Starless Nights (Hale Brothers Series Book 2) (22 page)

A spotlight hits the corner of the stage that runs across the back wall and under her name, and sitting there with his violin perched and ready is Josh Vietti. The energy in the room picks up as he strikes his bow across the strings and the runway lights up. Ali squeals a little, and even me who knows nothing about fashion, I can’t help but feel excited.

The entrance to the runway glows hot pink and standing there is the first model. She’s wearing a bikini with a long sheer cover-up, a large brimmed hat, she’s carrying some type of beach bag, and she descends toward us in sky high heels. It’s a very classy look—it’s very Leila.

Her entire show lasts no longer than thirty minutes. As each model stepped out and down the runway, her designs became more detailed, intricate, and beautiful. All three of us could hear the surprised and pleased murmurs around us and my heart swelled with pride.

At the end of the show, Leila appears on the runway and the room erupts in applause. The smile that breaks out on her face is infectious and I’m certain everyone in this tent smiles with her. BLK walks out from the other direction and wraps Leila up in a congratulatory hug. She points down the runway and Leila laughs. The clicks from the media cameras in the room are firing off and I soak up this moment for her.

Gracefully and confidently she makes her celebratory walk. The dress she’s wearing is silver and stunning, her heels are navy blue, and that’s when I see it. She’s wearing the jewelry that I gave her a year and a half ago. My breath catches in my throat and I just stare.

As she gets closer to us, her eyes lock on to mine, and not once does she glance at Drew and Ali. She smiles at me and my heart thunders in my chest. What she did tonight was amazing—she is amazing.

THE GONG SOUNDS and echoes through the back of the tent. The director calls “first outfits” and immediately there is buzz amongst the models, dressers, hairstylists, and makeup artists. I can’t help but to take one last peek out from behind the curtains to the crowd. I have waited for years for this moment and finally my dreams are becoming a reality.

I scan the audience and look for Ali. She said that she would be here, but what I didn’t expect was to find her standing between Drew and Beau.

Beau came.

My heart flutters in my chest and my eyes fill with tears. I am so happy that he is here. I will never tell him how much but he just made this entire event complete for me.

The nerves that I was feeling when I walked in this morning dissipate and in their place butterflies take over.

“Girl! Who are you staring at?” Charlie had walked up behind me and he peeks over my shoulder. “Oh my, Mr. Beautiful himself is here. Did you know that he was coming?”

“No.” I can’t tear my eyes away from him.

“I don’t know why you insist on dragging this out. You are possibly the most stubborn girl I have ever met. Do you realize how much time you have wasted not being with him? Just think of all the memories you could be making together.”

“You don’t understand. I know that he’s interested in me, he always has been. The problem is he leaves me. Every. Single. Time. I just don’t know if I can do it again.”

“Leila, that boy loves you. When are you going to ask him why? Seems to me, from what I have seen, you should be giving him the benefit of the doubt.”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you have to lose?”

“I already lost it.”

“Well, maybe you know exactly where to find it.”

I know that he is right. Beau and I have never once talked about the fire or why he didn’t wait around to say goodbye to me. The more time that passes, I find myself doubting the way I left things with him. I know what I said in my letter to him was mean, but he hurt me. Or did he?

BLK walks up next me along with the backstage director.

“Are you ready?” she asks.

“More than you can even imagine. I was born ready for this.”

Her face lights up and she gives me a thoroughly pleased smile.

“This right here, your attitude that screams ‘I’m gonna own this moment,’ is exactly why you will become a huge success. Your designs are stunning and I know I speak for everyone at the label when I say we are so proud of you.”

“Thank you so much. You will never know what that means to me.”

“Congratulations darling, and good luck.” She leans forward and kisses me on the cheek.

The entrance to the runway begins to glow and behind me the models line up. The director squeezes the first one’s shoulder, I give her a once over, and then gently she is pushed forward.

The show has begun.

The next half hour whips by in a blur, I’m so focused on each and every detail, that I don’t even see Charlie come up from behind me to hand me my heels.

Locking eyes with him, I grab on to his shoulder for support, slip out of the flats, and into my five inch heels.

The director comes to stand next to me, and just like with the models, she squeezes my shoulder until it’s my turn to take to the catwalk.

Stepping out under the lights, I breathe in the moment, and my heart bursts with happiness. Any plans that I had of remaining calm just flew out the window. I smile from ear to ear.

Brandeth meets me on the runway, gives me a hug, and encourages me to take the walk. I had decided against it, but now, I just have to.

Mostly, as I’m walking down the line, the spectators blur together. That is until I see Beau. He gives me the courage that I need to hold my head a little higher and to walk a little fiercer. Watching him smile at me, and being able to share part of this moment with him, I am beyond elated.

At the end of the runway, I am met with a four-by-four person square of photographers. I strike what I will forever refer to as my ‘victory pose,’ and the cameras go wild. The flashing, clicks, and applause, it’s all just so amazing.

The second I make it into the back of the tent, the lights go black and the charge in the air changes for BLK’s new spring collection. Charlie reaches for me, wraps me up in his arms, and pulls me to the side. There are tears in his eyes.

“I’m so proud of you,” he whispers in my ear.

“Thank you.”

He squeezes me tighter, takes a deep breath, and sets me down so we can watch as the models line up to go again.

Thirty minutes later, the show is complete, and everyone relaxes.

As I move to my portion of the tent to make sure that the dressers have appropriately packed up the pieces that are going with me and prepped the pieces that are to be displayed in the gallery tent off to the side, the bloggers and photographers swoop in.

The show was a huge success. Champagne is passed around to all of us in the back, and as the hour passes for the media meet and greet, three different magazines approach me about doing an interview. I don’t think that I can possibly be any happier.

Little by little the tent clears out. Most of my team has already headed over to Bin 52 for an after party, but I just needed to stay and soak up the atmosphere a little longer.

Hearing a throat clear to my right, I turn and see Beau.

“Hi.”

I jump off of the chair to stand in front of him.

“Hi.”

He smiles at me and I can feel my cheeks get pink.

Beau is wearing a charcoal gray suit, with a black button down dress shirt underneath. It’s open at the neck and a silver Rolex is peeking out from under the sleeve. His hair is styled and he looks so freaking good I could stare at him all day.

“I won’t take up too much of your time, but I wanted to say congratulations and give you these.” From behind his back he pulls out a beautiful bouquet of orchids. He remembered and I’m so touched.

“Thank you for these. They are beautiful. And thank you for coming. It really means a lot to me.”

He shoves his hands in his pockets and takes a step back. “Of course. When the invitation came, I was really happy to be included in this with you. Thank you.”

Without thinking, I take the two steps needed, and walk into him. His arms wrap around me and he just holds me.

“Congratulations Leila,” someone says from behind me and Beau pulls back.

“I’ll see you around, alright?” He smiles at me and starts walking away.

“Beau, wait!” He stops and turns back around. “There’s an after party at Bin 52. Would you like to go with me?”

He turns his body halfway back toward me. “Are you sure? I don’t want to get in the way of you celebrating with your friends.”

“You are my friend.”

He doesn’t say anything and a moment of silence passes between us.

“Hey Leila!” I turn and see Charlie headed straight toward me. “There you are. Let’s get going, I need a drink.” He picks me up, hugs me, and swings me around in his arms before putting me down. “Hey Beau. Are you going to Bin 52 with us?”

“I just asked him to go. Don’t you think he should go with us?”

“I most definitely do. We all want to celebrate you and your successful night. You really were fabulous tonight.”

“So you’ll go?” I ask Beau again.

“Of course he’s going,” Charlie says with mischief in his eyes. “Listen, I’m gonna catch up with Jacob. I’ll meet you two there.” With that Charlie kisses me on the forehead and walks out of the tent leaving Beau and I both staring after him.

THE PLACE THAT was chosen for the after party isn’t very large but the ambiance is definitely Leila. The two side walls are brick, the back is painted maroon, and the front is covered with two large bay windows. One is on each side of the front door and they open up to a sidewalk lounge section. The ceiling is covered with different chandeliers. They really are beautiful and they make this place glow.

The group that arrived before us cheers as we walk through the door. One by one, I sit back and watch as all of these people, that I have no idea who they are, come over to hug and congratulate Leila.

Watching her smile and laugh the way she is tonight, it makes my heart feel warm. I am so happy for her.

I also can’t help but feel a little left out. I know that this is my fault; after all, I’m the one who has chosen to keep this distance between us. Maybe Nate’s right. Maybe it is time to put the past behind us and try to get back to somehow being friends, or just maybe something more.

Charlie arrived about fifteen minutes after us. He immediately walked straight into the crowd and scooped her up. He whispers something in her ear and she throws her head back and laughs. I do love the sound of her laughing, however, I wish that it was me making her laugh that way, not him.

Watching the two of them, I really don’t understand what kind of relationship she has with this Charlie guy. They both seem to genuinely care about each other and they are very affectionate with each other. I heard first-hand them talking about late nights, but yet there is this distance between them that isn’t usually there between two people who are a couple.

Weaving my way through the crowd, I wander back to bar. The bartender comes over, I order an IPA, and take a long pull on it.

“Do you want to cash out now or start a tab?” the bartender asks me.

“Actually, open the tab up to five hundred for this group right here. Just make sure that the girl with the strawberry blonde hair in the silver dress gets whatever she wants.”