“This is my little sister, Blair,” she says brightly. “She’s a fashion major in France and came home to help with the wedding. She’s actually designing my dress.”
“Oh, that’s lovely,” Vivian says warmly.
“Very nice to meet you, Blair,” Jameson adds, extending a hand. When I offer mine, he kisses the top of it.
“Nice to meet you as well,” I manage, forcing a polite smile.
“Weirdly enough,” Abigail adds with a grin I’m starting to resent, “I’m pretty sure you have a son around Blair’s age.”
God. Why?
Jameson and Vivian laugh good-naturedly. “Maybe they should meet.”
It takes everything in me not to scrunch up my face.
“Blair isn’t looking to meet anyone,” Calvin growls before I can speak.
The shift in his voice is so sharp we all turn. His jaw isclenched so hard I swear I can see the shape of his molars. Abigail laughs, a little uncertain now.
“Why is that?” she asks, her voice laced with teasing suspicion.
Calvin takes a long swig of another drink. When did he even grab that one?
“Because,” he says sharply, not looking at me, “she has a boyfriend. A good one. Isn’t that right? You told me you had a boyfriend you were happy with.”
His tone carries a sharp warning, and I’ve finally had enough.
“I did,” I say flatly. “But not anymore. It’s over.”
Jameson, Vivian, and Abigail look between us like they’re watching a tennis match.
“Oh?” Calvin asks coolly. “Why is that?”
I flash my best fake smile. “Turns out he’s a lying piece of shit.”
Vivian gasps, clutching her pearls. Abigail stares, dumbfounded. Calvin looks like he’s one second away from dragging me out of this ballroom and bending me over the nearest surface.
“If you’ll excuse me,” I say sweetly, and turn on my heel, walking away before I start screaming, or worse, crying.
I don’t get far before I feel Abigail’s hand wrap around my arm, gently pulling me to a stop.
“Whoa, hey, stop a second. Are you okay?” she asks.
Annoyed and overwhelmed, I yank off my mask and exhale hard. “Yeah, Abby, I’m fine. But honestly… if you don’t mind, I think I’m just going to leave. Maybe head to Mom and Dad’s.”
Her brows knit together. “I didn’t know, baby. I didn’t know you and Dylan broke up. I’m sorry, I didn’t think it was that serious between you.”
“It’s fine,” I say quickly. “Honestly, it was for the best. I just don’t want to talk about it, okay?”
“Blair…”
“Please, Abby, I just… I want to go home,” I say, exhausted by the day—hell, the month.
“Don’t go, please. I need you with me. How about you go to the bar, get yourself a drink, and wait for me as soon as I’m done with this meeting? I’ll take you back to the penthouse, and we’ll hang out, just the two of us like we used to,” she says, looking genuinely worried about me. Even though that’s the last thing I want, I figure I owe her.
“Okay, but please don’t make me wait too long. I’m tired,” I lie.
“Thank you, and I won’t.” She kisses my cheeks before leaving me alone.
