Page 159 of One Last Encore

"Better get used to the grinding and burning," Eden teased, laughing. "Maybe invest in some WD-40 before you two start filming together in Montana."

"Don’t remind me," Sadie groaned. "Months. I’m stuck with that walking PR campaign. It’s my personal nightmare."

"Come on, it won’t be that bad," Reef said, nudging her. "Quentin’s actually great once you get past the whole... Boy Scout thing."

"Yeah, right," Sadie muttered, folding her arms across her chest. "What are the odds we’d end up on the same damn movie?"

"Pretty high," Eden said lightly. "You’re one of the best special effects makeup artists in the industry, and he’s basically Hollywood’s golden boy."

"Yeah, I think he won a Grammy or something," Reef added, with a shrug.

Sadie gave him a look, amused. "Oscar, babe. That’s for movies. You’re thinking of the Grammys, the music one. You know, your actual job?"

Reef blinked, then grinned like she’d just complimented him. "Right. I do... do that."

Before Sadie could roast him further, Quentin cut in smoothly, "You ready for Montana,fosforito?"

Sadie’s head snapped around so fast she almost dislocated something. "I’m sorry, what did you just call me? Did you just curse me out in Spanish?"

"I think he called you a mosquito," Finn offered, not even looking up from his drink.

"No, it definitely wasn't mosquito," Eden added.

"No, no, he said fosforo-something," Reef mumbled, already pulling out his phone. "Hold on, lemme get Google Translate real quick–"

But before he could type a single word, his eyes went wide.

"Oh my God. Is that Brie?" Reef pointed across the room to a charcuterie board.

"Reef, no–" Eden started.

Too late. He was already gone, sprinting toward the cheese like a linebacker, knocking over a decorative plant and very nearly taking out an old woman in a sequined blazer.

"I can’t take him anywhere," Finn muttered.

Quentin, completely unbothered by the chaos he’d just ignited, turned back to Ingrid with a smile. "Anyway, congrats, Ingrid. You absolutely killed it tonight."

"Hear, hear!" Ronan bellowed from somewhere behind them, raising his glass.

"For she’s a jolly good feeeeellooooowww!" Finn suddenly burst into song, arms wide like he was about to lead a choir.

No one joined in. Dead. Silence. The silence hit so hard you could practically hear the charcuterie knives clinking.

"Okay... cool. So that didn’t land."

Eden gave him a sympathetic smile. "Not your finest, but I respect the effort."

"But the point stands," Finn recovered, clapping Ingrid on the shoulder with enough enthusiasm to nearly knock her over. "You killed it."

Ingrid shook her head, laughter bubbling up as she took in the absolute circus that was her friend group. For the first time in a long time, it hit her just how full her life really was. And... kind of perfect.

Beck was watching her, his expression soft.

"It's nice," he said quietly. "Having everyone in one spot."

His gaze flicked briefly across the room at Sadie and Sylvia doubled over with laughter; at Finn holding court, tossing out jokes; at Reef and Eden crammed onto a too-small couch, arguing over something ridiculous. Quentin and Ronan locked in intense conversation about something deeply nerdy, probably comic books or conspiracy theories.

It was rare to have all their friends gathered like this. And it was for her, her night.

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