“Not my fault you walk around town like you belong on a billboard,” he fires back.
Eva rolls her eyes beside me. “God, Ashton. Can you not flirt with everyone for one night?”
He throws a hand over his heart. “I’m not flirting. I’m appreciating.”
We all laugh, and before the booth gets more crowded with our group hovering nearby, someone suggests moving to a bigger table.
Austin points toward the large round table near the back. “Let’s head over there, more room, better view of the chaos.”
We all agree and start shifting. I step back to let Eva out of the booth, and she brushes past me as we move across the room. I catch the faintest trace of her perfume, something clean with a hint of flowers. It lingers, making my thoughts fuzzier than they should be.
I follow behind her, aware of the way she walks, of the way heads turn as she passes by.
She’s definitely not the kid I remember.
As we settle into our new table, Ashton takes the seat directly across from me, chin propped on his hand as he watches me with that same mischievous gleam in his eye. I look away, but I can feel his stare like a spotlight.
Payton leans in beside him. “Don’t mind Ashton,” she says under her breath with a smile. “He’s harmless.”
I smirk. “Yeah. But bold.”
“You have no idea,” she laughs, taking a sip of her drink.
Across from me, Eva is already chatting with Josy and Violet, her laughter soft.
And me?
I’m sitting here trying to act like I’m not completely thrown off by being in the same room as Eva Ross again.
But I am.
The drinks are flowing, the wings are disappearing fast, and the table is buzzing with laughter and overlapping conversations when Josy suddenly leans in, eyes locked on me like she’s about to spill something big.
“Hey,” she says with a dramatic whisper that everyone somehow hears. “What’s this Noah told me you did yesterday in that business meeting?”
All conversation dies as every head at the table turns in my direction with synchronized curiosity, like a bunch of gossip-starved high schoolers.
I blink. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t act all innocent, dude,” Austin jumps in, grinning. “You know exactly what she’s talking about.”
Josy shakes her head with mock disappointment. “You told Mr. McNeal you were engaged. Are you out of your damn mind?”
The table erupts.
Ashton nearly chokes on his drink. Violet gasps, then starts laughing. Payton slaps a hand on the table. And Eva’s just staring at me, wide-eyed and amused.
I throw my hands up, trying to defend myself. “Okay, okay—listen. It wasn’t like I planned it!”
“Oh this should be good,” Violet says, leaning forward with interest.
I point to Austin. “Y’all remember how serious McNeal was during that lunch. He starts talking about how much he values men who are grounded. Family-oriented. You know, ‘my wife this’ and ‘my kid that.’ Then Noah starts talking about Josy?—”
Josy smirks, clearly proud of herself.
“—and Austin brings up Violet and hissons?—”
Austin beams like a proud dad.
