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Eighteen

Dani

“Are you surewe were invited?”

I catch Nate gaping at the crystal chandelier and open my mouth to answer, but Vera is one step ahead of me. “Technically,youweren’t. You invited yourself.”

“As if you didn’t want me here,” Nate huffs. “We’re a threesome.”

“Don’t call us a threesome,” I groan.

His brows knit. “A posse?”

“Not better,” Vera sighs. “Also, inaccurate.”

“I don’t even know whyI’mhere,” I hiss, linking my arm with Vera’s to keep her close as we weave through a sea of crisp suits and idle chatter. “I must be insane.”

“Pfft. We all know why you’re here,” Nate snorts. “And his name is—”

“If you like your balls,” I warn, “I wouldn’t finish that sentence.”

“Testy,” Nate tuts. He whips his head around, searching the area. “Isn’t there supposed to be an open bar at these things?”

“I hope so,” I mutter.

Nate tugs on Vera’s other arm. “Let’s go get our baby bird some liquid courage.”

Vera arches her eyebrow. “Why do I have to go?”

“I only have two hands,” Nate points out. “I can’t carry everything.”

She narrows her eyes suspiciously, but eventually unwinds her arm from mine before giving me a look. “Stay here. We’ll be right back.”

I watch them go, Nate already teasing Vera about something that’s making her scowl. Her midnight-blue dress complements his navy suit perfectly, almost like they planned it, but I know if I were to point that out, they’d both kick me, most likely. Well, Vera would.

Stay here,I scoff internally. As if I know anyone here. It seems all of Alexander Hart’s guests are over sixty, and none of them look nearly as friendly as my parents’ work friends. Most of them look like they haven’t smiled in years. It’s daunting, and it makes me wonder again why I came.

When Ezra texted me details about the party as promised, my immediate urge was to blow it off, to assert again that I wouldn’t be attending. But something about his expression when he’d told me about it, the almost eager tone of his messages when he asked…I couldn’t seem to find it in me to say no to him. Which is nothing new, if I’m being honest. I’m just having a harder time pretending the urges aren’t there now.

“Champagne?”

A pretty brunette in a vest and tie offers me a flute and a smile. I take one gingerly, returning her smile with a nod. “Thanks.”

“Of course,” she says back before continuing through the crowd.

I take a sip as I scan the groups of people littered about the wide ballroom, looking for signs of Nate and Vera. Knowing them, they’re probably arguing at the bar over what to bring me. I’mnotlooking for golden-brown hair or a teasing grin, that’s for sure.

Seriously, what am I doing here?

“Ah, Ms. Pierce,” a dry voice says behind me.

I bristle as I turn, recognizing it. “Mr. Hart.”

Alexander Hart looks the same as I last saw him—completely put together and just as cold. “I wasn’t aware you were coming tonight.”

“Neither was I,” I answer coolly. “My invitation was last minute.”

His grin isn’t at all friendly, and I don’t like the way his gaze travels down the length of my clingy, red dress. “Well, the more the merrier, I say. Anything for charity, am I right?”