Page 50 of Take the Wheel

The fifth course arrived in a flurry of white-gloved hands and hushed murmurs. Ari barely noticed the delicate arrangement of food set before her.

She turned to Nancy, keeping her voice low. ‘Fifth course. You know what that means.’ She paused. ‘I should go alone.’

Nancy raised an eyebrow. ‘You think you’re ditching me now?’

Ari smirked. ‘I think there’s a lot of eyes on you now after that absolute knife in the guts of a speech.’

Nancy sighed. ‘I know. I shouldn’t have.’

‘After you’ve spent all this time telling me to behave,’ Ari said with a tut.

Nancy shrugged. ‘Yep.’

‘Thanks,’ Ari said sincerely. ‘It meant a lot to me.’

Nancy nodded. ‘I couldn’t just let her attack you.’

Ari sighed and smiled. ‘So, you’re coming with me?’

‘You couldn’t stop me,’ Nancy said.

***

The faint murmur of the dining room faded behind them. Ari moved swiftly, her pulse steady as she reached Paris’s door and pulled out the keys.

It took a couple of tries, but then the door swung open just enough for her to slip inside. Nancy followed, though she stayed at the door, her head poking out into the hall. ‘Be quick,’ she said.

Even in the dim light from the hall, the room was just as Ari remembered. Everything in its place, designed to impress. But Ari wasn’t here to admire Paris’s taste. The velvet case was where she’d left it.

Ari made a beeline for it, snapping open the case, fingers grazing the cool metal of the necklace. It was a delicate gold chain adorned with tiny, embedded sapphires. The locket, framed with a halo of deep blue and clear gemstones, had a surface worn smooth by the years. It had been a while since she’d seen it, but it was as lovely as she remembered.

Ari felt a rush of triumph, of pure exhilaration. She looked at Nancy, standing next to the door. ‘We did it,’ she grinned.

Nancy turned and returned the smile of triumph.

Then came the sound of footsteps.

Nancy reacted first, running from the door, grabbing Ari by the wrist and yanking her towards the en suite. She shut the door behind them, locking them in.

Ari held her breath. Someone was just outside, in the bedroom.

‘Did they see you?’ Ari whispered. Nancy shook her head.

Nancy pressed her back against the door, her breathing controlled and measured. Next to her, Ari was the opposite, heart pounding, every nerve alight. The rush of the theft still burned in her veins, making her feel invincible, untouchable.

Ari put the necklace loose in her purse and turned to Nancy. They were close, closer than they ever had been. Inches apart, in a dark room, alone.

The adrenaline, the victory, the sharp, dangerous thrill of it all surged through Ari, igniting something reckless. ‘Nancy,’ she whispered.

Nancy looked at her, whispering back, ‘Shush, you’ll get us—’

Ari pressed her lips to Nancy’s.

Nancy stiffened, surprised and pulled away. They looked at each other. Ari thought she was angry. And maybe she was. But then something shifted in Nancy’s expression, something hesitant. Her lips parted slightly.

Ari swallowed hard, the tremor in her body not just from nerves but from hope.

Nancy leaned in slowly, her eyes meeting Ari’s. For a moment, they just looked at each other, the silence hanging between them. Then Nancy kissed her.

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