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“I know she always has sparkling juice, since you’re avoiding wine. Do you want a glass?”
“Yes, please.”
He leaned in close and kissed her jaw. “I’ll be right back.”
She nodded again and watched as he crossed the room, squeezing between clumps of people as he moved toward the drink table, and she found herself suddenly aware of how crowded the room was. There were easily hundreds of people, from the dance floor at the room’s heart—where spotlights drew attention to a handful of couples who had already started gliding along to the soft, lilting waltz the string quartet played from beside one of the large windows—to the tables spread out along the room’s perimeter to everyone who stood away from them, offering pleasantries and huge smiles.
This was a bad idea. Someone’s bound to realize I don’t belong here.
Rose backed toward the hors d’oeuvre table, and when she bumped into someone, her cheeks burned red-hot.
“I’m so sorry,” she said quickly, turning to face whoever’s personal space she’d violated.
She froze.
Even beneath the thin, silver metal mask he wore, she knew it was Wyatt Kane, one of Luke’s best friends. His hair was light brown and cut short, and his hazel eyes lit up behind his mask.
“Wyatt?” she blurted.
“I’ll be damned,” he said. “Where have you been?”
He embraced her, and she returned the gesture, holding on as long as she believed was polite. There was so much she wanted to say but couldn’t find a way to explain. Wyatt had been part of the group Rose had spent quite a bit of time with in college, along with Luke, Alex, Lenore, and Rhys, who was probably around here somewhere, too.
Wyatt would’ve been Luke’s best man, if they had gone through with the wedding.
“Oh, you know,” she said as she pulled back, her cheeks still burning. “Around.”
“Are you here with Alex?” Wyatt asked, glancing behind her. His eyes widened, his eyebrows lifting as he took on a suddenly hopeful expression. “Did he and Luke finally work things out? God, I’ve missed you guys.”
“Well… not exactly. I’m actually here with Luke.”
Wyatt blinked. A heartbeat passed in silence, and then he nodded and gave her shoulder a warm squeeze. “Even better,” he said. “You know I always thought you two were perfect together.”
Rose let out a sigh, and the tension coiling her muscles began to ease. If Wyatt could this easily forgive her for ruining everything, maybe there really was hope that things could return to the way they had been before she and Luke had separated. She’d allowed herself to hope as much since they had admitted they still loved one another. Now she just had to win his parents’ approval back. And then there were her parents, and Alex…
“Thank you,” she told Wyatt, forcing herself to focus on the present. “That really means a lot to me.”
“I’m just glad you’re back. We all missed you, and I bet Luke is absolutely thrilled. Have you talked to Kennedy yet?”
Rose blinked. “No. She doesn’t know I’m—”
“I’ll go get her. She’s going to be so happy.”
He smiled at her once more and slipped off toward Senator LeBlanc. Rose let out a little distressed sound and rubbed at her temple.
This is going to be a disaster.
At the feeling of a light touch on her arm, she looked up to find that Luke had returned with two champagne flutes filled with pale, bubbly liquid. He passed one to her, and she thanked him and took a sip. The taste of white grapes and the fizz of carbonation filled her mouth.
“Was that Wyatt?” he asked, looking in the direction his friend had gone. He lifted his own flute to his lips.
“Yes. He’s going to get your mother.”
Luke choked on his drink. “Shit,” he muttered as he lowered it. “I thought we could avoid drawing her attention for a little bit longer.”
“She’s going to hate me, Luke. Maybe I should just go home.”
He took her arm and spun her around gently to face him, looking into her eyes. His own were filled with warmth, and their green stood out against the red of his mask.
