“I don’t think she’s that into him,” Brook says, wrinkling her nose.
She’s just being kind. She’s been kind all day. It’s practically a condition with her.
I frown harder because from here, they look into each other.
“You don’t think so?” I ask.
“No, I?—”
The lights over the dance floor come up warm and gold, and the first notes of a slow song roll out of the speakers.
Flint has the microphone.
“Ladies and gentlemen, humans and shifters, for the first time as a married couple, please welcome to the dance floor Ridge and Robyn!”
The room erupts. Robyn and Ridge walk out into the light, and he pulls her in, her hand small in his, and they start to move. They hold each other tight. He says something only she can hear, and she smiles up at him, and they look so deep into each other’s eyes that the rest of the room stops existing for them.
I want that again.
The thought hits me, and it hits hard. It’s the first time I’ve had it since Sage.
I thought it was over for me. Sage was gone, and I’d made my peace with it being done, one mate, one life, the end. Except it isn’t done. I don’t want it to be done.
I look over at Carla.
And my breath catches because she’s looking at me.
Our eyes hold for two heartbeats, maybe three, and then she smiles and looks away, back at the dance floor.
Was she just being nice?
Why was she looking at me like that?
Was that longing?
Does she feel something for me too?
I’m so fucking confused.
I’m seeing things because I want them to be there. That’s all it is.
Brook touches my arm. “I’m sorry you’re in such a tricky place, Magma.”
“Me too. Thanks again for being here. And for not running away screaming in the parking lot when you had the chance or several times since then. I appreciate the support more than you know.”
“Anytime.”
The love song winds down. Ridge and Robyn kiss to a wave of applause, and then the DJ slides straight into something with an actual beat, and half the tables empty onto the floor at once.
“Let’s go dance.” Brook lifts my beer straight out of my hand and puts it on the bar with her wine.
“I don’t know…” I’m shaking my head.
“I do know. It’s exactly what you need. We’re going to dance and have some fun. Then we’re going to watch Robyn and Ridge cut that cake, and we’re going to eat some, and then we’re going to dance some more. You’re having fun tonight, Magma. It’s happening.”
I squeeze my eyes shut and groan.
“It’s that, or you sit and mope for the rest of the night,” she says. “And moping and being all grumpy is not a good look on you. It won’t win Carla back.”
