Chapter 14
The door had barely shut behind her when I reached for the towel and dragged it across the back of my neck. The air in the room felt hotter than before. My jaw flexed as I tossed the towel aside.
A reunion. She really asked me to go to a reunion.
I sank onto the edge of the bed and reached for my watch on the side table. She’d looked so flustered, stumbling over her words, clearly nervous. I couldn’t tell if it was because of what she walked in on or because of the favor she was trying to ask,
My phone lit up on the table. A text from Vance.
“Social metrics jumped again. You two are still trending. Attached are some media grabs.”
1 clicked the link. A handful of new articles, some with headlines about Ellen’s background. Others about us.
“The mystery behind Karl Lever’s secret marriage.”
“Former nobody, now Mrs. Lever?”
The tone wasn’t all bad, but I didn’t like where it could
- go.
I sat back, scrolling through the photos of her–the dress, the eyes, the way she stood like she didn’t owe the world a single damn explanation. That was the look that sold it. That’s what made them eat it up.
I tapped a finger against the side of the phone. I’d said no. I’d made it clear. But now all I could think about was the way she looked when she asked me hopeful, but guarded.
She wanted something, she needed this and for some fucking reason, I couldn’t stand the thought of her walking in there alone.
1 stood, crossed the room, pulled open my closet.
Ten minutes later, I was behind the wheel.
The closer I got to the event hall, the more crowded the sidewalk became. Flashy cars lined the drive, groups of overdressed adults trickling toward the entrance like it was a gala,
1 parked across the street and took a moment. Fixed the cuffs of nty shirt, ran a hand through my hair, exhaled once.
When I stepped inside, the air shifted.
heads turned like dominos, every whisper was deafening. I didn’t bother looking at anyone. My eyes went straight to her.
Ellen
She was standing near a cluster of women, all with too–bright eyes and overdone smiles. Her shoulders were straight, her expression calm, but I saw the shift in her eyes the second she saw me,
She looked stunned.
Good
I walked toward her. Slow. Unbothered. Like Ildn’t just decided last second to drop everything and show up.
The second I reached her, Ldidn’t speak to the others. I didn’t give anyone else the time of day.
I reached for her hand.
Her fingers were cold in mine, but they didn’t pull away.
I leaned just close enough, my voice low, stealy,
And just like that, the room forgot everyone else existed.
