Page 30 of Fake It Til You Break It

We made our way up a flight of curved stairs to a grand ballroom decorated in soft creams and bold reds. Dozens of circular tables covered in crimson adorned the space, their tops laden with crystal flutes and gold place settings.

“I think that’s us over there.” Jasper pointed to a spot near the stage area. “Number three.”

We made our way to the front of the room, smiling and nodding at other guests as we passed. Reaching our table, we found it empty for the time being, and I took the opportunity to circle it, reading the place cards. I didn’t recognize four of the names, and I had mixed emotions about the other two.

Rizza Carmichael had been seated to my right, which relieved me. The person sitting to Jasper’s left, however, made me uneasy. Elisa Doherty. I still remembered the way she had eyed him at the art exhibit, and I refused to spend the rest of the evening watching her paw at him.

Without even a hint of shame, I quietly rearranged the place cards, seating Elisa between the two other couples. Hopefully, they hadn’t arrived as a group, and if they had, too bad.

From the look on Jasper’s face, he didn’t approve, but he didn’t try to stop me, either. I laughed when he turned away as if he had just witnessed a crime and couldn’t decide if he should report it or not.

“Should we mingle?” I asked, motioning toward a group of familiar faces I knew wouldn’t overwhelm him.

“I suppose we should.”

Orchestral music created a quiet backdrop to the hum of conversation as we roamed the room, and the scent of freesia and lavender floated on the air. Servers dressed in white tops with black vests bustled around the room with trays of champagne and finger foods, deftly toeing the line of being available yet unseen.

Though I could tell Jasper still didn’t enjoy the social parade, he seemed more relaxed than usual. When he spotted Elisa in the crowd, he turned and backtracked without even a trace a guilt. Nowthatwas progress.

I liked to think my presence had something to do with it, but I also didn’t want to diminish his growth by claiming credit.

When the presenter announced that dinner would be served in twenty minutes, we started making our way back to the table. We never made it more than a few feet before someone else stopped us. Well, they stopped to talk to my date. No one really noticed or cared that I was there, and that suited me just fine.

Until I heard a voice I knew all too well call Jasper’s name.

“Mr. Ryan?”

I tensed, instantly on guard, when Jasper’s face lit up like Christmas morning. Then he released my arm and turned with a bright smile to greet his former plus-one.

“Nick! You’re looking well.”

Nicholas Coletti Quinton. Jasper’s favorite +One agent. The guy he’d been so distraught over losing.

It didn’t matter that I actually liked Nick. I wouldn’t exactly consider him a friend, but we had always been on good terms. I didn’t even care that he was married now. Telling myself my jealousy was petty and misplaced did nothing to quiet the storm building inside me, either.

Slender with a sun-kissed complexion and dimples that made him look like a cherub, Nick smiled with his whole body as he came to join us by the stage. Holding a glass of champagne by the stem, he wore his wedding band on full display, yet I saw no sign of his husband.

“Me?” Nick chuckled. “Look at you! I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Jasper laughed, easy and carefree, and I clenched my jaw so hard it cracked.

Then Nick’s gaze flittered to me, those deep brown eyes practically sparkling. Anyone watching might have thought I was his favorite person in the world. Not the case, and certainly not reciprocated.

“Beckett, I haven’t seen you in forever.” Glancing around first, he lowered his voice and leaned in a little closer as he wagged a finger between me and Jasper. “I take it the new arrangement is working out?”

“We’re managing,” Jasper answered with another chuckle. “Thank you for the recommendation.”

We weremanaging? What the actual fuck?

“That’s great. I knew you two would hit it off.” Nick’s eyes shifted again, his gaze raking over my date. “You cut your hair.” He stepped right up to Jasper, only inches separating them, and pinched a strand of hair to tug it affectionately. “It looks good on you.”

And Jasper let it happen with a smile on his face, and not one of those fake, uneasy ones, either. “I’m so glad you think so. I was worried it looked stupid.”

Hadn’t I told him countless times how much I liked his new haircut? Did my opinion carry so little weight?

“No, not at all. I like it.”

Clearing my throat to get Jasper’s attention, I bent so that I spoke next to his ear. “I’m going to get a drink.”

---