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Jesus. What is he waiting for? To find the lie on my face?

Creep.

“There you are,” Preston says, his arms sliding around my waist and tugging me into his side.

“Hi.” I smile up at him.

His eyes lock onto mine, and I swear the color lightens the longer he stares at me. His smile matches mine.

I’m not sure how long we stand here staring at each other before Marcus clears his throat next to us.

I look away first.

“Sorry.” I can feel my cheeks blushing. “I think I’m going to step outside for some air.”

“I’ll join you,” Preston says and holds his glass up to Marcus. “We’ll chat soon.”

“Of course. Enjoy your evening.”

“Yeah, you too.”

Preston ushers me toward the doors.

“What was he saying to you?” Preston’s tone is serious.

“He mentioned how it would have been nice to meet me sooner, but since you were just dating his daughter before we got engaged⁠—”

“He was fishing to catch us in a lie.”

“Well …”

“Don’t.”

I press my lips together to keep from saying something else.

“Let’s get out of here before anyone else tries to bombard you while you’re on your own.”

“I can handle myself,” I say defensively, and Preston eyes me with a smirk.

“Okay, I can mostly handle myself. It’s just ... hard when there is no one I can talk to about this.”

“You can talk to me.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Do you?” he asks, guiding me to the front, where we grab our coats, and then outside to where a car is waiting for us.

“Yes.”

“Be honest, Grace. You don’t trust me.”

“I do. Sort of.”

“Sort of?”

“I mean, please don’t be mad. The man I trusted more than anyone in this world just betrayed our family and left us. My trust right now is …”

“Broken.”