Impressive Champagne And (Un)Professional Networking; Saturday at The Races
Impressive Champagne And (Un)Professional Networking; Saturday at The Races
Day 202 of The Andie Chronicles
The man in the white shirt with a black tie under a navy apron walked around the room, proudly carrying a tray of champagne glasses.
He approached me, tray first, as I stood beside James. "Where is the champagne from?" enquired James.
The waiter seemed unfazed by the question. "It's the sponsored champagne. It's G.H. Mumm. Is this satisfactory, or would you like me to bring you something else?"
"No, this will be fine," quipped James as the waiter walked away.
I looked at my best friend and wondered why this mattered to him. Is he the one you're trying to impress?
Douglas wasn't in earshot, after all. He didn't care about what champagne was being served as long it was the one that was ordered. And he didn't care if James was being particular about it either.
The interaction was hardly unsurprising. James had been frosty toward me ever since we woke up this morning. He didn't like that I declined to wear the Versace dress Douglas insisted upon me. Petulant, I heard him mutter under his breath.
It was safe to assume my best friend wasn't getting it.
I didn't want to wear something that wasn't intended for me. Nor did something picked by my ex-boyfriend. How would that have looked? How could I look at myself in the mirror and my boyfriend in the eye, knowing I was letting my ex win?
I had Olivia return the Versace dress on Friday afternoon, well after Douglas had left. No money had exchanged hands, as it turned out. It was a gift, a re-gift, by the time it reached me.
"Do you think we should start working the room again?" I questioned James, who had finished his champagne with one large gulp.
"No, it's better to watch another race first. And get some more booze into us, and then we can move."
"What's wrong?" I pleaded with him. "We are in this beautiful place. I'm trying to make the most of it, but it's impossible with you acting like a sour puss."
"I'm annoyed at you," barked James unapologetically.
"Why are you annoyed at me?" It felt like conjuring blood from a stone.
"I'm not jealous of Cooper. I resent that you even suggested that I was. I'm just —" and he hesitated.
"You're just what?" pleading internally for James to tell me the truth.
I found myself asking so many of my friends to do that lately. Tell the truth. Be honest with me. I didn't want to repeat what happened with the email trail, getting kicked out of my business and having our idea taken over by my ex-boyfriend.
No, if we were going to move forward, it would have to be with honesty, the same honesty I asked of them months ago.
James stared at me, continuing his disgruntled glare.
"I'm worried you're moving too fast with Cooper. I know this is your first hook-up since Douglas. And I don't want you to make a mistake because it's all fresh and new."
I couldn't contain the laughter.
"Cooper is not my first since Douglas. I know that's what you think, but there are things I'm yet to tell you. And I'm moving slowly. I'm happy, James. I wish you were happy for me, too."
Maybe that was what was going on in our lives. We couldn't feel happiness for each other. We couldn't see each other for the way we really were. Or maybe we all knew each other too well to get through the tough times.
I leaned in and hugged James. "I know you're worried. I can see it. Please, though, give Cooper a chance. For me?"
You’re reading The Andie Chronicles, the 2023 romance-fiction series from the 1 Lovelock Drive (1LD) universe.
By the way, this all started when Andie turned thirty-five, and her then-boyfriend didn’t call her.
Or the day after that.
Or the day after that, too.
Everything started to unravel when her BFFs got into bed with her ex, too… ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
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A little lost on what’s happening at 1 Lovelock Drive?
Well, you see, Andie’s break-up started back in February and so much has happened since then. These stories will help you catch right up! xx