Chapter Fourteen

Lauren might be enjoying herself, but I am not. Jack’s got the whole damn bar up on the dancefloor, but I’m still stuck in my booth, with a mood like a damp dish towel and a grimace to match.

‘What’s the matter with you?’ she asks as she slips onto the leather on my right.

‘Nothing’s the matter with me.’

‘You’ve been in a snit all night–’

‘I’m not in a… who even says snit, anyway?’

‘– ever since Jack came by.’

‘It’s Jack now, is it?’

‘El.’

‘Lauren.’

She sighs. ‘I mean it. What’s wrong?’

‘Nothing. Just…’

Apparently that’s enough for her to catch my meaning. ‘Carter stuff?’

‘Yeah, Carter stuff. That’s why I was checking my phone at the bar.’

‘Did he say something?’

‘Nope. No text, no emails, no phone call. Nothing. It’s like he’s just gone.’

Because he is. And not just when it comes to keeping in touch, either. He’s gone, gone, gone.

She scootches up beside me, coming perilously close to spilling her second cocktail of the night. ‘Look,’ she says. ‘Honey. You know I love you, right?’

‘Yeah.’

‘And you know I say this with all the love in the world?’

‘Sure.’

‘Fuck Carter.’

‘Lauren…’

‘No, hear me out. Fuck. Him. You’re young and hot and in one of the finest cities in the country, and you’re letting that asshole live inside your head.’

‘He’s not an asshole.’

‘He is an asshole. For breaking up with you, which is completely ridiculous to begin with, and secondly for ruining your holiday – a holiday, I might add, that you desperately need, and have been looking forward to practically since I told you I was engaged. I thought Jack was just screwing around when he took your phone, but if it stops you checking to see if Carter’s messaged you, I’m all for it. Maybe I’ll even keep the password until you go home.’

‘You wouldn’t.’

She sighs. ‘No, I wouldn’t. You’re a grown woman, and you know what’s best for you.’ She fishes in her purse and holds out the napkin towards me, keeping it folded over so I can’t see the numbers. ‘It’s yours if you want it,’ she says. ‘But for what it’s worth, I think you’ll have a better time without it. Without thinking about him.’

‘Put it away,’ I tell her. ‘Before I change my mind.’

‘Atta girl. When you get home, you can fix this whole Carter mess – but if you let it fester, you’re just going to feel worse. Just… maybe now’s not the time to be planning your future? Maybe it’s OK to just live in the moment for once?’

What future? I think, unable to kick the thought loose.

‘I don’t know,’ I say. ‘Maybe I should just go back to the hotel. I’m just slowing you guys down.’

‘Like shit you are,’ she says. She points to the table, and my half-finished Sazerac. ‘Come on, El,’ she says. ‘One more good night, like old times. Before I become a married woman and give up on fun and decide to spend all my time getting fat and making cookies. Remember that time we went out with those foreign exchange students? The ones from Brazil?’

I grin, despite myself. ‘Nope.’

‘Me neither. But that’s the Ella I want here with me tonight. Ella in the here-and-now. What do you think?’

She’s not wrong. She very rarely is; it’s one of her most irritating traits, but that doesn’t change the fact. And besides, I’m sure Carter isn’t obsessing over his phone, wondering why I haven’t called him. Maybe he’s even out enjoying himself now. Maybe he knows I’m tearing myself into pieces, and he’s still keeping up his radio silence, the bastard.

And besides, I have already paid for the drink…

And I really have been looking forward to this break from work for a long time…

And like him or not, Jack’s band really are pretty good…

What do I think?

Well, what else is there to think when you’re in New Orleans?

Laissez les bon temps rouler!