I pocket my phone and stand there for another minute, letting the cold clear my head before heading back inside. The gala continues without pause—speeches about gratitude and giving, auction results announced to polite applause, more champagne, and more handshakes.
I’m standing near the silent auction tables when I see Tania excuse herself.
She heads down the hallway toward the restrooms. I follow before I can stop myself.
The hallway is empty. Quiet. The noise from the ballroom is muted behind closed doors.
I catch up to her halfway down.
“Tania.”
She stops and turns.
My hand catches her elbow. “Where are you going?”
She motions toward the women’s bathroom.
Oh.
I step closer, and I’m close enough now that her face tilts up automatically. She doesn’t back up and doesn’t look away.
My hand lifts, and I brush her skin along her jawline. Her lips part. I lean in. She doesn’t move and doesn’t breathe.
My mouth is an inch from hers when her hand presses flat against my chest, not pushing, stopping.
“Silas.” Her palm is warm through my shirt. “I want this.”
I freeze.
Her palm moves from my chest to cup my face. “But do you?”
The question takes me by surprise.
“Because I feel guilty, too.” Her hand slides down, drops away. “Ben is the closest person in the world to me. Keeping this from him makes me feel sick. But I’m not going to give up my happiness to please him.”
Is that what I am doing? Letting someone else dictate my happiness?
No.This is about being loyal to a friend.
I take a step back. She watches me retreat.
“That’s what I thought. But if you’re ever ready?—”
She doesn’t finish the thought. She just turns and walks away.
I stand there in the empty hallway until the sound of her heels fades completely.
CHAPTER 14
Evan
Tania is elbow-deep in flour when I walk into the kitchen.
“What’s happening here?”
She looks up, and her hair is tied back, her apron dusted white. “I’m making pies. For tomorrow.”
I tilt my head to the side. “We have a chef for that.”
