I was about to jump in when?—
“Of course. Next you will tell me Balenciaga is your favorite painter.” Luca nodded solemnly, then turned to Mateo. “Sometimes I forget he was raised in a boardroom.”
And then Sebastian laughed. His drink was halfway to his lips, his mouth twitching into a grin before he let out a warm huff of laughter. Not the full goofy one, but still real.
“That was a little harsh, don’t you think?” Sebastian leaned closer to him, eyes softening in that playful way that always made my chest tighten. When it was aimed atme.
“Somebody has to knock you down a peg,” Luca replied easily.
“And thank God for that,” Henry chimed in.
Everyone laughed—light, easy, natural. Even Mateo.
Meanwhile, I just stood there with a bitter taste in my mouth and a very strong urge to get the fuck out. I gulped down my drink instead and took a small step back.
“Oli’s the art enthusiast of the family. Ash and I are kind of hopeless,” Henry said, his Spanish bombshell giggling as she moved closer to him.
Mateo’s eyes moved between them.
Luca looked up at Sebastian. “There had to be a catch.”
“Why do I suddenly feel like I’m being graded on my ability to appreciate beautiful things? I think I’m fantastic at it, actually.”
Aria laughed. “It’s good to keep you grounded, Ash. That way not everybody’s dying to be a Langley.”
Another ripple of laughter moved through the group. Sebastian rolled his eyes; Luca smiled up at him—perfect, effortless.
Mateo drifted a little closer to me, and when our eyes met, something unspoken clicked into place. The quiet sting of being on the outside. The Langley rejects.
Fitting.
“Can I get you another drink?” Mateo asked, his gaze dropping to my empty glass.
Relief loosened something in me. I nodded, finally turning my back to the happy little circle. “I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything more.”
We made it all the way to the outdoor bar. Mateo ordered two whiskeys while I leaned back against the counter, letting the night air cool my face. The glass doors were wide open, giving us a clear view of the gallery inside—unfortunately.
“I’m sorry, but this event is terrible.”
Mateo chuckled as he handed me the glass. “I agree with you on that one.”
“I’m always going to be on Henry’s side of… everything, really. But this kind of sucked, and I’m sorry you’re getting your feelings hurt.”
“I’m sorry you’re getting your feelings hurt too.”
My first instinct was to scoff and pretend none of this bothered me, but whatever—we were in the same boat. “They’re just looking a little too perfect tonight.” I shrugged. “I hate that. We never looked like that.”
Mateo frowned, eyes flicking toward the Langleys before coming back to me. “Maybe. But I don’t think so. I’ve only met Sebastian a couple of times, and I’ve never seen the two of you together like that, but with Luca?” He made a small, unimpressed face. “There’s no warmth.”
I stared at him. “What?”
“When people connect—when they’re meant to be together—there’s this thread you can see,” Mateo said. “Even from the outside. I can’t see it. Can you?”
Hope swelled in my heart.
“Henry didn’t tell you?” I muttered. “My judgment is not to be trusted here.”
“Why?”
