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He went with an all black look himself. Crisp slacks and a button up with sleeves rolled to his elbows (which I’m realizing is his favorite look for dressing up). If he was chocolate—I’d take a huge bite out of him.
Could I get any luckier with someone like him beside me? Not likely.
The party is just as I imagined—bright and loud. Just like Maggie. A large disco ball spins on the ceiling and laughter echoes throughout the crowd of people dancing.
Maggie spins around in the middle of the room, twirling her white dress. Little hedgehogs are stitched into the side of her socks that are gliding across the wooden floors.
Sean watches with a smile. “Is that the birthday girl?”
“Sure is.”
We begin walking toward her, but she must have heard my voice because her head shoots up as fast as lightning and with a smile just as bright.
“Billie!” she yelps, sliding across the room and bombarding me with a hug.
“It’s only been a month,” I say with a chuckle.
“That’s far too long for friends who saw each other every day.” She turns to Sean. “You must be the one and only Sean.”
“It’s nice to finally meet you,” he coughs out as Maggie wraps her small but mighty arms around him.
“I can’t believe you guys are here!” she exclaims.
Suddenly, her mouth drops open and her face goes pale.
“I swear I didn’t do this.” She shakes her head, apologetically.
I match her view, turning around to see Graham waving sarcastically at us from the entrance.
This isn’t happening.
Maggie puts a foot forward, heading toward him. “This freaking jack a—”
“Stop.” I pull her arm back, my sight locked on Graham and his smug smile.
“What do you mean?” she questions. “I know he’s Steven’s friend, but he was not invited. I swear I wouldn’t do this to you.”
“I believe you,” I say calmly. “It’s fine.”
“No, Graham is an ass.”
“Mags, we don’t need to cause a scene. It’s what he wants. He knows exactly what he’s doing.”
Graham and his games—it’s something we’re all accustomed to at this point.
“But—”
“Really, it’s fine. I won’t give him the satisfaction of thinking I can’t be around him.”
She looks at both of us. “Are you sure?”
“Very.” Even to my ears, it didn’t sound confident.
I watch Sean, who looks intense and rigid with his clenched jaw.
“Okay,” she says skeptically. “Let's get you two a drink.”
She drags Sean and I to a table full of alcohol. Not my preference for winding down, but for this situation—I’ll take it.
