Page 67 of Butterfly Effect

But the real kicker is walking in.

I should’ve known better than to make assumptions.

This isn’t his penthouse. It’s a private venue.

String lights hang from the high ceilings, softening the usually bright light fixtures. His cozy sectional has been repositioned, with classic white-cloth-covered cocktail tables surrounding it.

A few uniformed servers delicately place hors d’oeuvres on trays at the kitchen counter and pour champagne into glass flutes. The cupcakes I’d made are on display on several tiered cake stands on a dessert table off to the right and lead to two large dining tables.

Boughs of gardenia flow from tall vases between shorter candles and heavy tableware on charger plates.

The flowers are my favorite. My fingers reach for a bloom and I lower to take them in.

They smell like me.

Like I’m home.

Tears of rage blur my vision. Someone who doesn’t even care about me put so much thought into something as insignificant as a birthday party, while the man I was in love with for years, who I almost married, never did it once. A fake boyfriend did morethan my real ex-fiancé. The anger and rue bubble up from my gut, heated and sour.

I swallow it down.

“You like it?”

Wade’s question echoes, his cognac Oxfords clopping against the floor where my gaze lingers. It wanders up the faint weave of his gray slacks, then follows the veins snaking over his forearms, where he rolls back a black sleeve.

His fingers clasp my chin and lift.

Those melted chocolate eyes of his deepen with concern. “Don’t look at me like that, Gabe. You don’t like it?”

“I—”

Hate it. Am overwhelmed by it. How did he know about the gardenias?

“Whoooaa.” Landon booms from the entryway.

Wade’s hand drops, taking whatever blood is left in my face with it.

“Holy shit, man. This place looks great.”

Indi’s dimpled smile shines across the room with a gasp. “Gabe!”

“Tell me the truth later, Freckles.” Wade wraps the same hand around the cinch of my created waist. His whisper against my neck has my heart climbing out of my chest through my throat. “For now, pretend like you’re happy being here with me.”

I’m not gonna survive the night if I have to be pressed against his firm torso the entire time, with layer upon layer of pretending to like him over not liking him over something in between, and all while he smells like a fresh morning in Heaven and holds me like I’mhis.

My friend rescues me by pushing him aside when the four of us meet. “Unhand her, goon!” Our hands clasp before she draws me into a tight hug, then checks me out. “God, you’re so freakinghot.”

“What about me?” Landon pouts and moves his hands up and down his body.

“Christ, Radek.” Wade’s palm slaps against his forehead.

“It’s Davé-Radek,” Landon corrects.

Wade coughs out, “Pussy whipped.”

I thought Indi would’ve rolled her eyes, but she doesn’t. Pretty Boy gets a pitying, disappointed look thrown at him before she turns to her husband.

“Aww,” she coos and steps away to leave a kiss on his bearded cheek. “You’re thehottest.”

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