Page 24 of Deja Brew

“I can walk you to work?” The idea makes my hands shake.

“We can walk together now.”

“I’m glad,” I say and press a kiss to the corner of her lip.

Walking beside each other.

Walking together. Forever.

9

LILY

The champagne tinglesmy nose and leaves warmth in my chest. People stroll through the room and pause to stare at the large oil paintings scattered throughout before moving to the next one.

“Are you going to check on him?” Ella asks beside me. She nods at Leo standing in a corner surrounded by people, a painting done in warm browns and oranges glowing behind him.

“When there aren’t so many people around him.” I smooth creases from my silk dress.

Ella stills my hand. “There’s nothing wrong with your dress.”

“They’re all looking at me.”

“Of course they’re looking at you. You’re covering every wall. They want to know who you are.”

I trap my bottom lip in my teeth. “Do you think they’re enjoying it? I want it to go well for him.”

“It’s going well.”

“What if?—”

Ella cuts me off. “It’s going well. Look at them. Everyone’s analysing the paintings, realising it’s you in all of them, and talking to him. I don’t know much about art, but everyone looks interested.”

She’s not wrong. Red stickers are scattered throughout the room. People pause at the paintings, stare at me, line up to talk to Leo, glance back to the paintings and repeat the action.

He’s dressed in a suit with a burgundy tie to match my dress.

“He looks good, doesn’t he? In the suit with his hair wavy,” I say, catching his eye and watching his lips curl up.

Ella scoffs, and I glance at her.

“Don’t get explicit.”

“You think that’s explicit?” I raise my eyebrow at her. “Want me to tell you about this morning with the?—”

“Please, god no.” She fake gags and drains her glass.

I smirk at her. “Spoken to your business guy yet?” Her cheeks flush through her makeup and I grin.

“Well, I’m off. Thanks for a great night. See you later, Leo.” Ella waves at someone behind me, shoves her glass at me, and strides to the exit.

“What happened to her?” a deep voice asks.

I turn and he plucks the empty glasses out of my hands and puts them on a table beside us. He wraps an arm around my waist and I mirror the movement, tucking close to his side. “Asked her about the business guy.”

“He come for the yearly visit to her store?”

“By her response, I’d guess no.”

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