Page 139 of Hamartia

“I am sorry I did not tell you. You were not supposed to be here.”

“Well, I’m glad I fucking was.”

He leans up to kiss me, soft and quick. “I am fine.”

I wrap my arm around him and pull him against me, pressing my mouth to his hair. My body is still vibrating, panic speeding wildly through my blood.

“I hate it.”

“I know,” he whispers and pulls me toward the junket.

Then it’s insane again. This time with cameras and press, but at least this time they’re behind a barrier. The brand’s name is emblazoned behind us, in the press and cut of the clothes we’re both wearing, on the lanyards everyone in headsets is wearing. They shout both our names like we’re dogs they own, commanding us to turn and look and smile, this way and that way, lower, higher, to the right, left. I do my best, but I know I’m gonna look like a moody fucker in the photos.

But since Jae isn’t smiling either—he perfected the smoldering fashion pose years ago—it won’t look too out of place. I’m not exactly new to press photos, but it’s always far more intense with him by my side.

I move away from him and let the photographers get him alone, he’s the ambassador after all. I’m only still news because I’m here with him, as his partner. Maybe when Hamartia is out in the world people will care about me for me again, but I don’t particularly give a shit either way.

When he’s done, he retakes my hand as we’re led through an atrium filled with people, into the place they’ve converted for the show. It’s a huge gallery-room, long and bright with frescos on the ceiling and a domed skylight in its center. Marble statues are set in recesses along the length of the space, six rows of seats on each side set up in front of the catwalk. The place is almost full as we’re shown to our seats, a prime spot in the front row on the left-hand side. We pass Ada as we go and Jae and I say our hello’s, quickly, before being urged on again.

I almost laugh when I see who’ve they’ve seated us beside.

Haven squeals loudly and jumps up, rushing toward us.

“If it’s not the hottest couple on planet earth! Maybe the solar system.” She moves to hug us both at once. “God, look at you both.” She practically drools over Jae’s outfit; a dove-grey tailored suit cut to perfection. “Stunning, you look so good. You too,” she adds, turning to me.

“Did you ask to be seated here? Seriously, Haven you need to stop this or we’re gonna have to get a restraining order.”

“Listen, I take all the credit for this.” She laughs, waving a hand over us both. “I’m practically the reason you’re together.”

“Yeah, we hear that a lot, don’t we, baby?” I look at Jae and wink. “We’ll remember to invite you to the wedding.”

As Haven demandswe damn well better, Jae gives me a loving look and lets Haven pull him down to sit next to her, looping her arm under his. With his free hand, he reaches across to take mine settling them both on his thigh. Haven’s talking animatedly to him about fashion trends she’s hoping to see, and he listens, but every now and then his eyes stray to mine, warm and happy and filled with love.

“Saranghae,” I mouth.

He beams. “I love you,” he mouths back.

I debate pretending to Camille I forgot the cake but the crazed, intense look in her eye tells me she wouldn’t appreciate the joke.

“It’s in the pantry, yeah.”

“How did it look?” She kisses me on both cheeks in greeting.

“I didn’t open the box.” Then add, “But the box looked great.”

She looks at me as though I’m entirely useless and turns to Jae, pulling him into a hug.

“I opened the box,” he tells her. “It is perfect.”

She smiles gratefully at him and offers us both a drink from the tray of pink champagne she’s pointing at.

Jae lifts one while I decline, since I drove here.

“Where is she?”

“In her room with Mathèo, she wanted to show him the doll’s house.”

Mathèo was Julien’s son. Julien was Camille’s husband, who is currently carrying a serving tray of pink champagne to the other parents floating around the large Livingroom of their apartment. There are rainbow balloons everywhere and banners saying ‘JoyeuxAnniversaire’ on more than one wall.