He gives me another one of his crooked smiles.“I hope it helps a good cause.”
My gaze lingers on him a little too long, and I force myself to look away.This must be what it’s like to be Suki or Mara.I can’t imagine looking at a hot, kind, successful man and knowing he’s mine and the father of our children.
Jules and Noel approach us, Jules grinning confidently.“I might know someone who’s bidding on that week in a private beach bungalow in Hawaii.”
“It looks amazing.”
“It’d be a perfect honeymoon.”
“Excuse me.”A woman with short black hair in a long gold gown smiles at Magnus.“I’m Hudson McClain’s sister, Caroline.Our cousin’s daughter is dying to meet you.”She frowns, acting like she just noticed me on his arm.“Are the two of you together?”
Magnus drops his brows just a fraction, looking unsure how to answer her.
Caroline laughs.“I mean, I know you’re standing here together at this moment, but are you a couple?”
“No,” he answers.“We’re both here with a group of friends.”
Caroline’s face lights up.“Perfect.”She smiles condescendingly at me.“I’m just going to steal him for a bit; you don’t mind, do you?”
Hudson McClain must be important because Harry mentioned him giving Magnus a contract.I don’t want to ruin anything for him, so I pull my arm away from his.
“Of course not.”
Magnus still has a stormy expression, looking torn about leaving me alone.
“I’ll see you at the table,” I assure him.
Caroline grabs his arm and leads him away.Jules comes to stand beside me, her placid expression not matching the words she murmurs softly.
“What a fucking vulture.Let’s go sit down.”
She leads the way to our table, where Leo, Mara, Bash, and Lainey are all sitting.
“Where’s Maggie?”Leo asks Carter.
“Meeting someone.”
“Blair, you look gorgeous!”Lainey says.
She’s always sweet and friendly.Her red hair is past her shoulders now, styled into loose curls.Her deep-green dress is off the shoulder, a perfect style for her.
“Thanks, you too.I can’t take any credit for this; it was all Jules.”
“Who do you think picked my dress out?”she asks, laughing.
I set the tiny black clutch bag I borrowed from Jules on the table, wishing I could take my phone out of it.I’m out of my element here, especially without Magnus to talk to.
This is Jules’s world, and all the players and teammates are really nice, but I still feel like a little kid playing dress-up.I belong at home on my couch in baggy sweats and a T-shirt.
Even though I shouldn’t, I look for Magnus on the other side of the room.My heart sinks when I find him.He’s standing with Caroline and a beautiful blond woman, who’s looking at him like he hung the moon.
Talia follows my gaze, frowning.“Are you kidding me?She’s relentless.”
“Tally,” Noel cautions with a slight shake of his head.
She rolls her eyes and gives me a sympathetic look.“She tried to do this with Lucien, too.”
Lucien doesn’t know what she’s talking about until he figures out who she’s looking at.
