Richard hummed thoughtfully. “Nothing faddish. Remember, understatement lasts.”
Understatement lasts. One of his father’s maxims. One Tom had built a career on.
Tom said, “Sure,” the way he always did.
He had told himself for years that he liked neutrals.
But did he really? What was his taste, really?
Tom's college portfolio had been full of bold choices. Confident choices.
Why had that changed?
He'd been embarrassed by his father’s criticisms. Afraid his father would think less of him. Afraid clients wouldn't take him seriously. Afraid of standing out in the wrong way, of being judged as garish or trying too hard or—God—cringe.
He’d known what heshouldlike and he’d just followed that like a script. He'd cut himself down until he fit his father’s style.
And then he'd turned around and tried to do the same thing to Lauren—tried to cutherdown.
She hadn’t let him. She was stronger than that.
Across the room, Jake let Mia drag him onto the makeshift dance floor. They were grinning, unselfconscious. Judith’s mouth tightened. Richard’s eyebrow lifted.
Lauren would have danced.
She would have been all elbows and laughter, pulling Tom along, fearless about being seen.
She wasn’t tacky. She wasn’ttoo much.
She wasalive.
She was full and vivid and generous and uncensored. Everything his parents taught him to be ashamed of.
And he had sided with them.
A jolt—sharp, humiliating, electrifying—like someone had ripped open the shutters of a dark room he’d been sitting in for years.
He’d wanted her to shrink so she’d fit next to him in their world.
Buthewas the one who needed to grow.
The thought hit him so hard he had to look away from the dance floor.
His hand tightened around the glass.
He loved her.
Not the edited version his parents would approve of. Not the muted version he’d once tried to mold.
He loved heras she was.
“When the Kents call, steer them away from statement fixtures. They always date.”
He pictured Lauren’s joyful Christmas crafts. He pictured her face when he’d told her to tone it down next year.
Around them, the song ended on a dramatic chord. Mia laughed. Jake spun her, ridiculous crown askew.
Tom wished he was dancing withhiswife right now.
