Page 105 of Friend Me

“Give me a minute to confirm,” I murmured. I whirled and strode to the gangway, where the party coordinator stood with a tablet similar to mine.

“Has everyone checked in?” I asked her.

“All but one”—she scrolled through the list again—“Tyler Young.”

He wasn’t coming. I stroked my necklace, a plain crystal pendant. “Let’s give it another five minutes, and then you can tell the captain to go ahead.”

She flashed me a smile. “Sounds good. You go enjoy yourself, now.”

I tried to give her a bright smile, but my face was too stiff. I stowed my tablet in my bag, removed my earpiece, and handed it to her, along with my bag. “Thank you. I’ll go mingle. Come find me if you need anything.”

“Will do,” she said, all chipper efficiency.

I turned and walked back toward the bright lights of the party. Although I’d spent weeks planning it, from decorations to music to food, and I knew almost everyone there, something was off. Meandering through the clumps of Synergy employees and their plus-ones, I exchanged a few words here, shook a hand there, but I couldn’t settle into any of the conversations that swirled around me. Tyler had always stuck by my side at these things, ready to make a goofy joke, smooth over a cutting word.

When the deck heaved and I wobbled on my sparkly heels, disappointment sloshed in my belly. He hadn’t come. I wished I were anywhere but stuck on a boat and expected to have fun and be nice to everyone for the next four hours. I needed a drink.

I moved toward the first server I saw and took a flute of champagne from his tray. I’d just lifted it to my lips when I heard a familiar baritone.

Jackson’s voice boomed over the speakers. “Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the annual Synergy holiday party.” I froze.Thiswas off-script. Cooper was supposed to give the speech. What was Jackson doing?

Cooper must have had the same thought because he stood stiffly at the side of the stage watching his friend, his thick eyebrows at a perplexed angle.

Jackson continued, speaking into the microphone he’d taken from the band’s singer. “Don’t worry, we’ll save the speeches for later in the evening, when you’ve had a lot more to drink.” A group of programmers whooped.

“But I’d like to thank someone, someone who’s had a lot going on lately but who still made time to put together this fantastic party. Marlee, come up here.”

A blush burned from the scooped neckline of my dress all the way to my hairline. I wished I were closer to an exit so I could disappear, but hands already reached toward me, tugging me toward the stage. I forced my feet toward Jackson, praying that my high heels wouldn’t trip me up. On the way, I passed Alicia, who shrugged, just as confused as I was.

Jackson welcomed me to the stage with a grin and another wink. “Three weeks ago, we had no venue, no caterer, and no music. Once again, Marlee—and the rest of the planning committee—have saved the party from my overcommitment and under-delivery.” Everyone laughed, and the drunk developers hooted. I’d have to call some cars at the end of the night.

When the applause died down, he said, “Marlee, I think you should lead us off in the first dance.” He snagged Cooper’s arm. “With our COO, Cooper Fallon.”

Now the blood drained from my face. Six weeks before, I’d have been in heaven. That night, I’d rather have gnawed off my own arm than spend three awkward minutes dancing with Cooper. His plastic smile said he felt the same.

“Let’s give them some encouragement,” Jackson boomed through the microphone. The party guests whooped and clapped, and the band struck up “Almost Like Being in Love.”

I squared my shoulders and reached for Cooper’s hand. “Let’s get this over with,” I said through a too-bright smile. I led him down the step onto the dance floor and put one hand on his shoulder. The other, which I still clasped with his, I lifted near my shoulder. A Sam-sized person would have fit into the cushion of air between us.

Cooper placed a wooden hand lightly on my ribs and led me into a starched quickstep. The other guests made space around us. Mr. Weston stood near the stage, his expression too blank to read. Our dance wouldn’t do anything to dispel the nasty rumors that’d crept through the company since the Halloween party. Oblivious, Jackson beamed at us from the stage like a proud papa. Ugh.

“Well, this is awkward—” I began.

At the same time, Cooper said, “Marlee, I—”

We both stopped speaking, and then we laughed. His rock-hard shoulder eased under my fingers. “You go first,” he said and twirled me out. As I spun back into his arms, I remembered dancing at the wedding. I’d been paired with Tyler then, but I’d wanted this. Why did I always want what I didn’t have?

Tyler’s dancing had been fluid, fun. Dancing with Cooper was like dancing with a marionette. There was just no comparison.

“Jackson means well. I’m sure I’ll forgive him. Someday.” I grimaced. “I—I meant what I said to you. I’m sorry I made things uncomfortable between us. I hope we can be good friends.”

He smiled down at me. “There’s nothing to forgive. I’m dancing with a beautiful woman, a smart woman who found me the world’s second-best assistant.”

“Where is Ben tonight?” Between party prep and searching for Tyler, I hadn’t yet seen him.

The corners of Cooper’s mouth tightened. “At the bar. He brought—never mind.”

My back was to the bar, so I couldn’t see what he was talking about. By the time he turned me the right direction, so many couples had joined us on the dance floor that I couldn’t find Ben. I hoped he was having a nice time, whoever he was with.

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