I adopted the expected nod-and-smile whenever we passed someone Ethan knew, and he waved and greeted. A few times, the looks lingered as the strangers tried to figure out whether I was with him or not. As Emma had put it, in a girlfriend-boyfriend kind of way.
But where it tightened the knot of nerves in my stomach, Ethan seemed to enjoy the attention.
“You’re quiet.” His gaze locked on me as if we were the only people in the room.
We’d stopped just short of the donation table that groaned under non-perishable food, blankets, and mystery gifts for the pups at the local animal shelter.
My skin grew hot from the inside out, and I dropped my eyes to hide the warmth spreading on my face. “I…”
“You didn’t take the job,” he said plainly. “It was perfect, but you didn’t take it.”
There was no joke that would soften the bare truth of it, and I found myself flailing inwardly. I’d walked away from the one thing I’d quite vocally been pining for since my old school closed down, and given the most recent developments between the four of us, he was right to call me on it.
His timing sucked, though.
Our eyes met, and the queasy feeling that had been following me all day strangely subsided. Every reason I came up with, every justification sounded like total bullshit, even in my head. Because it was more than the job, my career, or the stability I’d craved since I was a kid. It was everything I didn’t yet have words for.
I opened my mouth, ready to give him some kind of response I felt he deserved, when a hand came to rest on the small of my back.
“I’ve had a word with the mayor, and we have his express permission to take you out to the car before lunch is served.” Miles’ voice made my skin prickle with goosebumps.
“Miles.” I shot him a warning look, which he returned with a grin that made my heart flip. Thankfully, the kids hadn’t picked up on anything.
Especially Emma, who had concerns more pressing than whatever was going on with the grown-ups around her.
“This thing itches.” Her cheeks bore red splotches of frustration, as she tugged at the collar of her deep burgundy velvet dress.
Unable to help himself, Will poked the poof of one of the sleeves repeatedly. “It would be so cool if they made a sound when we did this.”
She slapped his hand away. “Stop! Leave me alone. Maren, tell Will to stop.”
But Sadie had already picked up on his teasing and was booping Emma’s other sleeve with sound effects to go along with it.
“The man’s not wrong,” Adrian chuckled, that third glass of sparkling wine already shining in his eyes. “Interactive formal wear is exactly what the world’s missing.”
Emma groaned loudly, and stomped her foot, the beginnings of a tantrum that I quickly snuffed by pulling her to my side, arm around her shoulders.
“Don’t listen to them,” I whispered to her. “We just have to get through lunch, and then we’ll go home and change into something more comfortable, okay?”
She pouted, arms folded tightly. “I wanna go home now. This party is boring.”
This last part drew curious looks from those closest to us, and Ethan let out a long exhale through his nose. “It’ll be an hour, tops. You don’t have to stay for dessert.”
“I said I wanna go home!”
Will skulked behind Adrian, muttering something about embarrassing moments, and in that moment, I related pretty hard. Even the mayor was looking over to see what the fuss was about.
A light, tinkling bell sounded, and guests moved to find their seats. Ethan gave me a look that expressed everything he couldn’t say out loud, and I gave him a reassuring wave to tell him to go on, I had this.
Our table was in the back, since we weren’t exactly part of the mayor’s esteemed invitees, and Emma and I were the last to sit down. Mostly because it took some high-level coaxing to get her there.
She sat between Adrian and me, and honestly, I was relieved. He had a way with them that made things easier. Or feel that way, at least.
He leaned over to her now, whispering with a conspiratorial air, “Don’t tell anyone, but I’m gonna put a frog in Will’s bed tonight.”
Her head snapped round to look at him, eyes wide. “You don’t have a frog.”
“I do so.” He winked at her, but the wry smile, that was meant for me. “I’m gonna pay him back for teasing you about your beautiful dress.”
