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“And what is that?” I smiled.

“Proof that you’re awesome at your job.”

I laughed, the sudden knot that had formed in my stomach easing slightly. “Fine,” I conceded with a rueful smile. “I guess it was a pretty great award to win. Happy?”

Just as I opened my mouth to continue, a voice that didn’t belong to me spoke instead.

“Well, fancy this!”

I forced my jaw to snap shut before I audibly groaned.

“Mrs. Voss,” Cameron said, flashing my mother a smile. She stood behind my chair, her hands resting on my shoulders. “What a pleasant surprise!”

It was a surprise but it certainly wasn’t pleasant, and I knew Cameron could tell I wasn’t happy with the intrusion.

“Mind if I join you?” my mother asked when it became clear no one at the table was going to offer.

Taylor scooted away from me and called for the waiter to bring an extra seat, shooting me an apologetic glance in the process.

I slipped my hands between my thighs, trying to hide my ringless finger from my mother’s shrewd, prying eyes.

“I didn’t think I’d run into you here,” I said to her, clenching my jaw to keep from screaming hysterically.

“Well, I thought that since I was in the city,” she said, immediately turning away from me and facing my friends, “I may as well visit some of my old favorite haunts.”

“It’s good to see you again, Mrs. Voss,” Hayden said politely in an obvious attempt to keep my mother’s attention away from me.

It was something she’d enjoyed doing for as long as I could remember. No matter who was around, whether they were important or otherwise, my motherhadto be the center of attention. Over the years I’d become desensitized to her whirlwind nature, especially since the Voss estate had left New York entirely.

The reminder grated on my nerves incessantly.

“It’s so nice to see you all again,” my mother said. “There are some new faces here that I don’t recognize, though.”

Hayden’s and Cameron’s faces lit up and they turned to their respective significant others with wide grins. It was almost unbearable to watch.

Almost.

“This is Frankie,” Hayden said, lacing her fingers through Frankie’s and smiling at her. “My gorgeous girlfriend.”

Frankie blushed but smiled at my mother. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Voss.”

“And this is Elliot,” Cameron said. “My fiancée.”

Elliot waved a little shyly. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Voss.”

“I’m so happy for the two of you, congratulations!” My mother simpered. “And it’s so nice to meet you two as well.”

She looked around the table speculatively. “So that just leaves Alex and Taylor,” she observed.

“Leaves them what?” I asked, my lip curled in confusion.

“As the only singles in your group,” she said plainly, and my blood ran cold.

In that instant, every set of eyes at the table fell on me, their weight crushing. I silently begged them all not to say anything, praying that they’d just go along with it.

I could deal with their interrogations easily enough. I could tell them I’d lied to my mother about getting married so she’d leave me alone. They didn’thaveto know Mia was the one I’d married.

But if my cover was blown and my mother found out…