Page 72 of Love Me

“Thanks. You look polished too.” In his black tux, he looks more than handsome.

Mia hugs me. “You look stunning.”

“Thank you, bestie. Likewise.” She looks spectacular in the lavender satin ruched midi dress, her hair elegantly slicked back. The sharp cat-eye liner makes her silver eyes pop.

“Something happened. What?” Mia asks, a line digging between her brows.

“Not now.”

We wrap our elbows around Hunter’s, and Thomas opens the door for us.

“Welcome.”

More guests enter behind us.

I whisper. “Where are our fathers?”

“Being fashionably late,” Mia says.

Inside, the dining room has been transformed into a ballroom. Servers in black and white carry trays with appetizers and champagne. A quartet plays classical music in the corner. Kaden, Abigail, Blake, and Bailey huddle together in the opposite corner, but I approach Grandmother first.

Hunter kisses her hand and says, “It’s a pleasure meeting you.”

She studies him, but she won’t find anything other than politeness, even if it’s fake.

“You have a spectacular home. I have never seen anything like it.”

Her wrinkled lips curl up.

Felix is next in line, and he nods to us in greeting. We move to the other members of the Family. No one would think I was sent away with all the excited greetings thrown my way.

“You’re looking fabulous.” Kaden’s mother, Christine, says, sipping from her champagne. Blake’s father peruses me clinically, and Bailey’s parents take me in to the point of making my skin crawl.

They are all terrible parents, neglectful at best.

Kaden and Abigail approach us. He looks mouthwatering in that navy suit that hugs his toned body.

“They make quite the couple,” Felix says, eyes set on me.

They are both beautiful people. Abigail appears angelic, dressed in a pale pink dress that compliments her porcelain skin. And Kaden looks devastatingly handsome in his bespoke suit. That should have been my place, my role.

Snapping out of my pity party, I remember to tread carefully around Felix.

“Indeed. Uncle Felix, I’d like you to meet my boyfriend, Hunter.”

Felix’s eyes widen, looking at Hunter with more visible interest. Crisis averted. Blake takes a flute of champagne, and his father beckons to him.

Bailey’s parents look at her, disappointment etched on their faces. They all live for power. Soon it will be all gone. I’ll make sure of that.

More guests arrive. The ballroom fills, buzzing with clinking glasses, loud conversations, and laughter. The fake smiles and small talk grate on my nerves, dimming the only appealing sound in the room–the soft music.

Mia smiles at whatever Felix says. She stumbles right into his arms, snaking her hand into his pocket.

Nerves flare to life, and when she excuses herself, he leers at her, lust clear in his eyes. Damn pervert. I look at Blake, and he shoots daggers at Felix.

Mia approaches us and says, “Here is the key card. Hurry now.”

Cillian walks inside, followed by my father, and I hold my breath.

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