Come Undone by Jessica Hawkins Read Free Book Online Page A

releasing my death
grip on the counter. He continued, “I was just . . . getting her a towel. She
seems to have spilled something on herself.”
    “I see, well Liv, this is David,” he introduced. “He’s the lead
architect on our new office building in the Loop. And I hope if I hang around
him enough, some of his charm will rub off.” He winked at me. “The ladies in my
office can’t get enough of the guy,” he added, pulsing his eyebrows at David. “You
usually have your hands full, though. No date tonight?”
    David let out a short laugh, shaking his head as he wiped his brow
with the back of his hand. Andrew just shrugged. He was always so nonchalant;
his feathers rarely ruffled. He reminded me of Bill in that sense. Bill didn’t
anger easily, but when he did, it was explosive. I wondered, watching Andrew’s
easy smile, if he was the same.
    My tongue shot into my cheek as I returned to studying David. He
must have women falling all over him. I cringed, chastising myself for letting
someone like him affect me. Someone who was that confident, someone who could
relax on command and who was that smoldering – someone like that knew
what he was doing. And was only interested in one thing. Someone like him , I thought, must
have it so easy .
    “Well,” I interjected curtly, having returned to myself, who was a
little indignant. “Looks like I’m all cleaned up. Andrew, where’s Lucy? I’ve
hardly seen her tonight.” I stepped backwards, distancing myself from him. “David,”
I faltered for a split second, so that only someone watching closely would have
noticed. “Nice to meet you.”
    With that I turned and strode back into the party. I found Lucy
within the next couple steps, despite the fact that I’d barely talked her at
all.
    “Livs,” she said, touching my arm. “Are you all right?”
    “Fine, Luce!” My voice came out high-pitched and unnatural. “What
a party. Professional planners?” I teased as I crinkled my nose.
    Gretchen, who apparently had been keeping Jack company, saw us and
ran over.
    “You guys are amazing,” Lucy said, looking from one to the other.
“Thank you for doing this.” Just then an impeccably-timed server passed with a
tray of bubbling champagne. Following Gretchen’s lead, we held up our glasses
to each other.
    “To you, Lucy, and your fiancé ,”
- Lucy smiled at the word – “all the best!” We each took a giddy sip.
    “ Who is that?” Gretchen
asked suddenly, but I didn’t need to turn to know. Lucy sought out Gretchen’s
mystery man and nodded knowingly when her eyes fixated behind me.
    “That’s David,” Lucy stated. “He’s doing work for Andrew’s firm
and they’ve bonded over sailing.” Noticing Gretchen’s raised eyebrows she said,
“I know.”
    “Sailing?” I asked.
    “Oh, didn’t I tell you?” She pushed me with her fingertips.
“Andrew wants to get a boat.”
    “He is just . . .” Gretchen trailed off, and I could almost see
the wheels turning in her head. A deceptively innocent smile touched her lips
as she seemed to make eye contact with him. He breezed by the three of us with
Lucy and Gretchen’s eyes conspicuously on him, and I was incensed that he might
think we were talking about him. “Look at that ass,” Gretchen commented, her
mouth twisting into an appreciative smirk.
    “Oh Gretchen, don’t be vulgar!” Lucy cried.
    “I’m just stating the obvious,” she said simply. “Don’t tell me
you weren’t thinking the exact same thing, Lucille Marie.” Lucy blushed crimson
at the suggestion and looked away. “That’s what I thought,” Gretchen said with
a nod and we laughed.
    When I saw her sharp eyes still concentrated in his direction, my
laughter quickly faded. For the first time in a long time, I remembered the
excitement that came from being unattached, excitement born of possibility and
anticipation. “I’ll have to introduce myself later,” she said, more to herself
than to us. Panic