from his chair and ran away.

Exasperated, Lily threw her hands in the air, and scurried after him.

Trace looked at his fancy silver watch. “All this excitement and it’s already nine o’ clock. What’s next?”

★★★

“I thought you couldn’t dance,” I pouted as Trace led me across the dance floor.

“I can’t. Not really. But I can
act
like I know what I’m doing,” he grinned down at me as my dress swirled around my feet.

I tried to mimic the way other people were dancing, but I wasn’t exactly the most coordinated person on the word, and Trace wasn’t very good at leading.

Finally, I gave up, resting my head on his shoulder.

Golden lights sparkled around us, illuminating the room in warm glow.

I felt Trace’s lips brush against my forehead, and I smiled, the innocent gesture warming my heart.

The first song bled into the second and third and so on.

My feet were starting to get tired and I asked Trace if we could take a break.

“Sure thing,” he smiled
, and started to guide me back to our table, with a hand on my waist.

“Trace Wentworth, funny running into you here,” a twinkling female voice stopped us in our tracks.

“Fuck,” Trace whispered under his breath, low enough that I, and the girl behind us, were the only ones who heard.

Trace’s hand flexed against my waist and his jaw
tightened as he turned around slowly.

“Aubrey,” he ground
out. “This is my family’s home. I’m supposed to be here.
You
are not.”

Aubrey...Aubrey…Aubrey.

Where had I heard that name?

Oh my God.
I gasped aloud.

Trace’s ex.

The petite blonde girl glared daggers at me with her dark blue eyes. She was pretty, as in model pretty, with slim features and body, and fair, blemish free skin.

She wore a strapless pale pink dress that hung straight down her narrow body.
Her light blonde hair was pulled back in a low bun and a few pieces framed her pretty face. I had never seen a person that looked so flawless.

Her pale pink lips were pouted and fake tears watered her eyes.

“Just because we broke up doesn’t mean you need to shut me out of your life,” her lower lip trembled for emphasis.

“Aubrey-”

“I’ve been a part of your life since we were children, Trace. I spent as much time here, as you spent at my house. We shouldn’t shut each other out. I miss you,” she reached for his hand and he recoiled. Anger flared in her eyes. “I still love you, baby,” she tried to grab his arm, but he stepped back, dragging me with him.

“That’s a lie,” he pointed a finger in her face, “and even if it wasn’t
, I don’t love
you
.”

“
You’re
lying,” her navy blue eyes narrowed. Her gaze flicked my way. “You think this white trash bitch is better than me? It’s clear she’s not from money,” My mouth gaped open at her words. She looked me up and down, a sneer marring her pretty face. “She can’t understand you the way I do.” She grabbed his tux jacket, but Trace shook her off as easily as if she was a pesky fly.

“If you were a guy I would punch you in the face for what you said about Olivia-”

“
It
has a name?” She batted her eyelashes innocently.

I flinched at her tone.

“You’re asking for it Aubrey,” Trace warned. “I
will
have you escorted off of
my
property, no questions asked, if you keep this up.” She opened her mouth but he cut her off. “I don’t give a fuck who your daddy is, Aubrey,
you are nothing
.”

A fire burned behind her eyes. “
I
am
nothing
? You sure didn’t think I was nothing when you dated me. You talked about marrying me and having kids with me,” she pointed at her bony chest. “What changed? Did your dad dying mess you up that bad that you’re willing to settle for
her
?” She stabbed a manicured finger in my direction.

“People grow up, Aubrey. They grow up and they outgrow each other. We weren’t right together. Sur
ely, you can see that,” Trace reasoned. “And I am
not
settling with Olivia. I would be settling if I was still with you. Last names aren’t everything, Aubrey, and I know that’s the only reason you wanted me. So shut the fuck up and stop acting like I meant everything to you, because I didn’t. I was nothing but a means for you climb up the mother-fucking social ladder!” He yelled.

“You did! I loved you! I still love you! This bitch isn’t your future, Trace! I am!” She squealed shrilly.

By now, we had drawn quite the crowd.

I felt Trent step up beside me.
“Oh, fuck, this isn’t good,” he whispered.

“If you make one more comment about Olivia, you will be escorted from this house
, and you
won’t
be coming back,” he warned. “I don’t care how much money your daddy throws our way,” Trace seethed.

Aubrey’s nostrils flared and her lips pursed. Her tiny hands were fisted at her sides as she glared at the three of us.

“Fine,” she sighed. “Whatever. I’m not done with you, though,” she pointed a finger in Trace’s face. “
Do not
think this conversation is over. As soon as your pound puppy is out of the way, we’re talking.”

“No, we’re not,” Trace snapped. “We were done talking years ago. Come on,” he released his hold on my waist and grabbed my hand. We melted out of the crowd and Trent followed.

Adrenaline was fading from my body and being replaced by sadness. Aubrey may have been a bitch, but Trace belonged with someone like her, not
me
. Someone beautiful and from the same lifestyle, someone with money, and status, someone that he grew up with. I was none of those things.

“Who invited the fucking ice queen?” Trent asked when we stepped outside the ballroom and around the corner.

“I have no clue,” Trace snapped angrily, running his fingers through his hair. “Mom, Gramps, and Grammy wouldn’t do that to me. She had to tag along with her parents or someone else.” He released my hand so he could punch the wall. When he calmed down some, he turned to me, “I’m so sorry, Olivia. I would’ve never brought you here if I knew she was going to be here. She’s a bitch and I never wanted you to have to know-”