“From Hungary,” Everly chimed in.
They shared a look, and my breath stuttered. I didn’t belong with these people. I didn’t know where I belonged.
A hand on the low of my back grounded me, and I closed my eyes as a soothing voice whispered in my ear, “Is that gym bro?”
Livie’s eyes widened, and Ever scoffed when they saw him. But I softened.
“Who?” I stepped forward, and Zolt’s hand fell from me.Thank god.
He nodded towards one of the tables.
And there sat Jordan, my ex.
I expected to feel sick at the sight of him, but instead, what hit was nostalgia. He’d been my confidant for six years — from catching my sister’s ex as a creepy groomer, to laughing when I failed my driving licence three times. He’d been safe. Familiar. But not mine anymore.
With Zolt here, all my nausea was gone.
Only the inner eye rolls at Mum inviting him. She always loved the idea of me being with a doctor.
“Gym bro?” I laughed.
“Ex-boyfriend,” he said through gritted teeth.
And that went right to my core with fire.
“What’s he doing here?”
His continued jealousy and the bitter taste of his words made me want to thrust him into one of the other rooms and have my way with him.
But I forced a sigh, trying to expel all the horny energy inside me, and wondered just how honest I could be.
“We were together since I was sixteen,” I admitted. Sixyears when you were that young felt like a lifetime. Sure, I’d hooked up with a guy before Zolt, but… There would always be a soft spot for Jordan because he was a nice guy. Just not my nice guy. “My dad and he got on really well.”
He grunted, and Everly glared at our interaction. “What the fuck are you doing here? You’re not on the guest list.”
He wasn’t phased. He didn’t even act like she’d spoken.
“He helped me with the report,” I said. “While I was with Imre. And…” I felt myself looking around the room, a telltale sign that I was lying. I focused on her, trying to steady my breathing. “To thank him, I offered for him to come. I haven’t made use of my plus one.”
Her eyes were still narrow. “That doesn’t seem wise.”
“May be proud her,” Zolt said in English and gestured to me.
And my soul just about cringed out of my body.
But we were called to dinner, and thankfully, Zolt and I were wedged between Nix and Luca.
Which made our lives easier because Mum and Dad were far. Though Mum did bend to kiss me on the cheek before saying, “Nice of you to join us, darling.”
It would take me a while to get out of the hole I had dug myself.
We ate the food, and for once, it was so nice to be isolated by language. Zolt and I could talk without worrying we would be overheard or understood. We just kept our hands to ourselves. He said how he’d gone to a supermarket and found a scone-style sandwich that he loved. He found our country absolutely‘insane.’
I doubted many people got to see that side of Zolt. Eager to learn, enjoying small moments.
He said on our tour, we would have to get some fora picnic.
And I couldn’t help but raise my brows.
