Page 119 of When Hearts Awaken

Isodid not make that noise.

“Someone is inlove!” Lisa sidles up from behind me and I inwardly groan. Leave it to her to catch me mooning over my boyfriend, who isn’t even here in person.

“Shut up,” I grunt.

She claps her hands and squeals.

Loud footsteps pound behind us and a familiar brunette, clearly in a rush, bumps into Lisa.

“Maddy? Whoa. Easy there, you okay?” Lisa asks.

Maddy’s face pales, and she swallows, her eyes widening in something resembling panic. The slither of unease I felt in Paris comes sweeping back in. She’s been quieter since she got back from the international tour, and neither Ainsley nor any of us could get anything out of her.

We thought things were looking up for her. It seemed like she came into some money, even though she said it was only a small scholarship she got from a local charity. But I don’t see her wearing thrifted clothes anymore. We presumed her quiet moods had to do with her mom and her illness. Maybe it got worse?

She looks behind us and shakes her head. “I…I’m fine. Sorry for bumping into you, Lisa. I have to run, okay?”

She flies down the steps without waiting for an answer and I look back, finding Ainsley staring at her friend, her brows furrowed and Sir Ian and Carla stepping out the doors. Ainsley looks crestfallen as she walks back inside the building. I make a note to ask her about it later.

“If you see Charles later, tell him to call me,” Sir Ian murmurs, a smile on his face as he reaches us. “The boy used to make time for me at least twice a week, but lately, I’m lucky if I get a call from him once a month. I wonder why.” He arches his brow and Lisa snickers next to me.

My skin heats and I kick my shoe on the pavement. “I’ll let him know tonight,” I mumble.

Lisa squeals again and Sir Ian laughs as he waves and walks away.

“Don’t you think it’s disgusting you are sleeping with the director’s nephew to get a leg up?” Carla sneers as she bumps into my shoulder. She glowers and folds her arms across her chest.

I wait for the burst of anger to rise inside me—the indignation to make an appearance—but it never comes. When people are jealous, they react in two ways. One, they congratulate you and nurse their jealousy or sadness inside. Two, they try to destroy your happiness and drag you down to their pit of misery.

It’s sad, really.

I shrug. “I guess some of us just have all the luck. Maybe if you stop being so bitter, some of my luck will rub off on you.”

“Burn!” Lisa smacks my shoulder, and I grin as I make my way to the car idling at the curb.

Chapter 49

Two hours later, Ifind myself enjoying the baby shower Grace and Millie put together for Belle in a private room within the ladies’ lounge inside The Orchid. The luxurious space—the walls normally adorned with ivory floral wallpaper, pale gold and marble furnishings, velvet armchairs and curtains of blush pink—is now transformed into a sea of blue green.

Belle told me this unique shade is called atrovirens. Apparently, it’s her favorite color. I can almost imagine myself in some magical fairytale forest surrounded by gauze, chiffon, and so many ruffles.

Lana is humming under her breath as she gleefully stirs some mysterious baby food into a shaker before dumping her concoction into martini glasses. We’re playing a ridiculous game to figure out the flavor of baby foodafterit’s been stirred into gin. “Okay ladies, try this one. There’s no way you can guess.”

She hands out the drinks to the group.

“This has to be pear!” Grace giggles after downing her drink in one gulp.

“No way. This is disgusting. I vote for some vegetable. Maybe beets.” Olivia grimaces, her face pinking. She arches her brow at me and waves her finger. “I’m not drunk yet. This is the curse of the Asian glow.” She points to her red face.

“Beets would’ve made the drink red, doctor!” Millie giggles as she slumps against Olivia, who’s shaking her head.

“I thought this was a baby shower, not a bachelorette party. Why are you guys all drunk and I’m suddenly the designated driver…except we aren’t driving?” Belle grumbles, but her hazel eyes are twinkling with laughter.

“Sorry, Belle. You’re carrying a baby the size of a…” I scroll on my phone to the website I’m looking for, “cabbage?” I arch my brow as I eye her round stomach dubiously. “There’s no way that’s one baby then. You’re fuckinghuge!”

The girls groan and Olivia smacks her hand on her forehead. “Tay, you aren’t supposed to comment on pregnant women’s bellies.”

She leans over and waggles her brow, her eyes glazed. Oh shit, she’s definitely one drink away from drunk, despite what she said just now. “Even if theyarehuge,” she whispers loudly, and we snicker.

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