Page 60 of With This Lie

We walk in through the front door, his hand still in mine, and we make our way to the back room. Almost everyone who was on my list I gave him is already there. Quinn is chatting up who I can only assume is her new boyfriend from Tinder. My boss even managed to make it and has his arm around a woman. I will definitely have to find out who that is later. Robert is sitting alone the way I assumed he would. Some of my other co-workers and a few friends I’d made since being here had shown up too. I didn’t recognize a few faces, so I think they might be Lucas’ friends. I’m sure I’ll meet them later.

I look around at the balloons and streamers and even though it’s the part I thought I would hate the most, they actually look really amazing. I know they’re what my mother had in mind for sure. Music plays over the room and I can’t help but notice they are songs I would have picked. Lucas had really put so much thought into everything.

“Well?” he says, looking down at me.

“It’s perfect,” I say, smiling up at him. I wave over to Quinn who is waving frantically to me.

“Go join your friend. I’ll get us something to drink and be right there,” Lucas says, letting go of my hand for the first time since we left the car. He leans over and kisses my cheek before disappearing behind me toward the bar.

I make my way through a few people to Quinn.

“Dani!” she yells. She wraps her arms around me tightly and wiggles me back and forth.

“Hi!” I yelp back, trying my best to keep my balance.

“Happy birthday!” she exclaims.

“Thank you,” I say, laughing, as she finally lets go of me.

She steps back and immediately runs her hands over her hair the way she normally does any time things get a little too exciting for a moment.

“Dani, this is my boyfriend, Jake. Jake, this is Dani, the birthday girl!” she says.

Jake is a tall and strapping man, though I expected no less.

He sticks his hand out toward me. “Nice to meet you, Dani. Quinn has told me so much about you,” he says.

“I hope not too much,” I say. I take his hand in mine and he starts laughing.

“I only mentioned the good stuff. All your secrets are safe with me,” Quinn says.

“What juicy secrets are we divulging?” Lucas asks.

He had snuck up behind me and handed me a Rum and diet so skillfully, the conversation hardly skipped a beat.

“Just the birthday girl’s secrets, of course. Don’t want to steal the spotlight,” Quinn says.

“Oh, then I’ll be sure to pay special attention,” Lucas says.

All four of us laugh and I feign annoyance, rolling my eyes. “Laugh it up, guys. I’ll stab you all with a broken pencil.”

Lucas slips his arm around me and kisses my temple. I grin despite my attempt to be ruthless.

“I have to say, Lucas, I’ve never seen her happier,” Quinn says.

Lucas looks down at me. I shake my head at him.

“Is that so?” he asks.

“Don’t listen to her, she’s delusional,” I say.

“Oh come on,” she says. “You can’t hide that glow.”

She’s probably right but denial is all I have.

“Well, I’ll do my best to keep it that way,” Lucas says, kissing my temple again.

I close my eyes feel his lips against my skin. “I need to go say hello to some other people, Quinn. I’ll circle back, okay?” I say to her, hugging her and kissing her cheek.

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