The heat spread fast, down my throat, into my chest, and for a moment I wasn’t sure if the warmth was from the drink or from the way Mark was watching me.
He took a sip from his own cup and frowned. “Your bowtie’s crooked.”
I glanced down immediately. “It is not.”
He tilted his head, unimpressed. “It is.”
“Yours is just as—” I stopped when I actually looked at him.
His bowtie sat perfectly against his collar, neat and symmetrical. Of course it was. I scowled and took another sip of the drink.
Mark smiled and set his cup down on a nearby case. “Hold still.”
“I am holding still,” I muttered, as I turned slightly toward him and lifted my chin a fraction.
He stepped closer, fingers brushing my collar as he adjusted my bowtie with careful precision.
I let him fuss. Didn’t even pretend otherwise.
“There,” he said quietly. “Perfect.”
I swallowed, heat blooming again, and took another sip just to have something to do with my hands.
“Wow,” a familiar voice drawled from behind us. “Look at you two.”
I startled slightly. “Ethan?”
Ethan stood a few steps away, grinning, hands tucked into his coat pockets. “You’re both so… shiny. Very festive. Very shiny.”
“You said shiny twice,” I said, rolling my eyes. “What are you doing here? I thought you were swamped at the clinic.”
Ethan shrugged. “I took a break. This was important.”
“Mm-hmm,” I said, crossing my arms.
“Hey!” Ethan said, mock-offended. “I’m still the head healer. I can take an hour off on New Year’s Eve to watch one of my best friends perform.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Okay,” he amended, holding up a finger. “More like half an hour. I still have to drive back to the pack clinic. But still.” His gaze softened. “I know how much this means to you. And I didn’t want to miss this.”
Before I could respond, he lifted his phone.
“Oh no,” I said immediately.
“You know I have to get a picture of this,” Ethan replied, already framing the shot.
“Don’t you dare send it to Noah.”
“Mmm-hmm,” he said absently, eyes still on the screen, thumbs moving. “I won’t.”
The message sent sound chimed a split second later.
I sighed and shook my head, but I stepped forward and pulled him into a hug anyway. “Thanks for coming.”
He hugged me back, then gave my shoulder a quick pat as we separated. “So,” he said, eyeing both of us. “Aren’t you two freezing or something?”
Mark shook his head. “We’re wearing three layers of thermals under this.”
