“I have never seen you look so beautiful,” he murmured in my ear.
I pulled back and laughed. “That’s what you said when I wore the red dress, remember. You’re going to have to come up with some new lines.”
He smiled. “I’ll keep working on it, then.” The smile fell from his face when his eyes hit my necklace. “Nice necklace.”
His voice had an edge to it. A prickle of something uncomfortable. The music was pumping, everyone was partying, and I didn’t want to ruin my mood tonight. “Thanks,” I said brightly.
Tilting my chin up, he studied my eyes. “Are you high?” he said incredulously.
“No. Don’t be silly.”
“Monique.” He twisted to her. “What did you give her?”
She waved a hand like she was swatting a fly. “Just a bit of high life.”
“How many?”
“Only one.”
“She’s not like us, Monique, it’s going to hit her harder.”
“Two, actually.” I stifled a giggle. “I had another one before I got out.”
Monique’s mouth opened. She groaned, “Fabulous, Amy.”
“I’m fine. Seriously, I’m fine. More than fine. Geez, it’s flash in here.” The music beat called my name. “Who wants to dance?”
“No dancing, not yet. You’ll mess up your hair and makeup.” Monique grabbed my arm and dragged me to the bar. Kenneth watched her the whole way, his eyes devouring every curve of her tightly clad red dress. She looked at him and smiled, her eyes shining with happiness.
When she looked at me, however, all the shine was gone. Monique ordered me to sit on a stool and shoved a glass of water in my face. I took it and sat, pouting as she slipped a glass of champagne each in front of Georgie and Josh.
“Where’s Karson?” Monique asked Michael.
“He had an errand to run, he should be here shortly,” Michael responded, giving me a sympathetic smile. “I assume he knows Amelia is here?”
“No, we thought it might be a nice surprise.”
“You should have brought a cake I could have jumped out of.” I grinned. “Or a really big jugular vein, I could jump out of that.”
Monique pinched her nose and groaned. “Do they sell coffee here?”
“Why do I get the impression this is going to backfire?” Kenneth muttered.
Michael narrowed his eyes. “What exactly is going to backfire?”
Monique looked like she wanted to kick Kenneth’s leg.
Kenneth ignored her and replied casually, “The surprise. Last I heard, Karson isn’t a fan of surprises.”
“I want to have a look around,” I said, jumping off the stool. My heels wobbled and my body followed. “Oooh,” I gasped as I lurched forward.
Ethan grabbed my arm, pulling me upright. “I’ll take her,” he grumbled.
“Take me, what am I five?”
“You walk like a two-year-old, so you have a few years yet until you reach five.”
I whacked him across the arm. “Very funny.”
