Page 114 of Slay Ride

Eve’s smile drops. “You can’t keep her in there the entire time, Bennett. Jesus Christ. She’ll need to do a little mingling, but you two will have a place to go when you need to blow off steam.”

This woman grossly underestimates just how much steam I have inside me.

“Where does that leave me?” Maverick asks.

“You can do whatever you want. If Kindra spots you without Cat, just say she went to the bathroom or had to run to her room for something.” Eve flicks her hand through the air. “I don’t know. Just think on your feet.”

“Okay,” he says, though I’m not convinced.

But it doesn’t matter. None of it matters. I’m holding a goddamn goddess in my arms right now.

“So, are we ready to head to the dining hall?” I ask.

Eve holds up a finger. “Not quite yet. I had one more surprise in store, but we have to wait for the signal.”

As if on cue, someone knocks on the door. Eve shuffles toward the sound, her long braids swishing behind her as she walks. Tiny gems sparkle on some of them, and one falls to the floor as she sticks her head through the gap between the door and the frame. She says something, then opens the door wide, revealing Grim and Rose on the other side.

“Everything is ready,” Eve says with a broad smile. “Follow me.”

A speaker crackles in the natatorium, and then Maverick’s voice comes through. “Can you—” Feedback squeals, and he lowers the microphone.

Eve balances on stiletto heels as she squats and fiddles with something beside the podium. When Maverick raises the mic once again, it doesn’t make the horrible sound.

“Testing, testing.” He pulls the mic away from his mouth, then clears his throat. “If everyone would turn their attention to the doors, I would like to announce our first couple. Everyone, put your hands together for Mister Bennett Carter and Miss Catarina Novak.”

Grim, Rose, and Eve clap their hands and pop tiny confetti cannons as Cat and I walk through them. This is stupid, but when I look at Cat and see the smile on her face, I just smile back. If she’s happy, I’m happy, even if I feel like an idiot.

“Now, everyone grab a partner for the first dance,” Maverick says. He leans over and dims the lights as Eve hurries back to the sound system to start the song. Seconds later, a romantic melody drifts through the speakers.

Grim and Maudlin Rose cozy up together as Eve grabs Maverick and pulls him onto the thin strip of concrete between the pool and the wall. I place my hands on Cat’s waist and hold her close, resting my cheek on top of her curls.

Cat doesn’t know it, and I’ll probably never tell her, but I don’t dance. No matter the occasion, I prefer to stick to the punch bowl and keep pumping booze into everyone. But for Cat, I’ll dance. Whenever she asks, the answer will be yes, because moving with her like this feels amazing.

As the song nears its end, Cat sniffles against my lapel. I reach between us and place my fingers under her chin. She tilts her head upward, and I see the tears in her eyes. There’s no need to ask why she’s crying. I already know why.

She’s crying because she feels bad that we have to keep this hidden. She’s crying because her heart is too big, and she’s worried that she’s hurting me. But most of all, she’s crying because we have some pretty amazing friends who went to a lot of trouble to give us a really special moment.

“This is enough for me,” I say. “Not forever, but for right now, this is enough.”

That makes her cry harder, and everyone is looking at us as the song ends. Maverick hurries to the light switch, and Eve comes toward us, her eyes trained on me.

“What did you do to her?” She blinks and shakes her head. “Sorry, old habits die hard. What I meant to say is, what’s wrong with Cat?”

“I’m just . . .” She raises her head, and I bite my lip. She should have gone with the waterproof mascara. “I’m just so happy.”

“Oh, honey, come here!” Eve pulls her against her chest, careful to keep the runaway mascara away from her expensive gown. She looks up at me. “Bennett, you take everyone down to the dining hall. I’m gonna get her cleaned up, and she and I will enter together.”

I like this plan. It means I won’t have to hear Cat’s and Maverick’s names announced like a couple.

With a nod, I motion for everyone to follow me. I just hope these are the only tears Cat sheds tonight.

Chapter Forty-Six

Cat

After Eve repaired my smeared makeup, we hurried to the dining room for dinner. Kindra saved us some seats beside her, right across from Maverick and Bennett. Eve did her best to complete a sneaky switch before sitting down, but Kindra was having none of it.

Dinner progressed without a hitch after that. We enjoyed light salads, followed by tasting trays of things I can’t even pronounce. Now we just have to get through the main course and dessert before we’re off to the ball.

---