Then what?
He turns to look out at the dance floor, so I do too, the question I can’t ask hanging in the air between us. I watch Dena dance with William, laughing and smiling, and my stomach churns. When I glance back at Luke, his gaze is resting on me, his expression tender. He reaches out to tuck a loose tendril of hair behind my ear and I can’t help myself; I soften against his hand, closing my eyes for the briefest second. In that moment, I feel the forcefield again and nothing else matters.
We share a smile then both sit back, turning to watch people dance again.
And that’s when I see Alex. She’s on the dance floor in Michael’s arms, but she’s looking at me. She has the strangest expression on her face and my heart stops in my chest.
She knows.
37
Shit, shit, shit.
Okay. No, it’s okay. Maybe she doesn’t know. I bet I’m overreacting.
But as Alex whispers something to Michael and threads her way through the tables towards me, my stomach begins to crumble.
“Can we have a word?” she asks. Her tone is pleasant but her gaze is steely.
Shit.
I swig back what’s left of my champagne, then follow her across the room and back out the side door to the corridor. With every step I hear Admiral Ackbar in my head, sayingIt’s a trap!But my unsteady legs won’t let me run away.
Once the door clicks shut behind us, Alex turns to me and smooths the lace of her dress, not saying anything. I’m just wondering if I’ve misread this whole thing when she looks at me sharply.
“Is there something you want to tell me?”
I study the detailing on her dress. “What do you mean?”
“It’s Luke, isn’t it?”
I swallow hard, willing my pummeling heart to slow down. I’m not sure I’ll survive two panic attacks today.
“The lake last night. All those late nights at his place…” I can hear the gears turning in her head as she thinks aloud. “And he was so enthusiastic about your cafe idea. I saw him, just now, with your hair. You said—” She stops, staring at me in disbelief. “Please tell me I’m wrong.”
I open my mouth then close it again, unable to look at her. I don’t know what I could possibly say to make this any better.
“But…” Her forehead scrunches in confusion. “I thought you were seeing the guy from the plane? Liam?”
I cringe, dragging my gaze to hers.
“Wait. Liam… is Luke?Lukewas the guy on the plane?”
I give a tiny nod, chewing my cheek.
“So, this whole time…”
“I wanted to tell you.” My voice comes out hoarse. “But I couldn’t. It’s not… We—”
“You do know he’smarried?” she says viciously. “Hiswifeis here.”
“Yes. Well, he’s—” Fuck. I can’t very well tell her he’s getting divorced, can I? It’s not my place to tell her, and he’d kill me. I won’t break his trust.
“That didn’tbotheryou?” Alex spits. “Here we are at myweddingand you’re out there making a mockery of the whole thing by fucking a married man and destroying his marriage.”
Her words are a knife in my gut, forcing a gasp from me. “It’s not, I mean, he’s—”
“Don’t you realize howmessed upthis is?” She raises her hands to her head, massaging her temples. “You’re my sister. This is Michael’s brother. It’s practically incestuous.”
