Lacey said. “She's been kind to me and apart from you, she's the only other person I can call a friend. I've got no one from the old neighborhood and Ali is one of the few people I've invited to a wedding of almost two hundred people.”
“Well, let's get going, I think our taxi is here.”
Having a bachelorette party had been all Elaine's idea. Lacey had resisted until she could no longer handle the desperate pleading, sulks and puppy dog eyes that Elaine had resorted to. In the end, Lacey had compromised, insisting it take place two weeks before the wedding, in case of any mishaps and under no circumstances was it to be wild and crazy. Elaine had accepted, it was the closest she was going to get to having a night out with Lacey.
Since the incident with Cole, driving like a mad man after at the very mention of Nate Horwood's name, Cole had insisted that Lacey move in with him on a full time basis until the wedding. He didn't want to take the chance of Nate turning up at Lacey's door again.
“I don't trust him and I can't trust what I'll do if he shows up again,” was what Cole said and Lacey agreed to move in with him. She'd taken most of her clothes, along with several other personal items, to Cole's apartment. It was her way of trying to keep the peace. She was sick to death of the constant battle and being at the center of it.
For her bachelorette party, she wanted a night to unwind and not have to talk feuds and jealousies, revenge and rivalry, and watching Cole mope around the apartment whenever something reminded him of Nate.
Lacey had chosen a nice, out-of-the-way restaurant which had an upstairs bar and a cozy restaurant. The food was said to be outstanding and when they walked in, she felt relaxed straight away by the atmosphere. She hoped it would be the perfect night.
A waiter showed them to their table after they had been up in the bar drinking cocktails.
“We should get some champagne,” Ali said.
“And why not?” Elaine agreed, still waving a Bloody Mary in her hand. “Cole is paying for all of this.”
“Agreed,” said Lacey. “He said not to hold back.”
“In that case,” Elaine said, “why didn't you let me hire a male stripper?”
“Please, let's not go there again.” Lacey shook her head.
“So,” Ali said, after the main course had been served. “How is it working for the enemy?”
“She's not working.” Elaine interrupted, waving to the waiter so he could bring more champagne.
“You're not?” Ali said.
“What Elaine means is, I'm taking a bit of a back seat while I get this wedding organized. There's just so much to do.”
Again, Elaine cut in. “I thought you said it was because Cole was giving you less and less to do?”
Lacey gave her a look.
“What?” Elaine tutted. “Why you looking like that? That's what you said, right?”
“Is that true, Lacey?” Ali was concerned.
“In a way, but come the end of the honeymoon, it'll be business as usual.”
“You sure about that?” Ali asked.
“Of course, now drink up. We have to try this chocolate dessert I hear they do. It's supposed to be divine.”
“Divine?” Elaine teased. “Since when did you start using words like 'divine'?” Elaine laughed out loud and was causing a stir at the nearby tables.
“Shit,” she exclaimed.
“Elaine, keep it down will you? This is a respectable place.” Lacey put an arm around her.
“Not anymore,” Ali said, raising a glass and knocking back the rest of her champagne.
“No, it's not that.” Elaine slurred her words now. “It's him, it's lover boy. The other billionaire boyfriend.” She pointed an unsteady finger at a seat on the other side of the restaurant. Sitting beside a large tropical plant and eating with a middle aged gentleman, was Nate.
Lacey and Nate locked eyes almost immediately.
“Shit!” Lacey said under her breath, turning back. “Did you tell him you were