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He winced. "I take it things didn't go well with Owen?"
"No, things did not go well with Owen, unless you think stilted sentences and awkward pauses are the signs of a successful couple. " I glared at Finn. "What were you thinking? I can't believe you didn't tell me Owen was coming tonight - and that you'd purposefully invited him. "
Finn kept wincing, but he didn't answer me. Roslyn and Phillip exchanged a puzzled look, but it was Eva's reaction that caught my eye. She bit her lip and looked down at the floor, a guilty expression on her face if ever there was one. She glanced up, realized that I was staring at her, and let out a small sigh.
"Actually, it wasn't really Finn's idea," Eva admitted. "I was the one who suggested it. "
"And why would you do that?"
She sighed again. "Because it's been almost a month since Salina's death, and you and Owen haven't seen each other in weeks. You haven't even spoken, as far as I know. "
She was right about that, not that I told her so.
"I agree with Eva," Kincaid chimed in. "You and Owen need to at least start talking again. "
"About what?" I asked, turning to face him. "How I slit Salina's throat right in front of him? Even though he asked me not to? Or maybe we should talk about how I told Finn to hold him back and how you helped with that? It's easy for you to tell me to start talking to Owen, especially since it seems like he's forgiven you, Finn, and everyone else for what happened - everyone except me, that is. "
This time, Kincaid was the one who winced at my harsh words. Still, he didn't back down. "Salina's gone, Gin, and I say good riddance to her. But you and Owen are still here. The two of you care about each other, quite deeply, from what I've seen. If I were you, I'd be doing my best to fix things between the two of you. "
I arched an eyebrow. "I don't really think you're in a position to be giving me relationship advice, Philly," I said, using Eva's childhood nickname for him. "Although I'm glad to see you're here tonight with someone who's age-appropriate. You are here with Roslyn, right? And not someone else?"
Anger simmered in Kincaid's blue eyes, and his jaw clenched, making his chiseled cheekbones stand out more. Not too long ago, I'd told Kincaid that I knew he was not-so-secretly in love with Eva. Phillip had helped Eva and Owen when the three of them had been living on the streets as kids, and he'd told me that Eva was the first person who'd ever cared about him. That was why he loved her, even though he was my age, thirty, and about ten years older than her.
Eva looked back and forth between me and Phillip, her brow furrowed, obviously wondering what I was talking about.
I sighed. Just because my love life was on the skids was no reason for me to take my anger and frustration out on everyone else, especially my friends.
"I'm sorry," I said. "It's just that seeing Owen took me by surprise. Especially since he's here with someone else tonight. "
We all turned to look at the pair in question. Owen was staring blankly at a watercolor that depicted a snowstorm. Jillian stood by his side, murmuring something to him, her arm still threaded through his. I had to admit that she wore the scarlet gown a lot better than I did. They made a handsome couple, Owen dark and rugged in his tux, Jillian like a flash of fire next to him. Sadness filled me, but I tried to ignore the sensation.
"That was the other reason I asked Finn to get you to come tonight," Eva said. "Jillian. "
"What's wrong with her?"
She hesitated. "Well, nothing, really. Except for the fact that she's not you. "
I sighed again, then reached out and gave her arm a gentle squeeze. "I appreciate that, Eva, really, I do. But if Owen wants to move on and date other people, then that's his right. "
No matter how much it hurts. I didn't have to say the words. They could all see the pain glinting in my eyes.
We fell silent for a few moments before Kincaid cleared his throat.
"Well, I don't know about you ladies, but I'm feeling a little parched. Can I get you anything to drink?"
Roslyn and I both politely declined, but Eva stepped over and smiled up at him, her face as bright, warm, and happy as a sunny day.
"I'll go with you, Philly," she said.
Eva had her back to me, so she didn't see me arch my eyebrow at Kincaid again. He noticed, though. A faint blush crept up his cheeks, but he still held out his arm to the younger woman.
"I would be delighted to be escorted by you, Eva," he said.
Eva giggled and took his arm, and Roslyn, Finn, and I watched them head toward the elemental Ice bar that had been set up on the opposite side of the rotunda.
"Well, I suppose I don't have to worry about Phillip hitting on me on the ride home tonight," Roslyn said. "He's crazy about that girl. "
"I know. Problem is, she's still a girl. "
