“Thanks.”
“The guy you’re with—Julian?” He glances toward where Julian is standing, talking to Chris’s father. “Seems intense.”
“He is.”
“How long have you two been...?”
“A few months.” I don’t elaborate. He doesn’t deserve elaboration.
Preston shifts his weight. Does that thing where he runs his hand through his hair—the gesture I used to find charming and now just find annoying.
“Serenity and I are engaged,” he says.
“I heard. Congratulations.”
“She’s... she gets me, you know? In a way that—” He stops. Has the decency to look uncomfortable. “In a way I didn’t know was possible.”
Translation: In a way you never did.
Six months ago, that would have gutted me. I would have smiled through the pain, gone back to my hotel room, and cried into a pillow while hate-scrolling his Glowstagram.
Now?
“I’m happy for you,” I say. And the weird thing is, I almost mean it. Not because I’m over him—though I am—but because I finally understand what I was missing. What I was settling for.
Preston didn’t see me for who I truly was.
Julian sees all of me. The mess and the magic and the terrified woman underneath the influencer smile.
And he chose to stay anyway.
“You seem different,” Preston says. “More... I don’t know. Settled.”
“I am different.” I spot Julian making his way toward us. “Turns out being with someone who actually sees you does that.”
Preston flinches.
Julian arrives at my side. His hand finds my lower back. “Preston. Good to see you again.”
His voice is polite. His eyes are not.
“Yeah.” Preston clears his throat. “You too. I should go find Serenity. She wanted to do some sunset meditation before dinner.”
“Of course she did,” I mutter.
Preston retreats. Julian watches him go.
“You could have been meaner,” he says.
“I could have. But what’s the point?” I lean into him. “He’s not worth the energy.”
“No. He is not.” Julian’s arm wraps around me. “You handled that well.”
“I’ve had practice.”
“Not with him. With performing calm when you’re anything but.” He looks down at me. “Your heart rate was elevated the entire conversation.”
“Stop monitoring my vitals. It’s creepy.”
