Jeremiah's gentle hand on mine was reassuring. It let me know I wasn't walking into this extravagant ballroom all by myself, with all these people my family and I used to know. I trusted that Jeremiah's friends invited him to enough of these that he'd be comfortable enough to carry the weight of my awkwardness.
A whisper came to my ear. "Are you alright?"
Slightly startled, I turned to Jeremiah with a stiff smile. "Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?" I asked.
I focused my gaze back to the ballroom, intricately carved columns protruding from the walls, a yellowish dim falling over the room from the massive chandeliers hanging overhead.
"You look like a deer caught in the headlights," he noted. I chuckled lamely. "We don't have to go in if you don't want to. I'm sure I won't be missed."
"No," I denied firmly. I took a shaky breath and straightened my posture, a determined look on my face. I had done this a million times before, so there's no reason for me to be acting like this is my first day of kindergarten. "Your friends are expecting you, so, in we go." I took another breath before taking a few hesitant steps forward, them slowly turning into confident strides.
As soon as I passed the threshold and stepped foot onto the white and gold marble flooring, a server stepped up to me, a tray held elegantly in his hand. He was dressed in a black bow tie, vest, and dress pants, the only white thing about his attire the button-down shirt he was wearing.
Jeremiah came up behind me and took two flutes of champagne from the server's tray, giving a nod as thanks. He handed a flute to me and I took it. I thanked him before taking a small sip, relishing in the flavor on my tongue. Nothing beats the taste of expensive champagne.
Jeremiah and I kept to ourselves for the first half an hour or so that we were at the event. I pointed out to him every person I knew that passed by us, the two wallflowers. Jeremiah seemed surprised to find that I knew a good majority of the people in the room with us. I think he sometimes forgets that my parents had Sunshine Suites longer than I was alive.
Jeremiah and I were pulled from the wall when one of his friends strode over, his whole demeanor radiating confidence. I watched the interaction between Jeremiah and his friend, them doing the classic guy handshake. They clapped each other on the back twice before Jeremiah directed his friend's attention towards me. I smiled politely.
"This," Jeremiah began as he gestured towards his brown-skinned friend, "Is my best friend, King. King, this is-"
"The ever-so-lovely Kiara Suns," King cut in. He grabbed the hand that was not occupied with a glass of champagne and placed a kiss to the back of it with his plump lips. "A pleasure," he said, his lips tickling against the back of my hand.
"I'm surprised that you know me, King." I raised an impressed eyebrow. King and I had never once run into each other at one of these things. At least, not that I can remember. "I've been off the scene for quite a while." I smiled gently as I raised my glass to my lips, taking a small sip.
"When a pretty face like yours disappears from the scene, people tend to take notice," he responded. "I'm surprised that J here invited you to this. He never-"
"Do you know King, Kiara?" Jeremiah cut in. "I mean, he seems to know who you are."
"Of course I know who he is. You can't have a name like King Courtney and not expect me to know who you are."
"Ah, so she has heard of me," King cheekily said as he leaned towards Jeremiah.
"Oh yeah, I heard of you. I'm sure my sister has some words that she'd like to say to you. But, let me just stay mute." I took another sip of my champagne, my eyebrows rising to the top of my head.
YOU ARE READING
Pleasurable Expectations
RomanceKiara Suns was rich, her family running the prosperous Sunshine Suites. Key word: Was. Now, Kiara works as anybody else would, having gone to college and gotten her degrees. Her life was manageable and going as well as it could for any 23 year old...