I took it. “How kind of you, dear knight.”
As he escorted me to the kitchen, I held his arm tighter than necessary. I just couldn’t shake the feeling that something big was about to happen.
***
Nobles filled the ballroom.
Ladies in fancy dresses twirled around the dance floor, led by dapper gentlemen in tailored suits. Some had bushy mustaches. The men, not the ladies, although one woman had a thin line of whipped cream on her upper lip after taking a generous gulp of her mocha latte. And none of her friends told her. They merely smiled at each other behind their decorative fans and continued like nothing was amiss.
I was about to go over and subtly mention it to her before a suave gentleman with luscious blond locks took her hand and spun her away from the group. He then dipped her and planted a kiss on her lips, licking off the whipped cream.
Smooth, dude. I nodded in appreciation of his skills.
The gaggle of women glared at the couple. Clearly, the cause of their catty behavior from earlier: they were jealous.
“Shall I restock the strawberry cupcakes, Mister Evan?”
I turned to Miles. “I can do it. You should go dance with Ellie.”
The pretty girl in question stood at the edge of the dance floor, watching the other couples twirl and spin around. Brown hair fell in soft ringlets around her heart-shaped face, and she wore a yellow dress with white trim, reminding me of a daisy. It matched the shade of Miles’ pocket square. She smiled over at us and waved, cheeks full and eyes bursting with love. A love aimed at an equally lovesick demi-bear.
Miles returned the wave and sighed under his breath. “I couldn’t possibly leave you here alone to work in my place. We’re a team. You’re also still healing and need to—”
“I feel great. Stop worrying about me.” I gently pushed him in Ellie’s direction. “Look how pretty she is. Go dance with your girl before I dance with her myself.”
He smiled. “I wouldn’t mind you dancing with her.”
“Yeah, you would.” I snickered. “I have two left feet and would accidentally step on her toes. Maybe even trip and take her down with me. We’d slam into the cake and cause a disastrous chain reaction of falls and slips around the ballroom. Like Final Destination but with dessert.”
The fuzzy ears jutting from his hair twitched as he cocked his head.
“Never mind that,” I said, flicking my hand. “But seriously, go dance. I can manage on my own for a while.”
“Only if you’re sure.”
“I am.”
Miles tipped his head to me before approaching Ellie. Her face lit up, and she slipped her hand in his. The two then joined the other dancing couples.
“Kuya will help Evan bring out more yummy cakes.”
An instant smile formed on my lips.
Kuya wore a dark green suit with a mint-colored vest. Strands of his reddish-brown hair had been pulled back, not quite long enough to form a bun but almost. A shimmery dark powder and black liner covered both his lids, making his rainbow eyes pop.
“Whoa. You look amazing.”
My cat boy bestie smiled. “Kuya is in his fancy clothes.”
“Fancy clothes and wearing makeup.”
“Lady Alina put it on Kuya.” His smile shook at the edges. “She is very nice to Kuya. Wanted him to look handsome for the ball.”
Alina’s genuine kindness made it hard to dislike her. Neither she nor Sawyer had a say in their arrangement. The engagement had been forced on them by their parents.
Before I could suggest we go to the kitchen for more cupcakes, Peter and Alice joined us near the dessert table, holding trays of treats.
“Y’all are the best,” I said, helping them restock the table.
