Page 128
NOW
Bennett
As with everything the Koteskiys do, the charity gala is beautiful: a careful balance of wealth, to garner the monetary support their asking for, and focus on the actual groups they’re here to help.
Anna, Oliver, and Liam are at the greeting area. She gives me a tight hug and kiss to my cheek before fawning over her son.
“There are two lovely girls in there waiting for you, gentlemen.” She smiles, eyes twinkling as she nods toward the grand entrance to the main ballroom. “Tell them both thank you again, for helping me.”
Rhys and I both perk up, heading in that direction like following the North Star. I grin slightly at the way my best friend takes off in a jog to swoop his girlfriend up from behind, her squeak echoing in the semi-barren area as she slaps at him.
“God, hotshot. You need a collar with a bell, I swear,” she snips, elbowing him lightly, but I can see her cheeks flush as he whispers to her.
“You wanna keep me on a leash, kotonyok?” He presses another kiss to her temple. “Fine by me.”
“Where’s Paloma?” I ask, before they can forget I’m still here.
“Right over there,” Sadie offers, jutting her chin toward the other side of the room, where a curvy blonde is resetting the silverware on one of the gaudy tables.
The navy silk of the dress moves like water over the curved lines of her body, strapless so it shows off her shoulders, a long piece of matching midnight navy silk wrapped around her neck like a scarf and hanging down her back nearly to the floor.
She turns, hair bouncing loose in buoyant curls around her face, held back by a simple black pin on one side.
“Bennett,” she breathes, eyes warmer as she looks at me. “Hey.”
“You look beautiful,” I say, voice catching. My fingers reach out and touch the fabric of her dress where it lays across the generous curve of her hip. “I missed you.”
“You too,” she says, stepping back and turning back to the table—almost anxiously.
“You okay?”
She nods. “Just finishing up.” Paloma nibbles on her bottom lip and pulls her fingers in. “Do you think Mrs. Koteskiy will think this looks nice?”
“I’m positive she told you to call her Anna,” I whisper, stepping up behind her. “She’ll love it. She’d love it no matter what you did, you know. She’s—she’s a good mom.”
“You’re really close?” she asks. “To the Koteskiys? Rhys and his family.”
The tone of her voice means something more than she’s saying, but I can’t figure it out; can’t quite read it or see any of her expression to guide me as she’s still turned away.
“Yes,” I offer. “Rhys and I grew up together since birth, and so Max and Anna were like my second set of parents. It was . . . especially good during the divorce. I stayed with them sometimes. And—and Anna has always been more accepting of me than my own mother,” I add the last words quickly, as if I can skim over that part of my history as well.
Paloma frowns, her head tipping over one delicate shoulder. “I’m sorry, you know—that your mom makes things difficult for you.”
I shake my head. “I’m the one who—”
“No, Bennett. You aren’t.” Her tone is harsher than I’m expecting. “She’s your mother. That’s not how mothers should behave.”
I don’t press her with the questions I want to ask—about her own family, her mother. She’s mentioned so few details and all of them seem to make her more upset, so I push it away from the front of my mind.
“You sure this looks even?” she asks, worrying her bottom lip. “I want Anna to think it looks okay.”
“She’ll love it. Come here, P.” The command works like a charm, bringing her body against mine before she turns in my arms. Her heels bring her closer to my mouth, so it’s easier to kiss her skin, her lips, her hair—careful not to mess up even a strand.
“You look beautiful,” she says, eyes glimmering. “Very elegant and regal. Like a prince.”
It should be a teasing sentiment, but it feels genuine. Real. I stand straighter.
“Hey,” another voice invades our space: Sadie, readjusting her heels with a hand for balance on the chair beside her. “I’m gonna go wash my hands—do you wanna come with?”
