He grabs his chest in mock offense. “Stringalong? Ouch.”
“Hey, no judgment. Some of us can’t even manage one.” I sip my water and avoid his eyes.
He studies me for a moment. “Listen, he hasn’t told me much about what’s going on between you two, but for whatever it’s worth, you won’t find better than him. He’s who I’d pick for my sisters.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “I know I won’t. It’s just... complicated. I’ve made a mess of things.”
“Then uncomplicate it,” he says, matter-of-fact.
“I’m trying,” I say, voice wobbling. I’m too emotionally raw for this conversation.
Marcus clams up, clearly recognizing a volatile female psyche when he sees one. “Let me get you a refill. What are you drinking?”
“Water,” I respond, a little hoarsely.Do not lose it in the middle of this ballroom.
“Hope you’re not driving tonight.” He winks and squeezes my elbow before moving away. “Be right back.”
I’m furiously blinking back tears when Tessa materializes at my side.
“First you go all scorched earth on us back there, then I have to watch you flirt withanotherguy from Hammond’s office? Maybe I should’ve signed you up forRightField instead.”
It’s the last straw.
“Tessa,stop it,” I snap. “He saw that I’m down and tried to console me. I hardly think that deserves your scorn.”
She finally notices the unshed tears in my eyes and goes alert. “You’re down? Why are you down?”
I take a deep breath. “I broke up with someone.”
“You’ve been dating someone? Who?”
“Ben Mackenzie.” At her look of shock, I add defiantly, “Yep,thatBen.”
I can feel the eyeballs of everyone at the table on my back and I don’t even care. Suddenly, I want to shout this from the rooftops.
“You’ve been datingBen? Since when?”
“Since a while,” I answer, before turning to address the blatant eavesdroppers at the table. John looks scandalized, while Stephen’s wearing a shit-eating grin. “And he’swonderful. The most amazing man I’ve ever met, actually. And I kept it a secret so I wouldn’t have to deal with y’all’s judgment.” I’m so fired up, I can’t even remember to suppress my southern accent. “But you know what? I don’t care anymore.”
I grab the glass of champagne out of Tessa’s hand and knock it back in one deep swallow, then slam it down on the table. “And I’m going to fix this.”
Stephen whoops.
I scan the crowd for Ben, finding him deep in conversation with a group of men I’ve never seen before. I march over and tap him on the shoulder.
“Hey,” he says, reflexively pressing a hand to my back, then dropping it once he realizes. My expression must be alarming because his eyebrows knit together. “Everything okay?” he asks in a low voice.
“Everything’s fine. I just wanted to dance with you.”
His companions glance at one another, then at me, quickly excusing themselves.
He turns toward me, quirking a brow. “You want todance?”
“What, you’re suddenly shy?”
He shoots me a bemused look but takes my outstretched hand, letting me lead him out onto the dance floor. When I find us a space that’s not too crowded, he places a hand at my waist and clasps my other hand out to the side, a yawning football field between us.
“There are eyes everywhere,” he murmurs.
