I took a sip from my glass. “Maybe not forever, but it won’t be her.”
“What do you need from us?” Mary asked.
“I think I need to figure this one out on my own.”
Mary and Paul nodded, but unfortunately, I had no idea how to do that exactly.
When we were ushered into the dining room later, Mother sat me next to Georgina, and everyone gushed over what a lovely couple we made. They had to be blind. Georgina seemed as miserable as me, but to my utter horror, I didn’t contradict a single person. Not even my mother when the conversation turned to marriage.
It’snotaChristmasparty, she said, but the place was decked to the halls with fa la la, dark green, gold, and white. Cressmann City founding event, or some nonsense rich people came up with to get drunk and flaunt their money. Fine, whatever. It meant free food for me.
Savannah was off somewhere, being pulled in a dozen directions. Percy couldn’t make it tonight, so here I was, mingling and searching for a certain rich boy I wanted another taste of. Luke said he’d be here, but so far, I’d not found him.
After a handful of these, I’d lost the nervous energy that usually came with being outside my comfort zone. I wasn’t quite ready to rub elbows with these yahoos, but I didn’t mind winding my way between them as much anymore.
It was a system, really, a process. I grabbed a small plate of food, looked busy, canvassing once in the shape of an X across the room, then got a drink. The next round was a circle around the outer edges. Then a small circle with hands in my pockets. Rinse and repeat if needed. Savannah found me when she could, otherwise, it was just me.
Kind of odd, honestly. With so much family, I’d never been in crowds like this without knowing half of them and being related to the other half.
When I’d nearly finished my inner ring of moseying around, a shrill laugh and a name drop caught my attention.
“Good heavens, Margaret, I can assure you, Luke is very much interested in Georgina. I’ve all but cleared my calendar for June.”
“A June wedding? That’s presumptuous.”
Oh, do tell. I peeked around a shoulder, and sure enough, Luke’s momma stood, draped in sparkles, champagne flute in hand, smiling and spilling the tea.
“I know my son. He’s planning for a New Year’s proposal.”
“I heard they haven’t even been on a date yet.”
I heard he’s gay.
“Of course they have,” Mrs. Dorset, aka clueless, said. “The pair were at my house for an intimate dinner just last night.”
What was that now? Luke had mentioned dinner with his parents, something he dreaded for good reason, but he hadn’t mentioned a date along with the first course.
Over the last week, I’d been testing my limits with texts and memes. Luke didn’t seem to mind. He answered when he could and always explained when he couldn’t. The gravity of what I’d signed on for hadn’t been fully understood when I’d so eagerly agreed. Our time together would be restricted and private. Anything in social settings such as this would be colder than friendly.
I got it.
Not that I’d ever come out formally or anything, but I’d been there, watching a few of my friends struggle with it. This, though, wasn’t easy.
As much as I wanted to tell this woman off the same as I did her husband, I didn’t actually know what happened withGeorginalast night.
Fuck.
“Good evening, Mother.”
Luke. Double fuck.
“Finally, darling, what kept you?”
I peeked around the same shoulder just as Luke lowered to kiss his momma’s cheek. I spun, keeping my back to them but staying close enough to eavesdrop.
Jesus, he was as fine as ever. One dangerous man, that was for sure. I had no idea what came over me last Sunday, or even in the club, for that matter. The guys had joked about me being a dom, but shit, maybe I was.
Having so many younger cousins and siblings, I’d taken the lead more than I could count. I was comfortable there, but hell, I didn’t reckon I’d be the same when it came to naughty bits. I wasn’t huge like Wren or Michael. Those two screamed top energy. Maybe it wasn’t about size at all but attitude.
