"Chloe," I say, my voice hoarse.
She turns around, ready to smile at whoever just said her name, but when she sees it's me she seems confused and she doesn't say anything.
People are swarming around us and I start crying, wrapping my arms around her, and in a haze I realize she's hugging me back.
"I thought you were in New York," she's saying.
"Oh baby, no, no," I'm saying. "I'm here. I've been here. Why did you think that?"
"Victor?" she asks, pulling back. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, baby, I'm cool," I say, still crying, trying not to.
Upstairs, at Chloe's request a PR person maneuvers us to a bench in the VIP section, which looks out over the rest of the party. Chloe's chewing Nicorette, carefully blotting her lipstick, and gold and taupe brow color has been applied to the outer corners of her eyes and I keep grabbing her hand, clutching it, and sometimes she squeezes back.
"How are you?" she asks.
"Oh great, great." Pause. "Not so great." Another pause. "I think I need some help, baby." I try to smile.
"It's not drugs... is it?" she asks. "We're not being bad... are we?"
"No, no, no, not that, I just-" I smile tightly, reach out again to rub her hand. "I just missed you so much and I'm just so glad you're here and I'm just so sorry for everything," I say in a rush, breaking down again.
"Hey, shhh, what's bringing this on?" she asks.
I can't talk. My head slips from my hands and I'm just sobbing, tears pouring out.
"Victor? Is everything okay?" she asks softly. "What's going on?"
I take in a giant breath, then sob again.
"Victor, what's wrong?" I hear her ask. "Do you need any money? Is that it?"
I keep shaking my head, unable to speak. "Are you in trouble?" she asks. "Victor?" "No, no, baby, no," I say, wiping my face.
"Victor, you're scaring me."
"It's just, it's just, this is my worst suit," I say, trying to laugh.
"Wardrobe dressed me. The director insisted. But it's just not fitting right."
"You look nice," she says, relaxing a little. "You look tired but you look nice." She pauses, then adds sweetly, "I've missed you."
"Oh baby..."
"I know I shouldn't but I do."