Page 134 of Shattered By Grace

Victoria swallowed hard, her breath hitching as she tried again.

“I—”

A sharp vibration between them.

His phone.

The sound was intrusive, shattering the moment like glass hitting marble.

Tristan’s jaw clenched, something flickering behind his gaze. A curse whispered under his breath.

He didn’t move to answer it right away. His grip on her waist tightened, his brows drawing together in hesitation. The phone buzzed again, insistent.

For a second, just a second, she thought he might ignore it. That he’d choose this. Her.

Then, with a sharp breath, he pressed his forehead to hers, his voice low. “Hold that thought.”

A brush of lips against her forehead.

Then the warmth of him was gone.

Her arms felt cold without him.

She watched as he turned away, phone already at his ear, his voice low and clipped as he answered.

“You’re interrupting me. Why?”

His words were sharp, edged with irritation, but he kept moving, disappearing into the crowd before she could breathe again.

And just like that, the moment was stolen.

Victoria stood frozen in the center of the dance floor, the ghost of his touch still lingering against her skin. The confession still burned in her throat, unsaid, suspended in time.

Because of course.

Of course fate wasn’t going to let her say it yet.

Not when it had spent almost a year keeping them in this slow, agonizing pull. Never fully letting go, never fully giving in.

Not when she had finally stopped running.

She swallowed hard, dragging in a breath, willing herself to steady.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she sees Justin and Taylor.

Dancing. Laughing. Caught in their own little world.

And despite everything, despite her distrust of Justin, despite the war raging in her own chest, she felt relief.

Taylor looked happy. Really happy.

Victoria let the moment settle, pushing away the unease that still lingered like a shadow in her mind.

She turned toward the bar, thinking a drink might dull the sharp edge of emotions still thrumming through her.

But before she could take a single step, a hand wrapped around hers.

Firm. Steady. Not unkind.

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