"Cassian Langford, you fucking arsehole," Yvaine howled. "You think I'm just some toy you can toss out?"The crying got louder.Her words turned to noise.She'd been smiling when we left the wedding.Now she was here, alone, red-faced and shaking, drunk enough to collapse in a pitch-black bar.I swallowed the sting in my throat, sat beside her, and stayed quiet.She screamed, sobbed, cursed his name over and over again, and I didn't interrupt.More than ten minutes later, Yvaine finally ran out of steam.Her voice cracked and gave out mid-curse, and she slumped sideways against the cushions, passed out cold.I called for the server.Between the two of us, we hauled her into the back seat of my car.I ordered a driver and climbed in beside her, gave the guy her address, and told him to keep the heating low; she always overheated when she drank.By the time we got to her house, her head was on my shoulder and her eyeliner had transferred to my sleeve.Getting her up the stairs was a blo
Cassian blinked. "Me?"He actually pointed to himself, as if Ashton had mistaken him for someone else."I wasn't even here when they started fighting. I have no clue what was said. What the hell am I apologizing for?"Ashton looked at me. "You yelled at Mirabelle. I heard you."Cassian scoffed. He stared at Ashton like he'd lost his mind."You're joking, right? I barely said three words. That's 'yelling' now?" He swung his hand toward me. "Her tone was worse than mine. Did she apologize to me? No. But I'm the one out of line?"Ashton shrugged. "Didn't hear her."Then he glanced at Emmett, who nodded. "I didn't either."Cassian looked between the two of them like they'd grown matching horns.His face went red from the neck up."You've got to be kidding me. Selective fucking hearing? You hear me loud and clear but nothing from her? All right. Fine. You want an apology? Here it is—" He snapped his head towards me. "Sorry. Happy now?"He looked like he wanted to put his fist through somet
I blocked their path."Shame there aren't any cameras out here. Otherwise, everyone would've seen exactly how shameless you are. You really think both of us just hallucinated the same scene?"Alexis kept smiling."You're reading too much into it, Miss Vance."Her voice was soft, sugary.I wanted to throw her into the hedge.I glanced at Yvaine.She hadn't moved.Her lips were pressed together, hands clenched, shoulders rigid.I turned to the cause of all this trouble."You've known us long enough. You know who we are. Do you think Yvaine and I just made up a lie for fun? You think we're that petty?"Cassian's eyes dropped to the ground.Then he finally said, "I don't think you'd lie, but, like Alexis said, maybe it's just a misunderstanding."Yvaine looked up so fast her hair shifted.Then she blinked, shut her eyes, and looked away again.He could've stabbed her and it wouldn't have cut deeper.Alexis noticed.Her lip curled slightly. "Exactly. Seems like a misunderstanding. We'll le
I glanced at him. "My what?""Wedding," Ashton said."We're already married," I said automatically."Contractually," he murmured. "Not exactly what I meant."Yvaine stood. "Excuse me, I'm going to the ladies'.""Need me to come with?" I asked."Nah." She smiled at Ashton. "You've got company."I followed her with my eyes.She didn't look upset, but she took a wide detour to avoid walking past Cassian's table."You're quiet," Ashton said."I'm watching the fallout of a terrible snap decision.""Yours or hers?"I turned to face him properly.His tie was still perfect.He hadn't loosened it.His posture hadn't changed since we sat down—spine straight, hands resting lightly on the tablecloth, eyes impossible to read.Only his thumb moved, tracing a slow line along the side of his wine glass."Why are you asking me about weddings?" I asked."We're here, aren't we? Such an occasion naturally brings that topic to mind. Seemed reasonable to check what you like."I blinked at him. "Are you try
Yvaine stiffened, but it was too late, he was already striding over.Cassian stopped right in front of her and gave a shallow nod. No words. Just the bare minimum to make it look civil.‘What the hell are you doing here?’ I snapped. ‘You’re blocking our way.’His smile twitched, then vanished completely. ‘Yvaine—’‘And I are just leaving. Come on, Yvaine.’We cut through the crowd towards a side corridor.At the end of it, there was a narrow balcony tucked behind a set of white lattice doors.The music sounded distant from here.I asked, low, ‘Still stuck on him?’Yvaine let out a thin breath. ‘It’s only been a few weeks. If I could drop him that fast, I’d be exactly like him.’She used to tell me she was over him.At least now she was being honest.‘He’s swapped out two already,’ she said flatly. ‘I don’t know why I thought I ever mattered.’I stayed quiet.She wasn’t looking for advice.‘It’s fine. I’ll feel like shit for a bit. Then I won’t. All I need is a bit of time.’I patted h
Yvaine rang just after eight.I was halfway through doing my eyeliner.‘Mira, you want me to come pick you up?’‘No need.’ I held the phone between my shoulder and ear and reached for my mascara. ‘It’s not even nine. The wedding starts at noon. I’ll drive over myself.’She giggled on the other end. ‘I’m already on my way. Couldn’t sleep a damn minute last night, I was so keyed up. Rachel’s wedding!’‘Alright, alright, I’m coming. I’ll find you when I get there.’‘Yes, please. Don’t leave me with my mother’s side of the family.’Yvaine had been bouncing about her cousin’s wedding for a week.Said she was more excited than if it were her own.I believed her.I got to the venue just before eleven, still plenty of time before the ceremony.Yvaine grabbed my arm the second she saw me and dragged me through the side corridor towards the bridal suite.‘Come on, let’s see if Rachel needs anything.’She didn’t.Rachel’s people had already covered everything—makeup artists, stylists, planners,