The elevator takes too long, so I race up the metal stairs. My panting nearly drowns out the music drifting from the event space as I cross the covered metal gangway to the hangar deck. Under normal circumstances, I’d be more interested in my surroundings, but I’ve been to more than one event on this ship, and I am late as shit.
The cavernous space is filled with round tables festooned with white tablecloths and beautiful green topiaries punctuated with flowers and strung with fairy lights. Though the room’s walls and ceiling are dark, vivid blue and purple spotlights cast cool light throughout the room.
It looks magical and beautiful, and my heart melts a little that Avery handpicked all the details for his parents’ special day. There are easily four hundred people here, most seated and laughing. A band plays light jazz at the head of the dance floor in the center of the room.
“Where the hell have you been?” Margie demands, storming over to me looking like an Amazonian princess in her gold, figure-hugging dress. “Why didn’t you answer your texts? We’re sitting at the table next to the Vaughns.” She points. “Go say congrats to them, beg Avery for his forgiveness, and come sit and scarf your salmon. Speeches are coming up.”
I release a relieved breath. I was hoping Avery would save the speeches for after the meal.
I shuffle along behind her as fast as my heels will allow, and the Vaughns leap from their seats as I approach, their welcoming smiles bringing tears to my eyes. They’re the best sort of people, always proud to know you, no matter what you’re doing. Forever radiating kindness. The kind of people who work the soup kitchen on Thanksgiving each year, and they bought me a beautiful locket with pictures of Avery and Margie for my graduation. They’re the bar that every other relationship on the planet aspires to reach.
“I’m so sorry I’m late. You look gorgeous, Mrs. V.,” I say, bending to kiss her soft cheek. And it’s true. With her short-cropped white hair, twinkly green eyes behind gold-wire-framed glasses, and papery skin, she usually looks like she belongs on the wrapper for cookie dough—a Food Network domestic goddess. But right now, in her red sequined gown with its smart little jacket, her hair styled in an elegant swoop, and her green eyes lined, she looks exquisite. It’s not just what she’s wearing, either—it’s the look in her eyes when her husband comes within her field of vision. Mr. Vaughn looks stately, his dark brown skin glowing with good health. He’s carrying his black suit on his frame as well as he must have carried the uniform he wore on this very ship when he served. I kiss him on the cheek, too. “Congratulations to you both. You’re an inspiration to all us single folk.”
“We try our best.” Mrs. V. laughs.
“Mr. V., you’re going to have to show me how to fire one of those mean guns on deck.”
“What do you need a weapon for when you’ve got that wit of yours? I always tell Avery you’re the funny one.”
There’s a flat look in Avery’s eyes that makes me quail inside. I circle the table to hug him and whisper, “I’m so sorry. I got stuck at that work thing, and I’m the worst, and I’m sorry. I’m here for the speech, though.”
His lips firm, and then the flat look fades. He sighs. “It’s okay. We figured you wouldn’t be able to say no to your boss and leave in time. You’re too weirdly scared about getting fired. Just thought you’d break away earlier than this. Margie bet me twenty bucks you wouldn’t be here until after dessert. I wrote you out of the speech when you weren’t here after the salads were served.”
My heart gives a little kick, but I have no one to blame but myself. “Change it back! I’m here now!”
“Maybe. Let me walk you to your table before your food gets cold.” He pushes back from his seat and presses a hand against the small of my back to lead me away. I say my goodbyes-for-now and turn to my table.
Where the devil is staring back at me.
“You sat him with me?” I hiss at Avery. Jack’s cleaned up nicely in a sleek navy suit, and he looks fucking sexy with his hair styled into his mildly mussed look. It makes me want to run my fingers through those locks, though I’m not sure if I want to smooth it or mess it up some more. A roguish smile plays about his mouth, bringing out a hint of dimples. He knows I’m distressed to see him. He’s thrilled I’m distressed. Or maybe this is where he plans to stage his next attack?
Avery levels a patient look at me. “You don’t get to complain.”
“You like his engaged sister. The Avery I know would never pursue someone who was taken.”
“The Avery you know is boring and sexless. And he isn’t going to find that,” he gestures behind him at his parents, “by being that way.”
“I didn’t say that!”
“And I’mnotpursuing, I told you. I’m being a friend. Her fiancé is a loser. He’s like an emotionally immature Punxsutawney Phil, showing up every year to play with her emotions and destroy her before disappearing back into his hole. But yes, I like her, I’m not going to deny it. I’d swoop in if the fiancé wasn’t there.”
“You’re walking me to my table just to have an excuse to be near her, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
I point a finger close to his face. “You are honest, but also terrible. Honest and terrible.”
I march ahead of him and take the seat next to Margie. I’m surprised to see that Lucas is sitting next to her, chatting pleasantly with Anna and graciously ignoring all the surrounding gawkers. I take my seat and greet La on my right with a hug, then nod politely at the others at our table before steeling myself for Jack.
“You look hot. Doesn’t she look hot?” Anna says by way of greeting.
“She’s all right,” Jack says, his voice a low rumble. I feel my cheeks flame, like it’s the most elaborate compliment I’ve ever received. I refuse to make eye contact.
“Breathtaking,” Lucas says with a grin. He adjusts a French cuff on his tailored shirt and winks at me.
Avery, who after over a decade of platonic friendship probably thinks seltzer water has more sex appeal than I do, nods his head vigorously, staring at Anna’s profile. “Totally.”
“Lucas, you have a thing for redheads, don’t you?” Margie says. “Especially this redhead.”
