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My back snapped straight and Adrian’s thumb made a pass over the back of my hand. When I lifted my head, I saw one of the photographers I knew worked for the museum fumble her camera, flipping it up at least three times before just barely catching it.

When she realized we were looking, she rushed out. “I’m so sorry, I was just startled. You two look…I mean you make a beautiful couple.”

And that’s when it hit me. I heard what she said perfectly, even though she was at least ten steps above us. I pulled my focus from her, keeping a practiced smile plastered on my face as I scanned the rest of the crowd.

Every single person in the crowd was dead silent, staring at me and Adrian with jaws on the floor and eyes twice their normal size.

“How’s that for distracting and dramatic?” Adrian asked, speaking just for us. I looked up at him, not evena little bit shocked that he’d managed to speak without dropping his camera-ready smile.

Good thing I had the same skill. “How long do you think people are just going to stand and stare?”

People who I knew as casual friends, people I’d have easy conversations with at these type of events were paused in their ascent up to the museum, openly ogling us.

Just then, a lovely, brilliant, terrifying woman by the name of Uma, also known as the director of the museum hosting this gala, rushed out of the front doors with a clipboard in hand. “What is wrong with you all? And for the love of Jupiterclose your mouths.”

Adrian’s chest rumbled with a chuckle and I felt the vibration in the marrow of my bones. He walked up a few steps, pulling me with him to meet Uma in her descent. People had started moving again, just barely, but silence still overtook the entire crowd.

“Good evening, Uma,” Adrian greeted smoothly when we were a few feet away. “I can already tell it’s going to be a lovely evening.”

At that, Uma took her clipboard and hit Adrian in the arm with it. “I have half the mind to deny you entry for stealing my thunder.”

My mouth dropped open in shock, not too dissimilar from the gasps we were still drawing from the crowd of photographers, journalists, and guests. I half expected Adrian to smite her on the spot with a lightning bolt.

Instead, he just did that rumbling chuckle of his and said, “I promise it was not my intention to cause a scene. But I would be remiss if I didn’t show up to an event my girlfriend and I were both invited to without her by my side.” Uma’s expression cleared just a smidge, like evenher weathered stubbornness couldn’t help but bow to Adrian’s words. “And I promise to leave an even more generous donation than you were already getting.”

Uma studied Adrian with a critical expression, adjusting her glasses on her upturned nose. “Fine. You get a pass just this once.”

I should not have been as happy as I was about Uma giving Adrian shit. She turned to me after hitting him again on the arm with her clipboard, and the crochety, old sneer she was sporting before transformed into a wry grin. I wasn’t about to tell Adrian that she’d nevergrinnedat me before, so I just smiled and welcomed it like it was par for the course with us.

“Reyna dear, welcome,” Uma said, staring pointedly down to where I still had a death grip on Adrian’s hand. I forced myself to ease it, only for Adrian’s own grip to tighten. “I assume I should escort you both in since it seems my staff and guests,” she said raising her voice to ensure everyone knew she was chastising them, “apparently have no manners and like to stare.”

“Thank you, Uma. We’re very excited. And I’m sorry for the spectacle.” I leaned in close, the way you would before sharing a secret. “I suggested we show up separately but Adrian has quite the possessive streak.”

“Of course, of course,” Uma said, then cleared her throat loudly. I fought like hell to hide my grin lest I get hit with her clipboard. “Well, follow me. You two are clearly going to need a chaperone this evening.”

Uma launched right into a rapid debrief of everything that was on the itinerary for the evening, from cocktail hour to awards to a recap of the new art the gallery collected over the year.

As we ascended the steps, Adrian pressed close, closeenough to speak directly into my ear. “I heard that you know.”

I turned, bringing our cheeks parallel. “I hoped so.” I squeezed his hand once. “Go along with it.”

Adrian chuckled low, from somewhere in his chest. Just one breath of laughter that had no business affecting me the way it did. “You think I’m not possessive?”

“That would be a little too much emotion to show, don’t you think?” If he got to be all stoic confidence, then I got to make fun of it. It was only fair.

Our cheeks were pressed so close, I could feel Adrian’s skin pinching with a smile. “If anyone so much as touches you while you’re wearing a dress like that, they’ll find a lightning bolt embedded in their chest.”

He said it so casually it took me a second to process exactly what he said. To take in the violence of the threat.

I pulled back, finding nothing but seriousness in his eyes, and my jaw went slack. No one had ever said something like that to me.

And Adrian, damn him, knew it.

“How’s that for emotion?” He said, wielding that grin against me.

“Very convincing,” I said, the words coming out as a heavy exhale. “If this whole god thing doesn’t work out, you should try the theater.”

Adrian’s lips rolled, like he was trying to prevent his grin from breaking into a full smile. “I’ll keep that in mind.”