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He turns to her at once, the shift so smooth it almost annoys me more than the insult. “Have your mother and father arrived?”
Her expression softens despite herself. “Yeah, they came in the first car.”
Fionn offers her his arm and leads her away, asking questions about her day, if she likes the flowers, all of it polite and performed.
I walk behind them with champagne in my hand and the uncomfortable realization that I’m a spare part.
A man laughs near the doorway. A woman air kisses Mara on both cheeks. Security lingers at every exit, sticking out from the guests.
Even the waiters move like they’ve rehearsed every step.
For one brief, panicked second, I wish I’d never come.
“A Tallon at a Harrington party,” a silver-haired man mutters to his wife. “Standards must be slipping.”
“Funny,” Fionn says without breaking stride, “the guest list dropped its standards years before she arrived. More champagne, Mr. Delaney?”
Fionn changes the subject before I can decide whether I imagined it.
“Sera?”
The familiar voice hits me from the left, and I turn into Ronan Gallagher. He grins at me from between two older men in suits, his dirty blond hair cut neat, and his face carrying that boyish grin he’s had since school.
He opens his arms, and I step in, the two of us hugging like always.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he mutters. “And in a dress. Christ, you clean up dangerously well.”
The pressure in my chest loosens. “You didn’t think I’d leave Eilish to the wolves.”
“No, but this is the last place I expected to see a Tallon.”
I raise my brows and clink my glass with his. “Surprise!”
He laughs and, for one second, I forget I’m in enemy territory.
Across the room, Fionn angles his head in my direction, his attention drifting over. The next thing I know, he’s walking our way with Eilish by his side, his posture casual and relaxed.
When they join us, I look at my best friend and ignore Fionn. “Ronan’s here.”
Eilish smiles. “I haven’t forgiven you for those shots, Ronan. That hangover was lethal.”
“I didn’t put a gun to your head.” Ronan holds his hands up, his gaze moving to Fionn.
An evil little spark catches in my chest. “You’ve met her fiancé before, right?”
I glance at Fionn with my best attempt at innocence.
“Damn… Sorry… Your name has slipped my mind.” I frown, pretending to think. “Frank? No, wait, something even duller.”
Fionn watches my performance in silence, arching an eyebrow before his gaze moves to Ronan’s arm slung around my shoulder.
“I thought you’d be smarter than your brothers,” he finally says. “Guess not.”
“She was top of the class in school. Weren’t you, Sera?” Ronan says, holding out his hand. “Congratulations on your engagement, Fionn. When’s the bachelor party?”
“Soon.” Fionn returns the handshake.
When Ronan pinches a lock of my hair and sweeps it behind my shoulders, Fionn’s smile disappears, and his eyes darken.
