His smile is forced. “Good to see you.”
“This is my wife, Catalina,” Noah says.
“Everyone calls me Cat.”
Benny nods, but he’s acting weird.
I look up at the balcony where Tag is coming, his mega white smile shining down on us brilliantly. “What happened?”
“Hm?” Benny follows my gaze. “Oh, nothing. Just kind of awkward.”
“With Tag?”
“It’s nothing,” he repeats, smiling at me. “I’ll talk to you about it later.”
Tag gives Noah a wave but heads into the party without stopping to chat, which is also weird. But if Benny thought it was okay to explain right now, he would have. Unease wriggles within me.
“Should we head in?” Noah asks, letting out a sigh that proves how badly he wants to escape.
Cat takes his hand. “We’ll have fun. Let’s go find Zoey.”
He nods, taking Stella and pressing a kiss to her head. They head inside, leaving Peanut’s carrier on the floor.
I crouch to pick my dog up, nuzzling her soft head. She must have been groomed recently because she smells great. “Peanut, it’s time for you to meet the other most important person in my life.”
She gives a little bark, and Benny laughs. He rubs between her ears, making her like him instantly. “Other?” he says, like he wants clarification.
“Okay, so Peanut’s not a person, but she means the world to me.” I kiss him. “Just like you.”
“As long as you don’t abandon me with your brother and go hide out for a month, we’re good.”
My laugh is abrupt. I nudge him, then move the carrier away from the center of the floor. “That wasonetime, and I’ll never do it again.”
“Promise?”
“Yeah.” My smile widens. “Next time, I’m taking both of you with me.”
