Everyone laughed.
“Er, no… likeL… for Liam,” said Andrea, not very convincingly.
“Oh, right.” Juliette stopped laughing, then started again. “I think I prefer Nick’s version actually.”
“So do I,” said Nick. “We can call him MacPherson for the rest of the night. You don’t mind, do you,Elle?”
“Very charming,” I said, breathing a quiet sigh of relief. Knowing Andrea, that could have been a lot worse. Thank God she hadn’t weaponized Galadriel.
“Well, shall we?” Nick gestured to an area just beyond the terrace. “Dinner’s being served in twenty minutes—although honestly, I think we’d both rather stay here and chat with you two.”
Andrea’s eyes crinkled as she looked up at me. She bit her lip and looked back at Nick and Juliette. “I think this weekend is going to be fun.”
I laughed too, but my pulse wouldn’t slow. For a woman who was pretending, she was far too good at it.
*
The tables were set up in the walled garden behind the château, with fairy lights looped between the trees. Beyond the low wall, the moat shimmered under the remains of the sun. It was a smaller event than I’d expected, maybe sixty of us total. The rest of the guests would be arriving tomorrow.
Andrea was sitting on my right chatting excitedly, her hands as much a part of the story as whatever she was saying. A couple of our old school friends sat there with Ben and Dex, one wiping tears from under his eyes.
“… so, there I am, completely straight-faced, telling the head of sales his fly is down, and he goes, ‘I know, it’s a power move.’”
“Are you serious?” Dex howled and almost spilled his drink, grabbing it just in time. Hoots of laughter punctuated the conversation. Andrea leaned in as she spoke. I’d forgottenhow easily she could land a punchline. She was so funny and quick when she was comfortable, like she had been over lunch that time.
It was a different version of her to the one I’d got earlier in the bedroom.
The one who hadn’t quite believed me when I’d talked about growing up.
Fuck, that had stung.
Having her think I was some sort of spoiled brat whose father had smoothed his way in the world hurt more than it should have.
But then… she’d apologized. And she sounded like she meant it.
You had to respect that.
I looked across the garden. There they were—Hugo and Miranda. I’d speak to them after dinner. I was here for Novexia after all—not to fret over what Andrea thought about me.
If only it were that simple…
“Christ, itisyou. Thought you’d gone off to find yourself.”
The voice to my left was amused—one I recognized instantly. Not one I’d expected to hear again.
“Toby.” I stood, keeping my tone neutral. “I didn’t know you were coming.”
“Oh, you know me. Always drawn to free champagne and uncomfortable reunions.” He grinned and extended a hand. It hung in the air for a beat before I took it.
“Didn’t think we’d see him again after Cranwell-gate,” muttered Ben.
Neither did I. He’d dropped out partway through officer training and had never forgiven me for completing it.
Toby turned to Andrea with practiced charm. “And you must be the girlfriend. Brave woman.”
Andrea laughed politely.
“We were just talking about the good old days.” He thumbed to the other side of the terrace. “Back when Liam was still painting miniatures and getting excited over his little comics.Before he found… whatever he’s doing now.” He waved vaguely toward me.
