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Reese’s voice cut short.

“For fuck’s sake!” Eli exclaimed.

A murmur shot through the crowd.

I pulled my hands away from Will’s.

Then the lights came back on. Only it was the restaurant lights now, and Reese looked out onto the crowd, as stunned, scared, and silent as a rabbit.

“Reese,” I said.

She couldn’t have heard me, but she turned in our direction anyway; that’s when she saw Eli, walking forward, looking straight at her.

She dropped the mic. Feedback screamed and Reese ran off the stage.

The lights flickered again. “What the hell is wrong with this place?” I exclaimed. I needed to go after her, but the lights were once again out.

“The contractor,” Eli said. “It’s been a disaster, we just fired them.”

When the lights came on again, I looked at Will. He said nothing, and neither did I. Then I ran to find my sister.

* * *

I ran away from Will.Away from Eli.

When I hit the lobby, I stumbled. It was crowded with people, laughing, tittering over the excitement of the lights. Half of them held champagne flutes. New Year’s seemed so meaningless right now. I pushed my way through them, praying Reese had run to our room. Then I froze.

Over by the window, by the waterfall, stood Joe. He was smiling at me, holding up a glass of champagne.

It’s time, Michelle.

I blinked.

“I have to find Reese,” I whispered. I ran, ignoring Joe. When I reached the corridor and looked back over my shoulder, he was gone.

It was only as I was smashing the button for the elevator, praying Reese had gone back to our room, that I saw I wasn’t alone. Eli had followed me.

“Hey,” he said.

“Go away.”

“No.”

Anger hit me then, anger I’d been storing up for a lifetime. “I said, go the fuck away! Get away from me; get away from my sister.”

Eli held his hands up, but I saw anger of his own flaring in his face. “This is my hotel.”

“Your family’s.” He did have a point. But I wasn’t ready to hear it.

“Listen,” he said. “Your sister—she’s a good person.”

“She’s the best.”

“I never meant to hurt her. We just—we just met at the wrong time. Everything is shit in my life right now. I’m in the middle of a divorce, my wife—my ex-wife fucking… cheated on me. I wanted to get her back I—”

“You’re not helping your case,” I said. The elevator dinged.

I stepped inside. Eli hesitated then stepped in after me. He stood next to me and we both folded our arms.