Page 29 of Little Did You Know

His fingers uncurled at his sides, one by one, like he was physically releasing tension. "Of course."

He extended his hand, palm up—an invitation that felt more like a claim. The chandelier light caught the platinum of his watch as he waited, silent, unmoving.

Around us, conversations continued, champagne flutes clinked, music played, but the three of us stood suspended in our own pocket of charged silence.

Justin leaned closer before releasing me, his voice pitched low. "Save me a dance, beautiful." The words carried just far enough to land like a challenge, though his lips barely moved.

I hesitated, then slipped my hand into Nick's waiting palm. "Sure," I replied, aware of stepping into a conversation with undercurrents I couldn't fully read. The muscle ticking in Nick's jaw confirmed it—I'd just committed to something deeper than a simple dance invitation.

Nick guided me across the ballroom's marble floor, which reflected the crystal chandeliers like an endless mirror of stars beneath our feet. While he traded industry jargon and inside jokes with strangers, I clutched my champagne flute like a shield, forcing smiles and nodding at all the wrong moments. The crystal chandeliers caught every pristine tooth in their knowing smirks when I tried to contribute to conversations about summer homes and hedge funds.

Another couple retreated with poorly concealed winces, and Nick's fingers brushed my elbow. "You okay?"

I studied the crystal pattern in my champagne glass. "Yeah, I'm not good at this kind of stuff."

Nick dipped his head close to mine, his breath warming my ear. "You're doing fine."

"Nicky!" The honeyed voice sliced through our bubble. I turned to find yet another willowy blonde gliding toward us, her designer dress whispering against the marble floor.

I was starting to understand what Hannah meant about me not being Nick's type. They were all tall, thin, with big boobs and very blonde. I was none of those.

"Karly." Nick's hand at my waist stiffened. The champagne in his glass trembled slightly as he lowered it, his knuckles whitening against the crystal stem.

I felt him take a subtle, steadying breath beside me.

She moved toward us, golden hair cascading over bare shoulders. The crowd parted for her—whether from respect or fear, I couldn't tell.

"It's been a while, love." Her perfume reached us before she did, something expensive and overwhelming. As she offered her cheeks for his kiss, I noticed how her eyes never left his face, how her manicured fingers lingered on his shoulder longer than necessary. I took a small step back, suddenly aware of the invisible line being drawn—her territory, her history with him.

Nick's jaw tightened. "Yes, it has."

Her gaze swept the room, passing over me as though I were merely part of the decor. The dismissal made my cheeks burn.

"Hi, I'm Olivia." I extended my hand into the space between us, determined not to be erased.

Her eyes flicked to my hand, then back to Nick, a silent question in her arched eyebrow.

"It was good seeing you, Karly." Nick's voice carried a finality as he took my outstretched hand in his. "We should circulate."

Before I could process what was happening, he was guiding me away, his thumb tracing small circles on my palm.

"Wait, Nicky." Her voice sharpened as she reached for his sleeve. "Perhaps we can meet up later tonight. You know, for old times' sake."

Nick's hand squeezed mine. "I don't think so, Karly." He steered us through the crowd toward the far side of the room, where Justin stood with our group, each step putting distance between us and his past.

I leaned closer, pitching my voice low. "Anotherfriend?"

The muscle in his jaw relaxed, and one corner of his mouth lifted. "Formerfriend."

"Hard to keep up with," I muttered.

There was lots of grunting as the four men greeted each other while Hannah and Sam rolled their eyes. "How about that dance?" Justin asked.

"Sure." Justin's fingers closed around mine, cool and confident, as he swept me onto the dance floor. His movements were liquid silk, each step precise and measured, while I counted beats in my head and prayed I wouldn’t step on his toes. He compensated for my wooden steps with subtle pressure from his palm, steering me clear of other couples like a master puppeteer with a particularly clumsy marionette.

"Mind if I cut in, love?" Liam swayed on his feet, his Irish lilt more pronounced with each glass of champagne. Justin rolled his eyes but released my hand, stepping back with an exaggerated bow. Liam caught me with more enthusiasm than grace, his steps following a rhythm only he could hear.

"My turn." Nick materialized beside us, smooth as smoke. His arm slipped around my waist, drawing me against him before Liam could protest. Where the others had kept a polite distance, Nick's body curved around mine like he was shielding me from the room.

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