Heartbroken

Chapter 20: Milo

Brown eyes stared back at me as I looked in the mirror, my suit coat darker than my soul. Now was the time that I actually paid attention to how I looked, which was an interesting feeling, because up until now, I had no concerns about people disliking me because of what I looked like. Or liking me too much.

The prospect of a date loomed before me, and I combed my fingers through my hair, trying to care. One life lesson that I've learned in my years of experience: caring takes effort that I don't have. But pretending that I have effort is easier than actually having it. So I combed my hair and tied my tie, ironing my coat before slipping it over my shoulders.

Shoving my phone into an inside pocket, I checked my reflection before tugging my cuffs and walking through the door. My feet fit snuggly into the brand new dress shoes, though they felt wrong and uncomfortable compared to my regular attire.

My hand fidgeted with the marble that I had stored in my pocket, and my thoughts slowly began to relax. It was just Ingot. She had blackmailed me into saying yes, and now I had the obligation to go. She told me that she wanted to talk, and Ingot always had a grandiose way of doing things. I straightened my tie again, wondering if Allegra would see me on the way out.

My eyes closed and my feet walked, focusing on the ground so as not to think of the walls and how close they always seemed to be. The sounds in my ears dragged on, a mute buzzing that distracted me from what I needed to get away from.

"Where are you going?" Allegra's voice drifted down the stairway, and I glanced around, not realizing that I'd gotten this far. I looked up at Allegra, and immediately my hand stopped fidgeting. I kept my face impassive.

"A date,"

The surprise was evident on her face.

"Believe me, it was not my choice."

"With who?" though she was far away, her shoulders pulled taut and her lips pressed into a thin line.

"Are you..." I thought for a moment. "Jealous?"

Her face slowly changed color, and as she opened her mouth to reply, George called from just outside the door.

"The limo is waiting for you, sir."

I studied Allegra's face before turning and walking out the door, feeling pleased. I tried to squash that unrealistic wish before it grew into something more. My thoughts raced again as soon as she was out of my sight, and I was trying to hold on to one thought so that the others might go away. I already knew that it wouldn't work, but when you're desperate you'll try everything. Twice.

The limo was long and black, the inside seeming to be twice as big as the outside. The seats were authentic black leather, wine glass trays in between every chair: it was a car fit for a king. I sat in the corner, unable to act like I was used to something so... big. Sometimes you just can't pretend.

More thoughts bombarded my mind as my leg began bouncing up and down, the marble falling out of my pocket. The car hit a bump, and it rolled under the seat. I fell to my knees and searched for the small object, but the ride was anything but smooth. I never remembered the roads to be this bumpy.

The car rolled to a stop after a small dip, and I took that time to reach under and retrieve my marble, climbing back on the seat before the door was opened for Ingot. She hiked her long skirt up before gracefully stepping into the car with the help of the butler's hand, and moved to sit across from me. I resisted to the urge to roll my eyes.