Page 66 of A Really Bad Idea

The doors open, and we exit. He doesn’t offer me his hand as we walk through the foyer toward the Grand Ballroom where New York opulence is at its finest. Grandeur chandeliers adorn the gold-filigree-laced ceilings. The woodwork and carvings on each column cascading down the walls is exquisite in its detail. There’s a nine-piece band at the far end of the room with round tables around a large dance floor. Tall centerpieces of white roses overflowing from the vases beautify every table with lit candlesticks illuminating the room.

There has to be upwards of five hundred people here. Everyone is dressed to the nines, sipping champagne delivered by servers. I recognize none of the faces, as I’m not a hospital employee, but Christian shakes hands with quite a few as we enter.

The band is playing, but no one is dancing, as it’s still early in the evening.

“I’m going to see what table we’re seated at,” he says.

A server passes, and I grab a glass of champagne. “I’ll wait here.” I raise my flute in salute to Christian as he walks off, and I enjoy the crisp taste of Dom Pérignon. The band strums the standard “Mack the Knife,” and I sway my shoulders to the melody.

“The lady has moves,” a familiar voice says beside me.

To my surprise, Aaron Vaducci, Bachelor Number Three from my mother’s house, is standing beside me.

“Of all the faces to see tonight, I was not expecting you.” I embrace him with a hug. He looks good with his curls gelled and those round hazels that crinkle on the sides. “What are you doing here?”

He releases me and grins that oh-so-kind smile of his. “I’m a guest of the head of pediatric oncology. I volunteer dental services to many of the patients.”

“How noble.”

“I do what I can to give back,” he states and then looks around the room. “Who are you here with?”

“Christian Gallagher. He’s a cardiothoracic surgeon at St. Xavier.”

Aaron nods. “He’s a great guy. I know him from the good old soccer days. Our high schools competed. I didn’t have time to talk to him at your mother’s house.”

“He had to leave early. You two should catch up tonight,” I offer.

“I’d also like to pick up where we left off. That was a great day,” he says with a twinkle in his eye.

A gentleman at the bar holds up his arm to get Aaron’s attention. He nods toward him. “That’s my cue to go mingle with the masses. Save a spot on your dance card for me?”

I nod with a laugh. “Absolutely.”

He walks backward with a smile. “So great, seeing you here,” he says, looking at me like I’m a mirage before turning on his heel toward the bar.

I’m still looking in Aaron’s direction when Christian comes up.

“You found a friend.”

“Aaron was just asking about you. I didn’t know you knew each other. I only know him through my parents.”

“We were high school rivals.”

I raise a brow, not believing him. Aaron wouldn’t call Christian a great guy for anything. With a tilt to my head, I wait to see if there’s more to the story.

Christian lets out a huff. “Junior year, he was getting the snot kicked out of him outside the Movie Theatre. I jumped in, in his defense.”

My jaw drops. “How did I not know about this?”

He takes my glass from my hand. “My teammates were assholes. All the guys we went to high school with were assholes.”

I nudge him with my shoulder. “Well, maybe not all.”

He shrugs in agreement as he takes a sip of my champagne.

“Well, Aaron’s looking forward to seeing you. He didn’t get to chat much with you last time.”

He makes a deep humming sound. “Because he was too busy, talking to you,” he says before finishing the rest.