“Eager, are we?”
“Oh, you have no idea.”
As I chew on another canapé to hide my smile, I observe the room’s occupants. My eyes fall on Constance, and a pinch of resentment hits me. Jake catches what’s going on.
“Would it help to know I didn’t have the ladder back then? Your friend from Harvard doesn’t know just how good my cock feels now.”
It does help a little. Constance might have gotten lucky, but I got even luckier.
“Gen!” Hana whisper-shouts, rushing toward us. It breaks the spell Jake weaved around me, and I take a few steps back from his intoxicating presence. “Gen, we have a problem! A 9-1-1 emergency.”
Hana isn’t one to exaggerate in such circumstances, so when she tugs at my arm, I distractedly hand my plate to Jake and follow her. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know why we didn’t realize this could happen. But we should have because Constance invited both of you,” she explains, making little sense as she pulls me toward the middle of the gallery.
“What are you saying?”
She stops, scanning the room for something.Someone. “I’m saying that while you were busy flirting with that tall glass of water over there, a small glass of vinegar came in.”
I’m still confused until my eyes land on the person she is seeking. I haven’t seen him in weeks, but those caramel eyes will forever be familiar.
Edward…
Eddie is here. And if I ever wish to have another chance with my ex, I can’t let this get messy. If Edward hears or guesses about Jake, he’ll have the wrong impression, thinking I came with some guy I already replaced him with.
I can’t let that happen.
My brain is going a mile a second as panic seeps through me. Eddie notices me, and I barely manage to wave back at him.
“Fuck,” Hana curses when he walks up to us.
“Act normal,” I mutter between my teeth. “And as soon as you can, go tell Jake to keep his distance.”
“Wait, are you seri—”
“Hey, Gen!” Eddie greets me. “Good God, you look beautiful.”
“Having regrets yet?” my protective friend insolently replies.
“Hello, Hana. It’s been a while.”
“It has.”
Ignoring her acerbic tone, he turns to me again. “Gen, I saw the Waltons over there. Maybe we should greet them?”
“Uh, yes, sure.” Harry and Liz Walton are close friends of my parents, and if I don’t take a moment to talk to them, I’ll never hear the end of it. Eddie slips an arm under mine and pulls me with him as he walks away. “Hana, I’ll be right back,” I tell my friend, discreetly gesturing toward where Jake is.
She rolls her eyes, clearly annoyed to be left alone, but I’m already too far to say anything more.
“How have you been?” Edward asks on our way to the old couple.
“Good. A bit tired.”
“Work has been a lot, eh?”
“Like always. How about you?”
“Well, I’ve missed you, for one.”
