Happenstance (17 page)

The ballroom is also full of clients, every client of Blue Lakes
has been invited and I’m introduced to a few of them as well. Shortly before
the dinner, we run into Annette, his receptionist.

“Victoria, you’re here?” She asks politely but I can tell she is
surprised as she glances between Jared and me. Jared notices as well and
frowns.

“Why wouldn’t she be?” he asks.

She shakes her head as if clearing her thoughts and giggles. “Oh
no reason, I don’t know why I asked. It was silly of
me,
hope you both have a good time.” And she runs off like her feet are on fire.

I glance up at Jared. “What was that about?”

He shrugs. “Who
knows,
who cares? Let me
introduce you to a few other people . . .” He leads me to our table where we
sit with a few of his colleagues.

I meet Elijah, a tall guy with a muscular build. His physique is
not as handsome as Jared’s but he does have a nice body. He’s one of Jared’s
good friends and happens to be the coach of the little league team.

“Jared tells me you guys might help out with the League,” he asks
me. I take a sip of wine and nod my head.

“Yeah, when do you guys play?”

“We’re starting try-outs already. I’ll give him the schedule once
we set it all up.”

I smile at him. “Perfect, I’m excited about it.”

Warm, strong hands grab me by the waist and pull me back. I turn
my head and smile at Jared as he gives me a kiss on the forehead.

“You hitting on my girl?” he asks Elijah playfully. I smack him
on the arm.

Elijah laughs and holds up his hands. “I wouldn’t dream of it,
bro.”

“So what’s your team name?” I feel Jared tighten behind me and
that makes me nervous too.
Oh no, I hope
it’s not
—

“Yankees, of course,” he grins and Jared and I relax. I give his
hand a light squeeze.

“Why the Yankees?
I mean seriously?”
Jared chides with him and they start a discussion on which team is “the best”. Elijah
has a very passionate list of reasons on why he does not have to stick to their
hometown team (Tampa Bay Rays). I roll my eyes.
Boys.

After dinner, I sneak away to check out the ice sculpture
display. Ten immaculate sculptures made out of different types of animals, it is
amazing the things that can be done with ice. I bend down to admire the
exquisite detail of an ice Macaw when I hear a familiar voice behind me.

“Got everything worked out for you, doesn’t he?”

I turn and come face to face with Lisa.
Awesome
.
She is dressed in a long
mermaid cut navy blue dress with rhinestones along the top edges. Her hair is
pulled back with soft curls trailing down her back. She looks beautiful.
Just fucking
Awesome.
I square my shoulders.

“Excuse me?”

“Jared. He has everything worked out for you huh? Asked you to
move in, promises you the world?” She looks past me with a cloudy gaze over her
eyes. “Yeah, he made me all those promises a long time ago too, when he asked
me to marry him.”

I blink. What? Was I really hearing this? My silence must have
snapped her back to reality because she focuses on me and sneers.

“What? You didn’t know I was once his fiancée?” She practically
spits the word in my face.

“How did you know he asked me to move in with him?” I ask. She
laughs.
A good, hearty laugh.
Bitch.

“Please, Jared and I talk all the time. He told me himself.” She
narrows her eyes at me when all I can do is
stare
in
silence. “Oh wait, you didn’t know we still talk either? Well, isn’t that just
like Jared to keep secrets from
people.
” I suddenly
feel cold, very cold, and I cross my arms over my chest.

“We don’t waste our time talking about nonessential matters,” I
retort.

That gets her scowling and we are both glaring at each other when
Jared stands by my side and grabs my elbow.

“What’s going on?” He asks.

I turn my glare to him and point at Lisa. “Your friend was just
reminding me that you two were engaged and how it so surprisingly failed. In
other words, nothing important is going on here.” I wave my hand in front of
her as if I’m dismissing her and I see her face heat up.
Good.

"I was just telling her how easily you're able to seduce
women. She should know if she's moving in with you."

I narrow my eyes. "I don't think I should be listening to
your advice since you obviously don't know how to keep a great guy."

She huffs. "Whatever. Suit yourself." She finally turns
to walk away and I do the same, in the opposite direction.

“Victoria?” He calls after me, I can hear his voice behind me
asking Lisa questions, but I am done with questions and answers. I can’t
breathe,
my dress is suddenly too tight, which is ridiculous
as it is actually quite comfortable and
flowy
. I have
to get home. Ah, stairs.

“Victoria!” I can hear Jared behind me and I pick up my pace. I’m
not able to hold back the tears anymore and let them fall freely, silently
praying not to fall as I go down each step. Reaching the first floor, I can
hear footsteps behind me.

“Victoria, please!” He calls out. I keep walking. Where is the
fucking exit to this place? An ATM, shit! I need cash for a cab. Who the hell
carries cash now-a-days? I have to stop and that gives Jared the chance to
catch me.

I can only look through my purse with shaking hands to find my
bank card. Fuck, my hands are shaking so hard.

“Victoria, stop,” he grabs my hands and pulls them down, making
me stop my quest.

“You were engaged to her?” I pull my hands away and take a step
back.

“Vic-” he starts but I cut him off.

“You still talk to her? She knows you asked me to move in with
you? What the fuck, Jared.” He remains quiet and I feel like I am going to lose
my dinner, I have to get out and fast but I am cornered.

“It’s not what you think at all Victoria. Please can we talk
about this?” He asks.

“No. I want to go home.” He sighs and runs his fingers through
his head.

“Alright,” he says. “I’ll take you home.” He holds out his hand
but I stay put.

“I can catch a cab,” I say. I can see his jaw working and know he
is pissed. Too damn bad.

“No,” he says with clenched teeth. “Come.
With.
Me.”

“Look this is your Gala. You need to stay.” I cross my hands over
my chest and wait. After a few seconds, he lets out a breath.

“This is bullshit. We’re going home now.” He grabs my elbow again
and steers me around towards the exit.

“What are you doing?” I try twisting away but he holds me
tighter.

“Jared, let go!” He stops walking but doesn’t let go. Instead he
turns around to face me.

“I’m not going to let go. Not now, not anytime soon. You are overreacting.
I asked her to marry me because I was an idiot. I thought it was love, I was
wrong. She is manipulative, a liar, and a cheat.” I don’t miss a beat.

“How did she know I was moving in with you?” I ask.

“I told her. She came by the clinic last week, wanting to have
lunch. I told her no. One thing
lead
to another and I
told her we were serious, we were moving in together.
So
what?”
He steps closer, our foreheads touching, I can feel his breath on
my mouth as he exhales.

“I love you.
So much.
I want the world
to know, I don’t care if she does.”

“You were engaged,” I say softly. It hurts and I feel a bit . . .
jealous. I shouldn’t be. The important thing is that they aren’t engaged now
and he’s mine, but I can’t help feel how I feel.

“You were married,” he says just as softly. I look up into his
eyes and I know that he’s right, and I’m wrong. Damn him. “We’ve all made
mistakes in the past Victoria.”

He twirls a strand of my hair around his finger and I wrap my
hands around his waist and hug him tight.

“I was just caught off guard; I didn’t know she would be here. I
wish you would have told me you were engaged. Or that she was going to be here.
Jesus, I would have been prepared.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know she’d come here myself and I definitely
didn’t know she’d start a fight. She is not a part of my life anymore.” He rubs
his hands down my arms.

“So it doesn’t matter if my ex tries to contact me?” I counter.
His nostrils flare.

“When did he contact you?” he asks.

“It doesn’t matter,” I reply sweetly. He remains silent and I can
practically hear the bomb going off in his head. I laugh and hug him tighter.

“I’m kidding, you grump.”

His face softens and he gives me a peck on the forehead.
“Smart ass.”

“Baby?”
I ask.

“Yeah?”

I make sure he is looking straight at me when I say, “I don’t
talk to my ex. Get rid of yours.” He looks at me for a second and I let him
process what I am telling him. I continue, “Get rid of her, or you’ll get rid
of me. You can’t have us both.” He nods.

“Alright,” he says.

Chapter Twenty

March 2012

Jared

I’m checking my email account in my office when I hear
a knock on the door.

“Yeah,” I call out.

“Annette just left and I was about to close up now . . .” I look
up to see Dr.
Paxter
looking over at me. What is he
getting at?

“Ok,” I wait to see if there is anything else. There is.

“You have a visitor.”

I frown. It’s Friday and Victoria had told me she left for Miami
an hour ago so I wasn’t expecting anyone else.

“Victoria?” I ask.

He shakes his head.

“Lisa,” he says and raises an eyebrow. I know that look. Annette
gives it to me all the damn time Lisa comes with “questions” about Maxine, her
dog. I want to say that I don’t care what Annette or
Paxter
think of her coming here but I actually do. If they think things that aren’t
true then that means Victoria will be thinking much worse. I don’t know why
she’s here again, but I have to put a stop to it.

Last week’s fight at the Gala with Victoria pissed me off but
made me nervous. I didn’t realize how much I wanted us to work out until she
threatened our relationship.
And really, for what?
For
someone that is not worth my damn time, well fuck that. I glance over at my
screen again and sign off.

“Tell her to give me a sec,” I say. I hear him about to close the
door and I look back at him to say one more thing.

“Doc?”

He
peeks
his head in.

“Yeah?”

I look him straight in the eyes. “It’s not what you think . . . between
me and Lisa.”

He smiles.

“I know. I know you’re a good kid. But Jared,” he looks around my
office as if to avoid my eyes. We never have heart to heart conversations; he
must feel out of place.

“Victoria is a good kid too. Lisa is trying
really
hard.”

I know exactly what he’s telling me with that.

“I’m going to take care of it,” I tell him. He nods and closes
the door.

I organize my desk and turn off all the lights before going out
to the waiting area. Sure enough, Lisa is there in a ridiculously short skirt
bending down a little to look at a pamphlet.
Look at a pamphlet my ass
. She’s gorgeous, I’m not going to say
that she isn’t but the fact is that she knows I’m with someone and all of her shenanigans
disgust me.

“Hey,” I tell her.

She turns around and acts surprised to see me. How can she be
surprised if she’s the one that came here looking for me? I exhale.
Women
.

“Hi, yourself!” she walks over to give me a hug. I barely
acknowledge it and gently pull her arms away from around my neck.

“What do you need Lisa?” I’m tired and don’t have time for this
crap.

“Awe, can’t I see my favorite Doctor anymore?” she pouts. A long
time ago that pout would have put me on my knees, but not anymore.

“No, you can’t,” I say firmly. “Lisa, you can’t keep coming over
here.”

“Ok, want to have dinner with me?”

Is she dense?

“NO,” I say. She flinches and I exhale frustrated with this whole
conversation.

“Lisa, I’m with someone now.”

She scoffs.
“With Veronica or whatever?
Oh you can’t be serious… we have history.”

She trails her fingers along my arm and I catch her wrist.

“You
know
her name is
Victoria. And it’s
because
of our
history that I’m serious.”

Her eyes look down and she says softly, “I know, I’m sorry.”

“I believe you, but I’m with someone now.” I repeat myself in
hopes she’ll get it through her head.

“Can we at least have dinner? I promise I’ll only talk about
Maxine.”

Her head is very thick.

“That’s another thing; I think you need to find another vet.”

Her eyes widen and she crosses her arms to her chest.
Here we go
.

“What? Why? I don’t trust any other vet!” she shrieks and it’s
like nails on a damn chalkboard.

“I can recommend other veterinarians who are just as good as us,”
I say and move past her to exit the clinic. I hold the door open for her and
look back expectantly.

She looks annoyed but I don’t care.

“Fine,” she walks past me and out the door but stops to place a
finger on my chest.

“
But
I need to pick up
my stuff.”

I stare at her for a second, not sure what the hell she’s talking
about.

“What stuff?”

She rolls her eyes. “I have a box of college stuff and notebooks
I left there, I want that back.”