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“Natalie.”
My spine stiffens. Standing as tall as I can, determined to get through these next few minutes, holding my chin high, I turn to see my ex-boyfriend.
“Hello, Jeff.” Even in a tuxedo, he’s no better than vaguely attractive. Not as handsome as I thought he was a year ago, somehow. He’s not as tall as I remember, either, but that might be the Tawdra effect. Standing next to Jeff in her heels, she’s taller than he is.
“You remember Tawdra, of course,” he says.
“Of course. Hello.”
“I told Jeff we ran into each other just the other day,” titters Tawdra. “I didn’t realize you’d be here tonight. We could have shared a limo.”
I let that one pass.
“I hear congratulations are in order,” I say to him. He doesn’t respond, staring instead at Nic’s arm around my waist.
“Who are you?”
“Nic Pendergrass.” Nic doesn’t offer to shake his hand.
“The lawyer. Right,” says Jeff, looking between us, trying to work it out. He barely glances at Finn when he asks, “And you are?”
“Finn Hale.” Finn takes his cue from Nic, not saying another word. Let him wonder.
God, I want to kiss them both. Why did we even come to this party again? We could be home and naked right now.
The thought makes my face warm. Jeff stares at me some more, like he’s never seen me before.
“Jeff, honey, I think Busy Miller is waving us over,” says Tawdra, bending forward just enough that I’m convinced she’s about to fall out of the top of her dress. It’s a calculated move, but it works.
“Yeah.” They wander off without saying goodbye.
Finn takes my hand, squeezing hard. “You okay, babe?”
I turn to smile at him, then at Nic. “I’m good. Better than good.”
The heat in their eyes tells me they’re thinking of going home, too. A polite cough is enough to remind me that our little melodrama has an audience.
Joelle is smiling widely. Elliot is checking Finn’s hand, Nic’s hand, and my hands. I can practically see him doing the mental math.
Alex is staring at Finn like he’s never seen him before.
“Something you want to share with the class, Finn?” he asks.
Finn just smiles at him and shrugs, looking back at Nic and me, about as happy as I’ve seen him.
Alex pulls him in hard for a hug with lots of back slapping. I can’t hear what they’re saying to each other, but when the men step back, each wipes some moisture from his eyes.
Joelle moves over next to me, lays a hand on my arm. “Come find me again before you all leave tonight,” she says. “I need to get your number. I have a feeling we have a lot in common.”
I smile and nod. “Maybe we can have coffee sometime.”
“I’d like that.” She hugs me, then tugs her men back toward the bar.
“Picture time?” Nic asks, indicating the staging area they’ve set aside for people to take photos for themselves.
“Let’s do it,” says Finn, already heading that way. “I want evidence of this.”
“Of what?” I ask.
