Page 158 of One Last Encore

"You were flawless!" Eden gushed. "I nearly passed out just watching that pirouette sequence."

"My liege, I am unworthy!" Reef suddenly bellowed, dropping into an exaggerated bow.

Ingrid shook her head, laughter bubbling out of her as Beck barely had time to pull her back into his arms before Finn materialized, grinning.

"This is your world," Beck murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple. "The rest of us are just lucky to live in it."

Her heart swelled. She grinned up at him and tilted her head to kiss him. As soon as their lips met a wild, thunderous applause exploded around them courtesy of Finn.

"Finally!" Finn cried, throwing his hands in the air. "Five years of Beck sobbing into his coffee about ‘my one true love’ finally closed out like a bad Netflix series!"

Just then, Ronan called Beck over to mediate a full-blown standoff at the snack table. Apparently, someone had eaten all the good chips and left only pretzels, and civil war was imminent. Beck kissed her forehead one last time and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Ingrid still grinning like an idiot.

"Glad to finally end your suffering," she said dryly to Finn.

"I appreciate the apology," Finn said solemnly. "But honestly? I think I’m owed financial compensation for the emotional damage you two have inflicted."

"You’re such an idiot," Ingrid said, shaking her head.

"You pronounced ‘genius’ wrong, but it’s fine. Words are hard," Finn said, utterly unbothered, before pulling her into a hug.

He pulled back, studying her with mock seriousness. "For real, though. You were spectacular out there. I genuinely thought you might dance like Elaine from Seinfeld. You know, full-body dry heaving set to music."

“You should’ve come to see me dance sooner,” she said, arching a brow. “Might’ve spared yourself the humiliation of ever thinking otherwise.”

Finn sighed, sounding thoroughly put-upon. "Hey, I got shipped off with Daddy Beck during the divorce, and let me tell you, that man is the human equivalent of putting on jeans right after a hot shower. Absolute buzzkill."

He paused, before his voice softened.

"I know that I joke a lot," he said, almost shyly, "but I really am happy for you two."

Ingrid tilted her head, studying him as his usual smirk gave way to something more genuine.

"I’ve known him a long time," Finn went on. "And after you two broke up... he wasn’t the same. Sure, he got sober, got his life together, but there was always this loneliness hanging over him. I could feel it."

Ingrid followed his gaze across the room. Beck was laughing with Ronan, eyes crinkled, head thrown back like the sound had caught him by surprise. He looked lighter. Brighter. Like a weight had finally let go.

"That?" Finn said, nodding toward him. "That’s the version of him we haven’t seen in years. He used to just get through the day. Now he actually lives it."

She knew that version of herself too well, the one who smiled out of habit, who mistook numbness for peace. For years, she had been coasting on empty.

"I get it," she murmured. "More than you know."

"I’m sure you do," he said with a wink. "Now come on. Let’s go stop Reef from eating an entire wheel of cheese unsupervised. Also, he 100% ate those fancy chips. No remorse."

Laughing, they crossed the room toward Reef and Eden, who were deep in some lively debate.

"I bet she’d wipe the floor with him," Reef said, eyes gleaming like he was just begging someone to argue.

"She’s got that vibe," Eden agreed. "Like, any second now, she could just Hulk out."

"Yeah, maybe keep her away from gamma radiation," Reef muttered, shooting Sadie a wary glance.

Ingrid followed their stares and found Sadie eyeing Quentin across the room with laser focus. Quentin was oblivious, helping a dancer mop up a spilled drink, looking like the literalembodiment of kindness and good intentions. Ingrid waved Sadie over before her internal monologue turned into a physical confrontation.

"So, what’s going on with you and Quentin?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "He’s like a golden retriever in human form, but you look at him like he’s wagging his way straight into a restraining order."

Sadie rolled her eyes. "More like a golden retriever with a superiority complex. He’s a total phony. It grinds my gears. Burns my toast. Curdles my oat milk."

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