“Why can't they fundraise in June?" I ask Luke. "It's freezing."

We're on our way to the Baldwin Memorial Hospital Charity Gala. He glances at me across the back seat and smiles.

"Too much competition. There are events all year for one charity or another. The summer months are filled with events and golf outings."

"Explain to me again how this makes sense financially. Thousands of dollars are spent on designer clothing and event space. Wouldn't the charity make more if everyone just sent a check?"

"There's a silent auction too," Luke reminds me.

"Couldn't we all agree to meet at a bowling alley in jeans and donate the money spent on clothing and event space to the charity instead?"

Luke laughs as the courtesy town car of his condo building turns right onto Chestnut, headed towards the Ritz Carlton down the street. It's a half mile from his condo but it's January and I'm in heels with a wrap jacket over my short dress. "You're refreshing, Sophie."

Am I? I was serious. This dress I'm borrowing cost a fortune and it's probably been worn twice, including tonight. It's not financially sensible.

The town car pulls under the awning covering the entrance to the hotel and my door is opened as soon as the car comes to a complete stop. Luke walks around the car and ushers me to the door so we're only outside for a few moments.

I don't want to be here. I did not grow up attending charity functions. I grew up raising money for charity by selling candy bars or participating in car washes.

"You're not going to leave me alone, right?" I say, pulling the matching shawl tighter. The dress is lovely, if not practical. It's white, ending a few inches above my knees. The dress has gorgeous crystal detailing down a vee-neck front and wrapped around the waist. The look is completed with strappy silver stilettos and drop earrings, again loans from Meredith.

Luke's brow is furrowed as he glances at me. "Don't be intimidated, Sophie. They're just people. And they don't get to see me naked." He whispers the last part in my ear.

"Not most of them, no," I agree.

"I had no idea you were so jealous, doll," he says, his eyes dancing. "If you want, I'll let you rake your nails down my back later."

I glance at my nails, considering it. Meredith and I spent the afternoon at a spa getting ready. Hair, makeup and nails. Getting ready for the event was fun and Meredith assured me I looked perfect.

Luke tried to initiate a quickie as I was getting dressed and I shot him down for, I think, the first time ever. No way was he messing me up before we left. He laughed at me when I shrieked, "No way," then smacked my ass and promised me, "Later."

The guy really is obsessed with slapping my behind.

Luke hands our coats over at the coat check while I stand holding the tiny clutch that matches the dress. As Luke is returning to my side he's stopped by a couple about his age, the woman obviously pregnant. I'm not that familiar with pregnant women, but I'd estimate her to be a little bit farther along than Meredith, who I know is four months.

The woman is positively glowing. At Luke. Her companion shakes Luke's hand before Luke introduces them as Dr. Davis and his wife, Sarah.

"When is your due date?" Luke asks them.

"June first," Sarah replies, beaming. "We can't thank you enough. I still can't believe I'm finally pregnant," she says, patting her little bump.

"I'm happy for you both," Luke says, placing a hand on my waist and pulling me closer to him.

He's her doctor, I realize. I know what Luke does for a living but I've never considered coming face to face with one of his patients. Is it weird? Or am I thinking like a sixteen-year-old girl?

Luke leads me into the cocktail portion of the evening. There are waiters walking the room offering champagne and appetizers. The perimeter of the room is lined with tables for the silent auction. The entire room screams wealth, from the chandeliers overhead to the expensive footwear adorning the attendees' feet.

Luke accepts a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and hands it to me.

"None for you?" I ask, taking a sip.

"I'm on call," he replies and guides me to one of the tables. "Let's find something fun to bid on."

"We can bid on porn?" I ask sweetly and take another sip. I swear I see his hand twitch. He wants to swat my behind for that comment so bad, but he can't during a charity event in a room full of his peers.

When I think I can look at him without laughing I glance his way. He leans in and pulls me closer with a hand to the small of my back.

"I hope you don't have anything important happening at school on Monday, because I'm going to spend the remainder of this weekend fucking you until you can't walk comfortably." He steps back with a smug smile, content in the knowledge that he knows exactly what to do to my body to keep me in bed all weekend, willingly.

I spy Meredith and Alexander approaching, so I plaster the most innocent expression I can muster on my face and smile.

"I hope we're not interrupting," Meredith says, giving each of us a hug.

"Not at all," I reply. "I was just telling Luke how much I'm looking forward to Monday."

Luke coughs and Meredith looks confused. "Monday?"

"Yes, it's Martin Luther King Day, so classes are cancelled. I'm really looking forward to sleeping in and a long soak in the tub." I smile at Luke and his eyes narrow just enough for me to catch it.

"The dress looks even better on you than I'd imagined," Meredith says, eyeing me. "You'll have to keep it. I can't wear it again now that I've seen how much better it looks on you."

"Thank you for the loan, but I'm returning everything to you next week. This is much too fancy to wear to class," I joke.

We part ways with Meredith and Alexander after a few minutes of chatting and walk the room, Luke dropping little slips of paper into the bid boxes for several auction items. He pauses in front of a display for a week at the Ritz Carlton Waikiki, staring at it with more thought than a trip to Hawaii really requires.

The doors open to the main event space a few minutes later and we make our way in and find our assigned table. I realize quickly that we are sitting with Luke's family. It's almost an exact repeat of Thanksgiving, minus Bella and the Holletts. His mom and dad are already seated, with his aunt and uncle to their right. Place cards indicate that I am sitting between Luke and his father, just like Thanksgiving.

We take our seats as Meredith and Alexander arrive to complete our table of eight. Meredith is seated on the other side of Luke so I can't even see her. Why did Luke bring me to this?

Waiters arrive and fill wine glasses moments before more waiters arrive with a soup course. I'm so nervous. This is worse than Thanksgiving. This time I know his parents are awful and I'm out of my element wearing couture in front of a place setting with way too much silverware. Plus, soup? I'm wearing a three-thousand-dollar white dress. I use the soup spoon to stir the contents of the bowl I have no intention of consuming, while around me the room is buzzing with chatter and the clinking of silverware.

For the tenth time this week I wonder how this event is benefiting anyone.

Someone stops by to say hello to Luke as Luke's father asks me to pass the salt. I move the salt and pepper over and place it in front of him, smiling out of politeness. The elder Dr. Miller is a handsome man. He radiates authority, but his eyes lack the warmth of Luke's. I can't imagine this man laughing at anything.

"You're graduating this spring?" This question is from Luke's father. I'm surprised that he's speaking to me.

"I am," I reply.

"Are you planning on working?" he questions.

"Of course," I reply, confused by the question.

"Good. You're a smart girl, Miss Tisdale. You're capable of being more than my son's trophy fuck."

I feel like he just punched me in the gut. A trophy fuck? His parents are even more awful than I thought.

"Sophie?" Luke is trying to get my attention. I turn in my seat back to him. "I wanted to introduce you to one of my colleagues, Dr. New."

I shake the hand offered to me and holy crap if this guy doesn't look like he could be Henry Cavill's older brother. This lookalike appears to be a few years older than Luke, maybe forty or forty-five. I'm not attracted to him, but he's a very attractive man. I imagine Luke will only get better-looking in the next decade as well, as many men tend to do as they age.

There seems to be a comradeliness between them, as if they've been friends for years, an idea that is confirmed when Dr. New brings up Luke's golf scores from this past summer.

"Justin's daughter Michelle was just accepted at Penn," Luke tells me, then explains to Dr. New that I am graduating from Penn this spring.

I see the flash of surprise on Dr. New's face for a brief moment before he hides it. I hope I hid my surprise as well as he did. Luke's friend has a daughter only a few years younger than me. That's… weird.

"So, ah…" Dr. New pauses. "You've enjoyed Penn?"

"I love it there. I'll be sad to graduate and leave the campus."

"Oh, do you live on campus?" His eyes move to Luke and back to me. His face may not betray what he's thinking, but I can tell he's curious about Luke and I.

"I do. I live in Jacobsen." I shrug. "It's convenient being on campus and cheaper than an off-campus apartment."

"Michelle wants an off-campus apartment. I told her we'll discuss it sophomore year." Dr. New smiles ruefully. "It's bad enough I've got to let her live in a co-ed dorm, I'm sure as shit not setting her up in an apartment off campus." He shakes his head. "Tell me she will be too busy studying and the boys never leave their own floors. Lie to me, please."

I glance at Luke, remembering our tryst in my dorm room weeks ago, before fixing a smile on my face. "Well, I never had any boys in my room freshman year, Dr. New. So there's hope."

"Thank you for humoring me," he says, not realizing I'm telling him the truth. "So what are your plans after graduation?" He seems genuinely interested. Luke looks interested in my response as well. It occurs to me then that we haven't discussed my plans. We don't discuss the future at all, come to think of it. He only invited me to this event last week.

"I'm hoping to find a job in corporate accounting," I respond.

"Ah, an accounting major. Very practical."

"Exactly," I agree. "I love the practicality of accounting, both as a major and a career. I like the structure of it."

"Well, good luck on finding a position you're happy with. Lots of great companies in Philly." He pauses. "New York as well."

My eyes flick over to Luke’s at the mention of New York, but his face gives nothing away. "Yes," I agree. "Lots of job opportunities."

Dr. New leaves us then as the waiters whisk away the soup course. Luke takes my hand under the table and runs his thumb over the back of my hand. The small moment of intimacy helps calm me. I take a breath and look up to see yet another couple stopping by to say hello to Luke.

Luke introduces them to me and then the woman pulls out a cell phone from her small bag and shoves it in front of Luke.

"Julie just turned three," she beams, then leans in to swipe the screen, changing the picture on the phone in Luke's hand. "She's so smart. She loves books and robots." She laughs. "We have no idea why, but the kid loves robots."

"You might have a future scientist or astronaut on your hands," Luke says, handing the phone back.

"Another satisfied customer," I say as the couple departs and the waiters arrive with the main course.

Luke glances at me before responding. "Does that bother you?"

I shrug. "You sure get a lot of business in house."

"And?" Luke's voice has a warning to it that I don't appreciate. At all.

"And I was your patient once too."

"Sophie, enough." Luke shuts down the conversation with those two words.

I look at the meal in front of me and suddenly I'm not interested in eating. This room feels too hot and too loud and I just want out.

"Excuse me." I push back from the table and Luke stands to assist me. "I'm going to the restroom."

Luke’s jaw ticks in annoyance. That's fine, I'm annoyed with him too. I make my way past waiters and fellow guests milling about and exit the ballroom space into a hotel corridor. I sigh in relief. I was starting to feel a little queasy in that room, but I feel fine now that I'm not surrounded by a crowd. There's a women's restroom across the hall and I make a beeline for it. I just want a place to hide out for a few minutes and collect myself.

There's a pregnant woman washing her hands when I enter. I duck past her into a stall before I'm tempted to ask her if her bump is courtesy of Luke as well. I know I am behaving like a little bitch right now. I'm disgusted with myself, yet I'm still feeling just bitchy enough to refuse to go out there and apologize.

I hear the woman finish up at the sink and exit the bathroom. I'm alone now, so I figure hiding in a stall is more pathetic than necessary. I leave the safety of the stall while digging around in my clutch for the lipstick I brought with. I'm in the middle of reapplying when the bathroom door swings open and Gina breezes in.

I have to admit I'm slightly surprised to see her here. Specifically in this bathroom. I'd have thought she'd prefer to slip into my empty chair and keep Luke company while she has the chance.

"Sophie, darling!" She does a scan of the bathroom, confirming that we're alone. "You look breathtaking in that dress."

I'm confused. Is this woman bipolar? She looks stunning herself, her long red hair curled to perfection and trailing over one shoulder. She's in a platinum-colored gown, floor-length with a scoop neckline and a pear-shaped diamond pendant hanging from her throat.

"Gina." I nod in greeting.

She turns to the mirror and fingers the diamond pendant, centering it on her chest.

"That's a beautiful necklace," I compliment her. If she's being nice, I can be nice. Being catty isn't in my nature anyway. Maybe she's found someone new and I won't have to deal with her jealous behavior at these events. Assuming Luke brings me to more of them.

"Luke bought it for me," she replies and opens her own clutch.

I guess we're not done being catty. "Okay," I say and roll my eyes. This woman is something else.

She smirks at me in the mirror. "Luke bought me the nicest jewelry when we were together. I’m looking forward to seeing what he comes up with for my second engagement ring.”

I look at her for a moment. "So you're crazy then?"

She arranges her face into a pout and examines her reflection in the mirror. "That's not kind, Sophie. I don't think Luke would want you calling his patients crazy."

"I'm not. I'm calling you crazy," I say. And as I do, as the word leaves my mouth, I realize she's his patient.

Why in the ever-loving hell would he agree to treat her? I'm almost blind with rage, that's how angry I am.

"Your plan is to win him back by having him treat you for infertility?" I'm dumbfounded. How does this make sense?

I can't think straight, I'm so pissed about Luke touching her. I know he's a doctor, I know this. Encountering women at events that he's treated is weird enough, but his ex-fiancée?

"Something like that," she replies with a smug smirk.

I want to strangle this bitch with my bare hands. What's involved with fertility treatment? He's probably inseminated her. I wonder who her donor is. I'm picturing her flat on her back with her feet in stirrups and Luke between her legs.

Can I kill her with a lipstick tube? What else do I have in my clutch?

"Why is he helping you?" I'm incredulous. I know they're colleagues, but she's his ex-fiancée. Why wouldn't he refer her to another doctor?

"You don't know anything, do you?"

What don't I know? "I know Luke is leaving here with me and I know you're crazy."

"Wrong and wrong," she laughs. "I'm very fragile, Sophie, from all the fertility drugs." She actually sniffs. "And Luke will be leaving with me. In the next ten minutes."

I'm so worked up I feel queasy again. "Get out," I tell her. "Get the hell out of my sight, you crazy bitch."

"Tsk, tsk. Language, Sophie." Gina breezes out the door. She's not gone a second too soon, because tears fall down my cheeks a second later.

What is going on? What is he doing with her? I feel stupid. Left out and stupid. I've spent my limited adult life dating a man who was attracted to men, a man who wanted to film me without my consent, and Luke. Clearly my character-judging skills are off.

I grab some tissue and clean myself up. I will not have a breakdown in this bathroom. Gina's probably lying, yet things are starting to fall into place. I remember her stopping by Luke's condo the weekend after Thanksgiving in tears and Luke telling her to call his office the following week.

Forget it, I tell myself. I am not thinking of this right now. I am going back out there with a smile on my face and I'll talk to Luke about all this later.

I exit the bathroom and cross the corridor to the ballroom space and swing open the door.

I'm so disheartened with Luke right now. I don't think I know him at all. I feel… misled somehow.

I enter the ballroom while taking a deep breath. Maybe he has some social disorder that prevents him from realizing that he's wrong about Gina.

Two steps into the room I almost trip over my stilettos. Luke's seat is empty, because he's walking away, with his hand on Gina's back.

I turn around and exit the door I just came through and start walking. I'm not sure where I'm going except in the opposite direction of Luke and Gina. I have to get out of here. We arrived through an event entrance, that's the direction that Luke and Gina are walking. I'm sure I can catch a cab at the main entrance so I won't have to bump into them. I check my clutch to reassure myself that my ID and credit card are still there. I can get home with that.

I keep walking until I find my way to the main lobby of the Ritz Carlton and head straight outside for a cab, only then realizing I don't have Meredith's shawl. Luckily there's a line of cabs out front waiting for fares and the bellhop has me in one in moments.

I feel like I should cry, but I'm numb.

"Where to, miss?" the cab driver wants to know as he pulls into traffic and my cell phone starts ringing.

"Spruce and 38th," I tell him, giving him the directions to my dorm while glancing at my phone, the screen indicating a call from Luke. I hit ignore and then turn the phone off and toss it back in my bag.