Page 95 of Resurgent

“Just couldn’t help yourself, could you?”

Thankfully, he doesn’t say anything as he takes my arm, helping me down the stairs and out into the courtyard to take the photos Sasha insisted on.

Chapter twenty-seven

Annalise

“Sasha, I swear to the Gods, if you don’t stop squirming up there, I’ll tell your parents all about that smutty knotting book you have tucked under your pillow,” I jokingly threaten from my cramped middle seat in the back of Mattey’s pickup.

Apparently, being the second oldest here tonight counts for nothing. Between the fact that this whole seating disaster is technically my fault, and that I’m the smallest one here, I’ve been condemned to riding in the back—wedged between Emily’s puffy layers of black tulle and Theo’s tree-trunk thigh. Meanwhile, Sasha is approximately three seconds away from grinding a hole straight through what is inherently my seat in Matt’s new pickup, with her dress.

“Sorry! Who knew sequins wouldn’t be comfortable to sit on?” she asks, still scooting back and forth.

“Literally all of us, the second you pulled it off the rack,” Emily laughs as we roll into the already half-full, employee-only lot at the Thandroan Gallery of History.

“You know what? Nobody—”

Her shrill squeal rips through the pickup, and Matt barely has time to hit the brakes before she’s throwing her door open, hopping out, and bolting for the front entrance faster than anyone should be capable of in heels.

“So…you think she figured out Antonio’s here?” Matt jokes as he backs into the closest open spot.

“Nah, she’s probably just ready for another drink after putting up with these two all afternoon,” Theo throws back, bumping my leg before climbing out and extending a hand to help me down.

Thanks to Matt’s complete disregard for parking rules, we make our way over to where Sasha is standing at the entrance—practically vibrating—as she hugs a beaming Antonio.

“Well,” Matt says under his breath, “so much for subtle.”

“Yeah, I guess I didn’t pick the best waiting spot,” Antonio laughs as he sprinkles her head with gentle kisses.

“You knew!” she accuses, pointing at me as soon as we make it to them.

I lift a shoulder innocently. “Define ‘knew.’”

Before she can interrogate me further, Antonio steps forward, meeting Matt halfway and slipping into an easy, quick bro-hug. “Thanks, man. I couldn’t have pulled this off without you.”

“Anytime. It’s good to see you.”

“You’re looking good,” he says to me next, pulling me into a big hug, his voice low enough to feel almost private…though I’m pretty sure every single person standing here hears it. His lips twitch into a knowing smile as he nods toward Matt. “And thank you, too. We both know this idiot couldn’t have pulled any of this off without you.”

“I barely did anything,” I say. “How long have you been waiting out here? Is—"

Theo clears his throat.

Right. Audience.

Antonio steps back, straightening in a way that might be intimidating if Sasha weren’t already wrapped around his bicep.

I bite back a laugh and clap my hands together once.

“Okay—introductions before we all die of awkwardness, and then we can actually get inside and find our table.” I gesture toward Emily first. “Antonio, you’ve met Emily.”

“Good to see you again,” Antonio says smoothly.

Emily gives an awkward little wave. “Yep. Still me.”

“And this is Theo. Theo, this is Antonio.”

“My boyfriend,” Sasha cuts in proudly, beaming up at him. “And officially the best surprise of the night.”