Page 89 of The Road Less Traveled By

“Bree!” I hear from across the room, and when I move my head to the right, I see all of my favorite people standing together, looking in my direction.

Liv and Tristan look beautiful in their matching attire, both of them in gray. Nico is wearing a maroon suit, while Teags is wearing her signature color—black—with some bright red heels and lipstick. My best friend is absolutely beautiful. Dom has just returned with a drink in hishand, and he’s opted for his usual all-black suit. His jet-black hair makes him look even more dangerous than he normally is.

My heels click as I walk across the ballroom, and I wrap my sister in a hug when I reach them.

“Bree, you look absolutely beautiful,” she whispers in my ear. Her eyes move behind me. “You don't look too bad yourself, Vince, but my sister has you beat.”

I can hear him laugh as I turn to let him into our circle. “I’m not going to argue with that, Liv.” His eyes move to everyone else. “You guys clean up well.”

“Who are you again?” Dom asks, and I have to fight the urge to laugh.

“Vince Evans, Bree’s bodyguard,” he says as he shakes Dom’s hand.

“Oh, right. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Yeah, you too. Your parents are jewelers, right? I recognize your last name,” Vince tells him. I knew he had dossiers on my social circle, but damn.

“That they are.” Dom rolls his eyes, and I wonder how close he is with his parents. That’s the same way I would talk about my own parents when people found out they were both lawyers.

Tristan starts to laugh as he turns to Dom. “The fact that Vince knows more about your parents than I do is crazy. You told me they were rich, but I didn't know why. Vince, thank you for your service.” He raises his drink to him, a smirk on his face.

“Before I put my foot in my mouth again, I’m gonna make my rounds and check in with my guys. Nico, care to walk with me, buddy?”

Nico only smiles at him before the two of them head to leave, but Vince catches my arm and leans down to my ear.

“Save me a dance?” he questions.

“You’re the only one I want to dance with anyway,” I tell him, my cheeks flushing.

“I’ll be around if you need me, angel. Have fun, okay?”

I nod at him as Nico drags him away, and when I turn to face my friends again, they’re all looking straight at me. “What?”

“The amount of sexual tension between you two is crazy. Is he your bodyguard or your boyfriend? Or both?” Dom asks before Tristan smacks his arm.

“Dom, shut the fuck up.”

“Come on! It’s a valid question.”

“Is that right?” I say to them, and all of my friends nod their heads. “Damn, okay.”

“We don’t have to talk about this here, Bree,” my sister says. “But it’s nice seeing you happy again. No matter what you two are, I’m thankful your smile is back on your face.”

“Me too,” Teags says as she rolls her eyes.Aw, her love language.

“I’m so thankful my parents didn't make me bring a date to this,” Dom says, looking at me. “Thanks for denying my plus one, Bree. You’ve saved my life.”

“You’re welcome?” I say, confused as to why he’s so happy to be here stag.

“Your parents would force you to bring a date? What kind of parents do you have, Dom?” Liv asks him, a curious look in her eye.

“Pushy ones who won’t get off my back,” Dom says as he downs his drink. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to mingle.”

“I’ll join you, Dom. It is my event, after all,” I say as I tell my friends goodbye and join the crowd of people.

This is my least favorite part about events—mingling. It always feels so fake. But being able to talk about why the foundation is so important to me will always mean the world.

“So,” I say to Dom. “I don't know how long it took me to realize your family owns GravesJewelry.”

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