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“Mmhm.” A sneaky dimple I hadn’t noticed before pops on Jase’s cheek. “If you say so.”
* * *
“Hannah?”
Raul finds me later, sitting at the bar and sipping a half-strength cocktail with Nicole, Preston, and a silent Axel. The party is still hopping, guests dance, and the music plays, but my feet hurt from entirely unreasonable heels.
I turn from the trio, my legs folded, and meet Raul’s worried expression.
Instantly, my stomach drops, and my smile turns to a frown. Setting my drink down, I ask, “What’s wrong?”
“Have you seen Gina?” He glances back to the dancefloor and scans the throngs of couples in attendance tonight. “She and I had a fight a little while ago, and now I can’t find her.”
“No, I…” I set my feet on the floor, Axel’s eyes watching me closely, and push up to stand so my little purse taps my thigh. “I haven’t seen her.”
I walk when he does, and keep up when his search grows more frantic.
“What did you fight about?”
“You.”
He dashes toward the kitchen doors and pushes them open to peek inside.
I don’t know Gina. We’ve never even formally met; the times I’ve seen her, it’s been in passing. We exchange polite smiles, then life goes on.
Is she nice to Raul? Is she good for him? Does she make him happy? I don’t know.
Not seeing her, Raul backs up and almost tramples my feet as he starts toward the ballroom door. “She was upset because I made a comment about your gown.”
“Mygown?” I look down at my dress and pray I don’t trip on the long fabric. “What’s wrong with it?”
“Nothing.” He grabs my hand as we enter the hall, and veers around a small group of people hanging out where the music isn’t as loud. “She asked about it, and I said it was beautiful. I guess to her, that meant I was checking you out. Now we’re fighting.”
“Geez.” I roll my eyes and let him lead me all the way to the hotel lobby. “My date said something similar. What’s up with people making us into something we’re not?” I open the glass doors and peer into the night air outside. “It’s so stupid. We’ve been friends for a long freakin’ time, andnowpeople wanna make it a problem?”
“I don’t know.” Visibly worried, his throat bobs as he turns back to scan every person who meanders by. Like us, most of them wear formal attire. Heels. Gowns. Some masks, though many have been removed by now. “I’m worried she’s driven off. And if she’s mad, then she’s likely not being safe.”
“Where do you think she would’ve gone?” I step outside, holding my gown in one hand, and start down the concrete stairs toward the parking lot. “What’s she driving?”
“A Honda hatchback.” He drops his hands into his pockets and takes out his keys. “She drove here tonight and met me, like your date did. Since we were both working.”
“Do you see her car now?” I stare out at the lot and search for a hatchback. “What color is it?”
“Silver.” He taps my arm and starts around the side of the hotel. “I’m gonna go for a drive and see if I can find her. Maybe she went home.”
“Sure. I…” I glance over my shoulder at the brightly lit hotel entrance, then to Raul’s back as he pushes on. “I don’t understand why she’d get mad about my dress. Or even you commenting on it. Is she… ya know…” I grimace at how pretentious and unkind my words will sound, “insecure about you having a female friend?”
“This is the first time she’s acted that way.” He steps around the corner of the building and emerges in the lit service entrance, his van sitting where we left it earlier. “Whatever her reasons, she’s a good girl, Han.” He beeps the key fob and opens the door. “I’m gonna go find her and make sure she’s okay.”
“I’ll come.” I circle the front of the van and feel the rhythmicthump, thump, thumpof my purse hitting my thigh with every step I take. “She deserves to know there’s nothing to worry about. You’re a good man, Raul. And she’s lucky to have you.”
“You were enjoying your evening in there.” He slides in and waits as I do the same on my side. “I didn’t mean to drag you out into the cold. I only wanted to know if you’d seen her.” He pauses and forces his lips into an unconvincing smile. “Go back inside. Be with your friends.”
“I insist.” I shut my door and grab my seatbelt. “My date has already gone home, and my friends are enjoying each other’s company.” I fix the fabric of my gown and hope, come tomorrow, the material is salvageable and not entirely destroyed. “Tonight was kind of a disaster.” While Raul starts the van and pulls out of the parking space, I think of poor, sweet Jase and sigh. “He was nice. He deserves to find someone.”
“Why didn’t it work out?” Frowning, he sets the shift into gear and ambles out of the parking lot. “He seemed to really like you.”
Axel freakin’ Feeney. That’s why it didn’t work out.
