Page 139 of Taken By the Fae

“I see Tristan came.” She lowers her voice and gives me a look. “I also noticed him coming down from the loft not that long ago.” She wiggles her eyebrows.

I chuckle. “Nothing happened.”

She purses her lips. “But you wanted it to.” It’s not a question.

Of course, I choose that moment to scan the room and lock eyes with Tristan, who looks as if he’s waiting for me to answer Allison.

“We should get ready.” I take another drink. “They’ll be here any minute.”

She arches a brow. “Nice.”

I roll my eyes, walking away from her to where our friends are gathered at the bar. I set my beer down and say hello to everyone just as my phone chimes—it’s Max letting me know they just pulled up outside.

“They’re here,” I shout, and the room quiets as someone flips the lights off.

We all stand in dark silence for a couple of minutes until the door to the pub opens, and Oliver mumbles, “I think they’re closed, babe.”

The lights turn on, and we all yell, “SURPRISE!”

Oliver’s eyes widen, and Max stands beside him looking the happiest I’ve ever seen him. His expression while he looks at Oliver makes my chest tighten.He loves him. I recognize that look.It’s the way Tristan looks at me.

Oliver leans over and kisses Max on the cheek before grabbing his hand and walking toward the bar, greeting people as they pass. When they make it to where our group is standing around the bar, I pull Oliver into a tight hug. “Happy birthday,” I say with a grin. “I hope you were surprised.”

He’s still beaming. “Are you kidding? This is amazing, Aurora.”

I peek over at Max and almost freeze when I find him smiling. At me. “It was a team effort.”

Oliver gets pulled away by a group of friends, taking Max with him.

I watch them go, smiling at the utter happiness they’re sharing. This is everything I could’ve hoped for. It’s the perfect distraction from the stress of all things fae. I grab a bottle of water and lean against the bar, surveying the room. People sing and dance to the music, and there’s a small group surrounding the food table.

I refill the chip bowls, then slip down the hall to the storage room to grab more plastic cups and take a minute to breathe. I’m having a good time, but being around this many people is still somewhat challenging.

When I turn and find Tristan leaning in the doorway with his bare arms crossed over his chest, I almost drop the cups I’m holding. “Uh, hey,” I say, adjusting them in my arms and instinctively checking to make sure my emotions are still unreadable. When I feel the mental wall give a resisting tug, I’m assured the shield I put up is still in place.

“Need some help?”

“Unless you’d prefer to stand there staring at me,” I remark in a dry tone.

Tristan chuckles, pushing away from the doorframe and approaching me. He takes a couple of sleeves and helps me shift the others in my arms.

“Thanks,” I mumble, feeling the heat of his body against my skin. I stare hard at his chest, at where his shirt stretches over his muscles.

“Looks like you planned a successful surprise party.”

I smile. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“I wouldn’t miss it. Especially when it’s all Max talked about today.”

“That… seems so unlike him. It’s cute.”

He arches a brow. “I wouldn’t make a point of tellinghimthat.”

I push the hair out of my face with my free hand and step around him. “We should get back.”

“Of course. We wouldn’t want to keep these cups from their drinks.”

“Let’s go, smartass.” After we walk into the hallway, I close the door and head down the hall in front of him. The urge to drop what I’m holding, turn around, and kiss the crap out of him is overwhelming. I press my lips together until the pressure is uncomfortable as I keep walking, forcing myself to keep my gaze forward.

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