The bartender passes us our drinks, and Ria untangles herself to reach inside her clutch to pay but I beat her to it, raising my brow at her while I hand him my card.
“Always the gentleman.” She shakes her head and huffs out a small laugh.
“Of course.”
“You okay now?” she says warily.
“Yeah, he just triggers something inside me when he acts like the prick he is.” Taking a sip of my drink, the warm liquid slips down my throat.
“Prick is too soft a word for him.” Grace appears at his side. “Twatwaffle is more like it.”
“Still too soft, Gracey baby, but good try,” Lily chips in, sliding in next to her. “Cunty fuckchops is more accurate.”
“Lily!” Jade smothers her laugh behind her hand, but the boys don’t do as well as they all burst out laughing.
“Petardo, you’re one of a kind.” Marcus cuddles her into his side.
“Just figuring that out?” She gives him a cocky grin.
“No, I always knew you were extraordinary.”
“How’s Beck?” Ria asks.
“He left with Deacon,” Grace says softly. “He will look after him.”
Nodding, Ria looks up at me with a kind smile. I wrap my arm around her waist, and she rests her hand on my chest. The move is so natural my heart soars, but then I spot Hunter giving us a confused glance. He tilts his head, sending unease rippling through me, but I couldn’t tear myself away from Ria even if Iwanted. Her touch is keeping the noise out. It isn’t even muffled—it’s just gone.
“Good. He needs someone right now,” Ria says. “I wish things were different for them.”
“We’ve thought this forever,” Lily says somberly. “They’re both fighting against it, but we don’t know why.” Her eyes move to where Trixie and Ezra are talking with Cole. “She’s always been a great actress, but she’s hiding something from us.”
“Like what?” Ria asks.
“I don’t know.” She sighs. “But whatever it is, it’s eating away at her.”
“Ladies and gentlemen.” Cole’s voice booms over the crowd, tearing our attention away. “Tonight is the night for special moments and is exactly the feeling my mother wanted when she created her charity,Starlight.Starlightwas essential to her healing process after she suffered a loss that no parent should have to endure. Cot death is cruel and affects far too many young babies and parents. All your donations this evening will go toward research in preventing cot death and also help the parents who have to live through such a horrific tragedy. And I can tell you that we have surpassed last year’s total by over a million pounds already and the night isn’t over.” The crowd claps and cheers at his announcement. “Now dig deep and enjoy the rest of the evening.”
The band strikes up and couples start to move to the dance floor. “Fancy a dance?” I whisper in Ria’s ear, and I don’t miss the slight shudder she gives.
“Why not.”
Guiding her to the dance floor, I spin her under my arm, and she giggles as she steadies herself into my hold. “Careful, I have two left feet, remember?”
“Perfect, since I have two right feet.” Swaying her to the music that is running through my body, I allow myself to relax, butwhen I catch Ezra’s smug face as he watches from his position at the bar, my muscles lock.
“Hey, relax,” she coaxes. “What happened?”
“Nothing.” I give her a false smile that she sees right through.
“Don’t lie to me.”
“Sorry. He’s watching you.”
“Who?” She looks over her shoulder quickly but then is quick to bring her eyes back to mine. “Ezra?”
“Yes.”
“Ignore him; I am.”
