Page 192 of Beautiful Lies

“Can you two at least behave yourselves for one night?” Mia frowns at me, pretending to be annoyed. “It’s my engagement party.”

“We’re behaving. You’re just too observant.” I laugh and tear my gaze away from Knox. He’s standing across the restaurant with Dorian and Logan, now Mia’sfiancé.

The three are talking, but every time I glance over, Knox is already looking, like there’s no one else in the room worth seeing.

Mom laughs quietly next to me, adjusting the cupcakes Sheila made on the stands. “Leave her alone, Mia. Isla makes married life look good. I hope you and Logan are exactly the same.”

“Me too,” Mia admits with a giggle. “Logan’s extremely rough around the edges, but at least he’s romantic.”

Mom and I both nod and smile at her fondly. Apart from the trip to St. Lucia, where Logan absolutely proposed, he arranged for the party to be hosted here because this was where he met Mia.

“My girls have been fortunate to find the very best men.” Mom places her arm around us both, and I lean into her, smiling.

Gratitude washes over me in abundance. We’re wrapped up in warmth and excitement of celebration, of being together, of the scent of cupcakes, amazing food, and laughter from the guests. But I take a moment to think about all the good things in my life. Including my mother, who looks healthier and strongerthan she’s looked in years. My heart warms every time I think about what Knox did for us.

It was clear when Mom was rushed in for the surgery that she was sicker than any of us knew. Sometimes—because of the horrific way I lost my father—my mind drifts to that dark place where I think of all the terrifying possibilities of what could have happened. Like what if I hadn’t been with Mom that day at the house? And mostly… what if I didn’t have Knox?

My mother wouldn’t be standing here now with her arm around me.

“Back to celebrating.” Mom releases us and grins, but her eyes are glassy with tears.

“Are you okay?” I ask her.

“We just have a lot to be thankful for.” She looks across at Knox, who nods to her before he falls back into conversation with the guys.

“All’s well that ends well,” Mia declares in her scholarly voice. “The only Shakespeare play that meant anything to me.”

“Isn’t that because you studied it to impress that guy you liked in junior year?” I giggle. “The guy who thought he was Shakespeare’s reincarnate.”

She frowns. “Yes, but that’s not the point. The play had great life lessons.”

Mom shakes her head at us. “You two.”

Mia nudges me with her elbow, but her smile falters when she looks toward the door.

I follow her gaze and go still when I find Chad standing there.

I haven’t seen him since that chaotic day when everything came crashing down.

The sight of him throws me. Though, I have to admit, although our last meeting was painful, I’ve been expecting him. I didn’t think he’d turn up tonight, but I had a feeling he’d comehere. He doesn’t know where I live with Knox, and knowing him, he wouldn’t risk going to my mother’s house again.

Like before, he knew this would be the best place to find me.

Chad is the last piece of my old life, and he looks like he has something important to tell me.

He lifts a tentative hand and gives me a curt wave. Like a sign he’s not here for war.

I glance at Knox and see this is the one time he’s not watching me.

I turn to Mom and Mia. “I’m gonna go speak to him.”

They both nod.

I grip my hands and make my way toward him.

He looks smaller somehow. Or maybe it’s the way he’s standing with his shoulders slightly hunched and his hands in his pockets, like he’s not sure he belongs here.

“Hi,” he greets me quietly when I reach him.