After they leave, Lizzy comes over and suggests that Leo and Nate should make the rounds before the night ends.
Nate hesitates.
“She’s not going to disappear,” Leo says to him.
Nate looks at me, concerned I’ll vanish into thin air. “You won’t leave without telling me, right?”
I shake my head no.
“She should come back with us so we can have a nightcap, and you can show her your surprise.”
“I know about the penthouse.”
Leo’s grin is wicked. “That’s not Nate’s only surprise.”
I turn to Nate, catching the rare flicker of shyness on his face. “Tell me.”
He brushes his lips against my cheek, his voice low so no one can hear around us, even if the music would have masked it. “Guess you’ll have to come home with me to find out.”
And with a wink, he disappears into the crowd, leaving me breathless.
Addie and I are relaxing off to the side, waiting for the guys, where there’s strategically laid out lounge seating. The velvet shades range from dark grays and silvers to midnight blues, complementing the theme perfectly.
“You’ve had a smile on your face all night,” Addie points out.
“It was the copious amount of champagne. The same one’s making this room spin a little.”
She kicks my leg playfully. “Don’t lie to me.”
I roll my eyes. “How would you know? You were too busy with your man in black to notice. Who was he?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know.”
“You talked for almost three hours, and you don’t know? He could be a serial killer.”
She snorts. “Or he could be a porn star and will get me out of my dry spell.”
“Don’t ask me to get you an STD test if he is.”
“So that kiss…”
I cover my face. “How embarrassing was it? I forgot I’m not seventeen anymore.”
She doesn’t answer, and when I turn my head, even through her mask, I see longing.
“It was everything. Exactly what I’d expect from the two of you.” She smiles softly. “So you’re going to make a go of it? Finally.”
My breath vibrates my lips as it wooshes through. “It feels natural, like a day hasn’t gone by where we haven’t loved each other.”
“Has there been a day, though?” she accuses.
“Felt like it for a while.” I shrug. “I…”
“You?”
“I don’t know,” I whine. “I’m so confused. It feels too good to be true.”
“Ready?” Nate’s voice startles me.
