I saw Dex up ahead, already mid-story, mapping out something elaborate with his hands. He caught Liam’s eye and lifted his chin, grinning in my direction before someone else took his attention.
Ben was a few feet behind him, his jacket slung over one shoulder. He saw Liam and smiled.
“Ben. Ben Roth!” A tall, dark-haired woman in a bright turquoise dress was waving him over, her arm held high.
“Françoise!”
They all knew each other.I didn’t knowanyone.
The crowd continued its shuffle toward the terrace and I eased back a step, letting the flow of people move between us.
Liam stopped and glanced back, and I hesitated.There was nowhere for me to go.These people, the wedding, the dinners,and the parties. They’d all known each other for years. I’d never be someone who really belonged, like they did.
If I let myself want that—to be part of this, alongside him, leaning on him—it could all be taken away in an instant. The minute he realized I didn’t fit.
He extended his arm behind him, waiting.
But this was Liam. I’d seen a side of him this week I’d never expected, like he cared more about me than any of this stuff I’d thought was so important to him.
His open palm hung in the air, cutting through the bodies. I stepped forward and took his hand, his fingers tightening around mine as we kept walking, the crowds closing in around us. Maybe, with him next to me, I could do it after all.
A waiter pressed a cold stem into my hand. On the other side of the crowd, I saw Bonnie under the trees, talking with a group of women who all looked a bit like her. How was her own big act going?Confidence is attractive; effort is not. Ironic, considering how hard she’d tried. I already felt a bit softer toward her, knowing that.
She caught sight of me and gave a small wave, but I looked away before she could summon me over.Not thatsoft.
Liam adjusted his pace as someone stepped into our path, angling his body just enough that I didn’t have to break stride. His hand pressed into the bare skin of my back and we stepped into the reception space, the sound level climbing. The edge of the terrace was lined with tables dressed in white, on them, chilled bottles of champagne. Didn’t they ever get sick of it? I wished I could ask for a pint of shandy, but it wouldn’t go with the dress.
“Liam, there you are.”
A deep voice I recognized sounded behind us.
“And Andrea!”
I turned. Hugo and Miranda were beaming at us, and my heart did a small, grateful lift as Miranda stepped in and hugged me.
“My dear, you look absolutely stunning,” she said. “And what a beautiful dress. Lavender suits you.”
“It does, doesn’t it?” Liam rested a hand around my waist, and I felt myself flush again, thinking of this morning when his arm had been wrapped around me, and he’d been pressed against my back.
“Thank you, Miranda, you look lovely, too. It’s good to see you both again.” My shoulders loosened. Perhaps tonight wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Hugo turned to Liam. “And you’re not looking too bad yourself.” He managed to make his smile look a bit like a frown, but the humor bled through at the edges. “Nick and Juliette are thrilled you both made it.”
“Sorry we couldn’t chat much yesterday.” Miranda touched me on the arm. “Unfortunately, we still have to do the rounds.”
“But grab me in an hour or so, Liam,” Hugo added. “I have some updates about your Novexia issue.”
“Great, I will.”
Miranda tapped me on the wrist. “And then you and I can catch up properly.”
She and Hugo were already half-turned when a man stepped into their path.
“Sorry, Hugo—”
He looked to be in his mid-forties, wearing a linen jacket and a blue-striped shirt. I couldn’t quite place him, but I felt like I’d seen him somewhere before. Yesterday, maybe?
“Oh, Sebastian,” Hugo said. “Good timing.”
