Page 267 of The First Time
"I'm just going to get some air," I say.
He pats my shoulder. "Nonsense." He leans in close and whispers, "I have it on good authority that he mentions you in it."
Oh.
We're moving up the timeline.
That must mean…
I swallow hard. "Of course."
I follow him into the main room. Grab another glass of champagne and drink quickly.
This is too fast.
I'm not ready to be a fiancée.
Declan pats me on the back. He nods to a small stage. Blake is standing there. He's holding up his own glass of champagne like he's about to give a toast.
He scans the crowd. His eyes rest on mine. They fill up with love.
Like this is real.
His smile spreads over his cheeks.
That's how I know it's fake.
Blake doesn't smile.
I press my nail into my palm.
He doesn't love you.
He'll never love you.
This is all pretend.
"I know we're all very excited about the new Photos feature. I'd love to praise the dev team—you're all fantastic—but this is a party." He lifts his glass. "Let's skip to something interesting."
Everyone laughs. And lifts their glasses.
Blake finishes his in one long sip. It's not like him. Not like the Blake I know.
He wipes sweat from his brow.
That isn't like him either.
Blake doesn't get nervous.
His eyes meet mine. They fill up with something, something real.
The flutter in my stomach builds.
Lightness spreads through my fingers and toes.
I forget everything but those deep blue eyes of his.
"My priorities are different nowadays." He steps off the stage. "There's something, no, someone I love more than Sterling Tech."
