“Who?” I sip my drink.
“Elliot Miles.” He smiles darkly. “And . . . he likes what he sees.”
“What?” I frown.
“He’s eyeing you up and down.”
“What?” My eyes widen. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, he’s fucking checking you out.”
“Well, he won’t see anything,” I whisper. “Because my coochie is buried under the tightest underwear on earth.”
Daniel chuckles and taps his glass on mine. “Touché.”
“Where are we seated?” I ask.
“He’s coming over.”
“What?”
“With his brother.”
Oh no.
“Kate.” I hear a voice from behind me.
“Tristan.” I smile.
He kisses both my cheeks. “Holy shit, when did you get so hot?” He laughs. “You look incredible.”
I glance over his shoulder to Elliot standing there; he gives me a stifled smile with a curt nod. He’s not friendly like his brother.
“Tristan, this is Daniel. Daniel, this is Tristan.” They shake hands.
“Elliot, this is Daniel. Daniel, this is Elliot.” Elliot gives him a nod and shakes his hand.
No smile, no greeting.
Eesh . . . awkward.
“I’m going to the bar,” Daniel says.
“I’ll come,” Tristan replies, and they walk off together.
Oh no.
My eyes float to Elliot as he stares at me; there’s this awkwardness between us. “Have you come to make fun of me dressed like this?” I ask.
“On the contrary, I came over to tell you that you look beautiful, but I’ll take it back now. You obviously don’t want to hear it.”
I grip my champagne glass so tight that it might smash in my bare hands.
“Is he your boyfriend?” he asks.
“Um.” I glance over to Daniel and Tristan at the bar. “Friend.”
Elliot’s eyes hold mine. “What kind of friend?”
“Not . . . that kind.”
He nods once. “I see.”
“Is your . . . girlfriend here?”
“I don’t have a girlfriend.”
“Wife?”
“No,” he replies curtly.
“Oh.”
An awkward silence falls between us and I see the muscles in his jaw clench as if he’s uncomfortable too.
“Excuse me while I go to the bathroom.” I smile.
He nods once.
“Lovely to see you, Mr. Miles.”
“Elliot.” His eyes hold mine. “Likewise.”
Our gaze holds for a few seconds longer than it should.
What’s going on here?
He’s different.
The night has been a whirlwind. I haven’t laughed so much for as long as I can remember. We’ve danced and drunk and Daniel has schmoozed with the women he needs to style and I’ve had a wonderful time. It’s late and the night is coming to an end.