Should I even bother to show up? It's not like anybody would miss me, nobody here knows me and therefore won't even notice there was an empty spot. This was last minute, I could use that as an excuse. I could say I didn't find anything in time. I'm sure it doesn't matter what I say, I could ignore this and move on with my life.

But Harry invited me, what if he's alone? Maybe I can go for an hour, have some drinks and then leave, say I've got an early day at the office tomorrow, otherwise I would've loved to stay longer.

The sound of my phone going off with some random Facebook notification tears my gaze from the condensation racing down the bathroom mirror. I stand up, the towel still wrapped around my body as I go towards my closet.

Every dress I owned was either too revealing or plain boring. I grab a forest green dress from the pile and cringe. When did I purchase this? After a good while of searching, I find a tan slip on dress, not too revealing but it also blends in with my skin tone and hugs my curves so it definitely looks like I'm naked.

Maybe if I wear my hair down it won't be so noticeable. The wedding wasn't going to start until 6 followed by dinner at 6:30 and then the actual party at 8 so I figured I'd go to that instead. This way, I take my time to actually get ready. I straighten my hair and pin the front. I add some mascara to my lashes, some blush and lipgloss and before I know it it's 7:30.

I grab a coat on my way out because even though it was spring, for some reason London nights were always freezing.

I take a cab to the place, music coming from the inside of the venue filled my ears and I enter the premises, immediately being offered a glass of champagne by one of the bus boys. My coat was taken from me by some woman by the entrance and I move towards the tables, almost instantly finding a mop of curls standing by a group but still keeping his distance. I see he's engulfed in a conversation with who I remember to be Georgia so I stay put, watching the bride and groom dance their wedding song.

As I stood here, I never felt so out of place. I practically stuck out like a sore thumb. It wasn't so much the people but more so the vibe that did it for me, I felt glances directed at me and I wanted nothing more than to spontaneously disappear.

I felt a gentle hand be placed at the small of my back, forcing my gaze to them. Harry stood beside me now, his gaze was concerned. "What?" I say.

"I said are you alright?" I must've been so spaced out I didn't hear him. His eyes scan me in a quick glance, one where I could tell he hoped I didn't notice and offers me a gentle smile. "You look good." Before I'm able to answer, Georgia walks towards us and hooks her arm around Harry.

"Hi, Beau, I didn't think you'd make it here tonight." She gives me a small smile and a courtesy nod to which I return. I almost expected Harry to back away from her grip but he remained put.

What do I even say to that? It was almost like she sounded surprised I was there but with a condescending tone. I can't say I had nothing else to do, that would make me look lame. So I give a small laugh and lie. "I actually won't be here for long. I'm seeing someone after, I just had some time to spare."

At this, Harry turns to me. "Well, I hope you enjoy yourself tonight." Georgia says and smiles once more before she's walking away towards her group of friends. Harry stays behind and he looks at the bride and groom on the dance floor.

"You're seeing someone?" I knew he was going to bring it back up. I should've just said I had no plans.

I sigh. "Yup." I hoped he stops asking, but knowing him, that just isn't his style.

"It wouldn't happen to be Jackson Monroe now, would it?" As he says this, I look at him in disbelief.

"Are you spying on me?"

"Out of the four Vogue editors at this branch, you're one of them and I reckon the only male editor would be Jackson Monroe. It was a guess of mine that's who you're hanging around with, judging by your reaction I can see I'm right." Harry says so casually. For some reason, I found this hot. As much as a violation it was on me, I found it hot that he cared enough to investigate.

Still though, it annoyed me.

"You have no right to do that, Harry." I say. I wasn't sure if I wanted to hit him or jump on him. "That's a complete violation of privacy."

"Call it what you want." He replied, downing the glass of champagne. It surprised me to see him with it, it used to be a trigger for him before.

"Champagne?"

He looks down at the empty glass. "I guess I don't care that much now." When he sets it down, a song begins to play and it gives me an idea as I take his hand in mine. He looks down at it.

"Want to dance?"

Harry chuckles and gives my hand a gentle squeeze before pulling back. "I'm at a disadvantage when it comes to dancing. I'm afraid the answer is no." I roll my eyes as I take his hand and pull him towards the dance floor anyway. "Beau." Harry warns.

There was already couples there, flowing across the dance floor in two's to the beat of the slow song playing. I grab Harry's hands and place them at my waist as my own hands go up to wrap around his neck.

Harry's breath is shaky and I can see him gulp. I smile up at him. "Relax," I coax. "You don't have to be in control all the time."

_

Harry.

My heart rate picks up as Beau presses her head against my chest. This way, I'm able to smell the sweet scent of her perfume and the way her hair smells. I did not expect this coming here. I actually don't know what it was that I expected from her and inviting her here to be honest.

I know I should be focusing on her and this moment, but for some reason the only thing I could focus on was how she was going to run straight to Jackson after this. They were both stuck in my head to the point where I actually had to hire a PI to look into him.

That bullshit I told her about finding out who he was is nearly not the entire truth. I don't trust anyone else when it came to Beau and quite frankly, I don't trust Beau's judgement all things considered. I sigh, the song could not end soon enough.

If only I wasn't so confused on what I feel for her, I might actually be enjoying this night and being here with her.

I don't deserve her.

"Beau." I say. She lifts her head up from my chest, a smile on her lips and the lights sparkling in her blue eyes. I feel her hands creep fractionally up the back of my neck and massaging their way up to my hair.

"Remember when we first met?" She asks, her eyes boring into my own.

I think I've replayed that moment in my head exceedingly. "I don't think I could ever forget."

She smiles and looks down to the ground for a second. I could tell this was the answer she was looking for. "Did you ever think we'd end up here?"

I look away momentarily, there was already a new slow song playing and newer couples. I even catch a glimpse of Georgia by our table, a look I can't quite make out on her face. I knew she didn't feel a particular way about Beau, but I also knew that she didn't want for this to happen tonight.

When I look back to Beau, she is still awaiting an answer. Did I know this is where Beau and I would be four years later? "No." I say truthfully. There was no point in lying in this moment. "I didn't expect to even know you after the contract ended."

Beau looks disappointed at my answer. "I know." She says and that surprises me a bit. "What made you change your mind?" How can I even answer that? I was a completely broken man back then. I figured I met this girl, someone ruined her and then suddenly there I was, hoping to hold her together. Not because I felt bad for her, but because I thought if I could help her, if I could fix her I could be able to do that for myself.

We all know how that ended. Two broken people can not coexist in the same universe, shits always bound to fall apart when you least expect it.

"Don't do this." I say, whatever game she was playing at, whatever it was she was trying to get out at me, I couldn't do it. I take my arms back and she does as well.

"Was it ever real?" She says, her eyes have now lost all the spark. I did this. I'm not strong enough to be in her presence.

"Just go home." I say as I leave, ignoring Georgia who was beginning to walk towards me.

—

Beau.

It takes me a second to realize I'm standing alone in the middle of the dance floor, some couples look my way and my face grows hot as I walk towards the table where I left my purse and just as I'm grabbing my coat, Harry's friend Georgia walks up to me.

"Hey, right now might not be the best time to tell you this," I turn to look at her as she talks to me. "But you need to stay away from him."

I furrow my eyebrows. "What?"

"Harry is an addict, Beau and I think you know that. You being here tonight—it's just not good for him."

"He invited me here."

"Look, I know you mean well and I have nothing against you, but I care about him and there's not a doubt in my mind you care about him too. But you have to be conscious enough to know that you're hurting his sobriety. I know you have history together, but you're just not good for each other."

I have nothing to say as she walks back towards her group and I am left there, alone. She was right, I knew she was right.

As I'm in the back of the cab, I find myself pressing on Jackson's contact and he picks up after the third ring.

"Hello?" He sounded groggy and I check the time.

10:45 pm.

"Shit, did I wake you? I'm sorry." I immediately apologize. I hear shuffling on his end before it's followed by a chuckle.

"No, it's fine." He says. "What's on your mind?"

I lay my head back on the headrest of the seat and sigh. "Do you maybe want to go out for drinks? I could really use some right now."

"Shitty night, huh?"

"You have no idea." I say and look down to what I'm wearing. This long dress was definitely not bar attire. "There's a bar around where I live, I just need to get changed out of this dress."

"Sure, just send me your location and I'll be right there." I do that as soon as I get home and I quickly change out of my dress and throw on a pair of denim jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt. Soon after, I make my walk towards the bar which thankfully wasn't that far that I needed a cab. Just as I'm rounding a corner, I bump into a hooded figure in black and I immediately apologize.

"I'm so sorry." I say and move out of their way and continue my walk, thankfully getting to the bar where Jackson was already sitting on a stool with a drink and another next to him. He smiles when he sees me.

"You made it!" He exclaims and I sit beside him. "I ordered for you, figured you'd want the same thing from last time." He says as he slides the martini over to me.

"Thanks." I say and take a sip.

"So what happened? If you don't mind me asking." Did I actually mind? I didn't want to bore him with my problems and I sure as hell didn't want to tell him how my ex-boyfriend basically left me hanging on the dance floor of a wedding of people I didn't even know.

So I shrug. "It's just not my best day."

"I figured since you called me out of all people."

"You're not so bad."

"No, you're right. I can be so much worse." He jokes and I laugh. I'd be lying if I said I didn't like his company. He was defiant and maybe I did like the fact that he wasn't all that into me, every guy I knew always had other intentions and simply came on too strong. But with Jackson, it was easy and I felt comfortable around him.

"Hey, I am really sorry about the way I acted the other night. You're right, I should've just apologized. I guess I'm the one with an ego and too much pride sometimes." I say and he nods in an understanding way.

"Oh come on, you with an ego?" He says sarcastically and I roll my eyes with a smile. "I appreciate you looking out for my fragile ego, though. That means a lot to me."

"Okay." I laugh and my mind goes to Harry and where he could've possibly ran off to. I was hoping he just went straight home but a part of me knew that wasn't the case. Still, Georgia's words to me made me feel like absolute shit.

When I turn, Jackson is licking the residue of his whiskey off his lips, the stubble around his mouth appeared darker than it usually was and I found myself inching closer. "Beau." His voice broke my gaze from his lips and I focus on his eyes.

"Yes?" I breathe, his eyes looking down to my lips momentarily.

"Do you want to get out of here?"