RACHEL:
I really didn't want to celebrate my birthday this year. Each year, I always got to play the role of Austin's wife as he invited the most elite guests from all over the city to grace the occasion while dressing me up in something that would always turn heads.
Probably why I didn't want the crowd or anything else for that matter if it hadn't been for Daniel's insistence to make it as grand as possible.
The penthouse used was that of his apartment and right now it was filled with music and laughter as guests drank and danced under the soft glow of chandeliers.
I tried my best to enjoy myself. To at least forget about everything and reel in the moment. But a part of me ached. I was waiting for someone that would not show up and I didn't know why.
I guess I was just not used to doing this without having him around. Maybe I missed him because tell me why my heart stupidly skipped a beat when he walked in.
The moment the doors swung open, I noticed something different about Austin. It wasn't the fact that he was with Chloe as usual, it was the way he was rather wobbly as his arm draped over her shoulders.
He was drunk. No one needed to tell me. And his presence actually caught the attention of people.
"Do you want me to kick them out?" Daniel's voice was right in my ear as he asked that question.
I forced myself to remain composed as I took in the sight before me. "No," I responded, swallowing hard as I did so. I had a glass of champagne in my hand which I took a sip from as I fixated my gaze on the two people looking a bit like a mess.
"Rachel—"
"I said no!" I snapped but not in a way that would scare Daniel off.
Kicking them out would mean that they got to me. I wasn't going to give them that satisfaction.
With my champagne glass still in my hand, I plastered a smile and walked slowly toward them.
"Austin," I called his name in the coolest way possible. "I didn't expect you to come."
I watched as struggled to focus on me. How much exactly did he have to drink?
"It's your birthday," he said.
"You do remember something about me?" I asked, rather surprised that he did.
Chloe, letting out a soft laugh, responded on his behalf: "Of course he does. He just needed a little encouragement to show up."
"Is this the encouragement?"
"What do you mean?"
I ignored her and locked eyes with Austin. "You're drunk," I pointed out.
"Maybe," he said, shrugging as a lazy smirk tugged at his lips.
I wanted to express my disappointment but that would mean I was revealing an emotion so I sucked it up.
"Enjoy the party. But don't do anything stupid," I said lightly and then turned to leave.
"Wait!" Chloe's voice rang out, halting me on my tracks.
I took my time before glancing back at them. "What?"
"I think he's had a not too much. Can you help take him upstairs so he could rest?"
I knew what she wanted to do. The widened smirk on her face said it all. Even on my birthday, she didn't want me to have a time to myself. Perhaps she thought me the weak woman who would take anything thrown at her.
I wasn't.
Still, I smiled sweetly and said, "Of course."
I stepped forward, grabbed Austin's wrist and then led him toward the stairs to find an empty room. I didn't miss the look that Daniel had on his face when I passed by his side.
"You shouldn't have come," I said plainly to Austin as soon I closed the door behind us to an empty room I found.
"I didn't plan to."
I watched as he rubbed his temple as if to soothe off a throb.
"Then why did you? Are you planning to make things even worse?"
"No, no," he muttered after a long silence.
Something in my chest tightened. I hated that he still made me feel this way. Hated that he made me feel like there was still something when there was none.
It was a good thing I knew better than to dwell on that.
"Get some rest. I'll have Daniel send you home," I declared, straightening up my posture as I turned to leave.
"Do you love him?"
I froze when his voice stopped me. That was sudden and definitely unexpected.
Slowly, I turned back. "What?"
"Daniel," he said, barely above a whisper. "Do you love him?"
I sensed the raw feeling attached to that question. How he wanted to know something. But I wasn't buying into that.
"It doesn't matter." Those were the only words that mattered.
