Seb looks up at me with a shy smile, then bats those long lashes and flashes that infamous dimple. I’m done for. Completely undone.
“Thank you for coming, Remi. You don’t know how much it means to me, having you all here…”
“Don’t even joke about it. We wouldn’t have missed your performance for the world. Didn’t you hear how excited everyone was?”
He still looks unsure. “They weren’t bored? You’re sure?”
“Seb! Didn’t you hear all the compliments?”
“I did, but… I just wondered if they actually meant it.”
“Mate, the whole hall was in awe. I might not know much about classical music, but that was one of the most incredible performances I’ve ever witnessed. That standing ovation wasn’t polite, it was genuine. It said everything.”
Finally, he smiles, really smiles, his eyes gleaming with mischief as a soft blush spreads across his cheeks.
“Okay, okay, I get it. It’s just…”
Before he can finish, May suddenly appears at our side and cuts in, sharp as a blade, grabbing Seb by the elbow. “Sorry to interrupt, but our pianist needs to greet some important guests.”
She whisks him away before I can get another word out.
I clench my jaw, doing my best to keep my irritation in check. But Sebastian catches it, of course, he does. As May steers him through the crowd, he glances back at me with an apologetic look and mouths,“Sorry…”
And just like that, he’s gone, swallowed up by the sea of people.
I roll my eyes, still fuming, when my four friends close in around me, champagne flutes in hand and grins on their faces.
Francis nudges me with a wicked smile. “Relax, mate. Don’t worry, he’ll be back in your arms before you know it…”
What the hell?Who does he think he is?
I’m just about to snap at him when the others start giggling behind me. Francis sees it coming and lifts his hands in mock surrender.
“Kidding, Remi! Chill…”
He raises his hands in mock surrender. I let out a breath and deflate, though not before giving him a slightly-too-hard nudge in return, just to remind him who he’s dealing with.
“Still,” Jamie chimes in, his voice calm and measured, “Francis isn’t wrong. We get it, you want to look out for Seb, especially for Maddie. But he’s a grown man, Remi. And he seems perfectly capable of handling himself.”
Oh God, is that what they think? That I’m doing all this forMaddie?
I’d laugh if it weren’t so painfully off the mark… If only they knew the truth, how completely obsessed I’ve become.
I need to say something, anything, to explain why I’ve been so protective. It’s not exactly a side of me they’re used to seeing.
“You’re right, Jamie. But that woman…” I shake my head. “She’s just so overbearing. I can’t stand the way she treats Seb.”
No one argues with that. Even after just one brief encounter, I can safely say none of us is a fan of May Morris, especially not Anne.
And right on cue, she jumps in. “Remi’s absolutely right. Which is why I’d like to suggest something that I think is more than appropriate, given the situation…”
“We’re all ears, Annie!” Francis jumps in immediately, grinning. The others nod, clearly intrigued.
Anne shoots him a playful glare before continuing, “I propose we enjoy this lovely room and the delicious buffet that’s been laid out for us. And once we’ve had our fill, we’re going to rescue Sebastian from his agent’s claws and make our escape through that side door at the back of the hall. What do you say?”
She winks at us from beneath her tousled fringe and takes a slow sip of champagne, looking thoroughly pleased with herself.
I stare at her, mouth slightly agape, genuinely impressed by her ability to read a situation so perfectly and come up with something so bold, and so Anne. Especially considering she looks like a wide-eyed fawn in heels.
