Kate couldn’t draw a breath. For a terrible moment, she thought she might be sick.

You were always his second choice.

She knew that; making peace with it over the years was not the same as changing it.

The song ended and Johnny stepped back from Tully. Turning, he saw Kate. Through the jeweled array of gowns, their gazes met. There, in front of anyone who might be watching, she started to cry. Embarrassed, she walked out of the ballroom.

Okay, she ran.

Downstairs, at the elevators, she pushed the button impatiently. “Come on . . . come on . . .” She didn’t want anyone to see her crying.

The bell rang and the door opened. She stepped inside, backing up against the wall, and crossed her arms. It took long seconds of impatient waiting to realize she’d forgotten to press a button.

The doors were about to close when a hand pushed through.

“Go away,” she said to her husband.

“We were dancing.”

“Ha!” Kate pressed the button for their floor, then wiped her eyes.

He stepped inside. “You’re being ridiculous.”

The elevator whisked them to their floor; doors opened. She walked away from him. “Fuck you,” she yelled behind her, finding her key and opening her door. She went into the room, slammed the door shut behind her.

Then she waited.

And waited.

Maybe he went to Tully—

No.

She didn’t really believe that. Her husband might carry a torch for Tully, but he was an honorable man, and Tully was her best friend.

That was what she’d somehow forgotten in her jealous snit.

She opened the door, saw him sitting in the hallway, one leg stretched out, his bow tie hanging slack around his throat. “You’re still here.”

“You have our key. I hope you’re going to apologize.”

She went to him, knelt beside him. “I’m sorry.”

“I can’t believe you’d think—”

“I don’t.”

She took his hand and pulled him to his feet. “Dance with me,” she said, hating the tiny emphasis she put on me.

“There’s no music.”

She put her arms around his neck and started to sway her hips, slowly moving closer toward him until his back was to the wall and she was pressing against him.

She unzipped her dress, let it fall to the floor.

Johnny glanced down the hallway. “Katie!” He opened her purse, got the key, and opened the door. They hurried into their room and fell onto the sofa, kissing with a passion that felt both familiar and new.

“I love you,” he said, moving his hand down toward her panties. “Try not to forget it, okay?”

She was too breathless to answer, so she nodded and unzipped his pants, shoving the fabric aside. She vowed to herself that she wouldn’t let her insecurities run rampant again, wouldn’t forget his love.

________