Wrapped around his side, sliding her polished hand up his suit jacket, is a statuesque beauty. Her long flowing blonde hair is tapered down to her shoulders, she looks like a model, and together they look like perfection. Typical. Of course Brooks had to bring arm candy, something shiny to show off.

I can only hope that she wants to partake in some dancing for the evening so I can trip her. Yeah right. I could never do that…but Jen would. “Watch out, Barbie,” I mumble, laughing to myself at the thought.

Brooks catches me staring and gives me a slight smile. Well, fuck. There goes being cool and collected for the night. I nonchalantly nod and turn around to the girls. It’s been ten damn years; surely I can be an adult in this situation.

Carly snaps me out of my moment of reverie. “Why don’t we go sit at our table for a minute? I need to get something to drink.” I agree. I need a second to cool off.

“Sure, I’m going to go the bathroom, and then I’ll meet you at our table,” I tell her.

“You want us to come with?” Jen asks.

I just laugh. “Thanks, but I think I can handle wiping myself. Check back in a few years and I might call in the offer.”

“Ha ha, smartass, you know what I mean.”

“I know. I’m good though, thanks,” I say before heading off in the direction of the restrooms. The truth of the matter is that I needed a moment to pull myself together and freshen up without them. I am hoping to repair my weakened confidence. Seeing Brooks’ date tonight has sent my emotions into a tailspin. It just confirms what I always thought–I was never good enough for him. While I wanted the safety that I found in Will, he wanted the shine, and that never would have been me. He needs glimmer, and the only thing sparkly about me is the body glitter lotion that Amanda insisted I wear.

I quickly do my thing in the restroom before Jen calls out the search party, and I head to the bar to buy another round of drinks for everyone. I’m not going to let Brooks’ attendance ruin tonight.

There are very few people at the bar; most had found their way to their various cliques and are now socializing at tables. I take a seat on one of the stools and wait for my turn to order. The bartender is in the middle of blending a mixed drink, so I know it will be a few minutes before I can get his attention. I begin to mindlessly rip up a napkin in front me while I wait; it’s a nervous habit I guess, but it’s better than chewing on my nails like I used to.

I feel a warm body slide up next to mine, but then I hear the smooth, delicious voice that I have been dreading to hear.

“Hey, I’m glad to see you here tonight.”

I tear my eyes away from the pile of paper I have accumulated and meet his stare. Bad choice on my part. Those cornflower eyes feel like they’re searching my soul, and when he smiles, dammit if I don’t just turn to mush right there. He could always do that with a single look, and I hate that I’m still so weak that I let him have that power over me.

Fuck the drinks. Without saying a word, I stand to leave–what feels like my only defense.

He quickly grabs my elbow to stop me. “Please, don’t run; I just wanted to say hi, Red.” He looks down to where he’s touching me, no doubt feeling the current surging between us. “It’s been a long time, and I was hoping that we could at least be civil.”

I let out a heavy sigh, probably the same breath I have been holding since I first heard his voice. “You’re right. It has been a long time, and we’re both adults at a public function, so...” I move to shake his hand. “It was good to see you, too; I hope you enjoy your evening.”

Holy shit, look at me! Not only do I have the big girl panties on, but I’m pretty sure if Jen just saw that extreme act of confidence, she would have pissed hers.

“Since we’re being mature adults this evening, could I please have the next dance?” he asks and smiles brightly. I can tell he’s trying to present himself with his usual cocky demeanor, but I can see some self-doubt in his eyes, fear that I’ll reject him.

I turn my back, but he grabs my hand before I can take a step. “Please,” he whispers. I drop my head, and for a moment, I think of all the pain this man caused. Then I push it away, if only for one dance. After giving him a small nod of my head, he leads me onto the dance floor.

Brooks wraps me up into his arms, arms that used to be the best place in the world, arms that eventually betrayed me. He pulls me close and breathes in my hair like he used to. My stomach begins to flutter, and I don’t want to even think about the carnival ride in my panties. Damn you, vagina! You have betrayed me, too. Traitor.

We move together, perfectly matched to the music. Our bodies join in a cohesive movement, but I can’t let my mind go there. He is the enemy; he shattered me, and given the chance, he would probably do it again.

“So your date looks nice. Girlfriend or plaything?” I ask him, regaining some of my hostility. I know that my comment is below the belt, but does he really think that a dance will change what he did to me? Does he think that ten years will wipe away the memory of his disloyalty?

He disappoints me by not playing into the grudge match I am hoping for. “She’s just an acquaintance. I didn’t want to come here alone, and she volunteered to be my date.”

“I bet she did,” I say with a huff. “I can only imagine the other things she would volunteer to do for you.”

“Are you jealous, Red?”

I look up and narrow my eyes at him, trying not to waver. “Fuck no, I just feel sorry for her.” He tilts his head to the side in his lack of understanding, and I have no problem clarifying for him. “You’re a tornado, Brooks. You slam through women with little regard for what happens to them afterwards, and it’s obvious that she has not been on the tail end of that destruction yet. But at some point, she’ll feel exactly the same as I did once.”

I hold his glare, hoping he feels every bit of what he did to me. Shame fills his eyes, and he lowers his forehead to mine. “I’m sorry for everything, Viv. All I ever wanted to do was keep you safe, even if it meant not being with me,” he whispers.

“Keep me safe!” I shout, pulling away from him. “How does cheating on me keep me safe?”

His eyes go wide, and then he pulls me to him, tangling me in his arms. “I have nothing to say but I’m sorry; Will was the better man, is the better man. I didn’t deserve you.”

I sigh, “You’re right; Will was the better man, and if he were alive, he would still be the better man, because no matter what the reason, he would never have hurt me the way you did.”

Brooks stiffens and drops his arms from around me; he takes a step back, and I can see tears forming in his eyes. “What do you mean, if he were alive?”

I can barely hear him over the music; his eyes are searching mine, looking for comfort. I know that I’m about to crush him. No matter how it ended, Will was Brooks’ friend in college. For him to not know, and not get the chance to attend the funeral, will hurt him. I lower my head and try to pull together my shaky ragged breaths.

I finally look up and nod. “He died last year in a car accident. We moved to Denver after everything was settled. I’m sorry I didn’t contact you; I just couldn’t, Brooks. You being there would have made it even harder to get through.”

Brooks balls his fists, and I see he is trying desperately to hold together his emotions. “I understand,” he says with a curt nod.

The tears that I had been holding back begin to slide down my cheeks. The last thing I wanted was for Brooks to see me cry, but talking about Will caught me off-guard. I take a deep cleansing breath to regain my poise.

Just when I think that I have my emotions under control, Brooks steps forward, runs his hands into my hair, and leans in cheek-to-cheek. I hear him breathing heavily into my ear, and for a moment, I let myself relax into his comfort. He is letting me collect myself, and I’m giving him the moment to grieve.