Page 26 (1/2)

I aical fantasy where there really is nothing but the two of us

But when he opens the door, I realize that the real world can follow us anywhere

Because right there--sitting on the couch where Daht that I would see again

A woht

Carly beautiful that it is almost painful I’ve hated her froo when she took Damien away from me

Granted, at the time I had no claim to Damien, but I’d wanted to lash out at her nonetheless I’d been coeant, and tennis star Dae I’d never met him before, but he’d come over to where I was staked out by the buffet table, wondering if I could get aith eating cheesecake without ination, but even then the connection between us had been electric He’d taken my breath away Hell, he still takesto hiested it, I would have taken his hand and run away and never once looked back But he didn’t suggest it And it wasn’t me he left with, but Carmela

I’d never expected to see her again

Then again, at the tiain, either Apparently we’ve now come full circle

Instinctively, I take a step closer to Da through mine

Carmela’s eyes flicker down to our joined hands, and I have to bite back a triuht is petty But it’s heartfelt

"What are you doing here?" Damien’s voice is cold, his body tense I can feel the irritation rolling off hiry" She stretches, cat-like, as she reaches for a glass of wine on the table beside her She takes a sip, looking perfectly at hoet in here?" Dalances at me "After all the times I’ve shared this room with you, I’m like family I just asked one of the room service boys to letthe boy his job?"

She laughs "Why would it? I thought we could celebrate your victory together And when have you ever kicked me out of your room, Damie? When have you not been happy to seeher face as he speaks, and am startled to see that there is no reaction She doesn’t flinch She doesn’t blink She is neither angry nor hurt

In other words, Car exactly how this would play out What a goddaet the hell out of here" That gets a reaction out of her A tight, condescending smile that only pisses me off even more

BesideSoht now

"You’re Nichole, aren’t you?" she says, though there is no doubt in irl who caught his eye in Texas at that ridiculous pageant"