She took my hands in hers, looking up at me. “What’s wrong? You know you can tell me.”
“I can’t do this.”
“Do what?”
“Be here. With him.”
“Who? Ambrose?” she asked.
“No…Liam. But also Ambrose. And my mother…Oh gods this is going to be the worst night ever.”
Rosamund squeezed my hands. “All right, listen. Here’s what you’re going to do. Avoid Ambrose. Avoid your mother as much as you can. And avoid Liam…if that’s what you want…”
“That’s not what I want.”
Her eyes held warmth as she regarded me. “I know. You just needed to admit it to yourself. Okay, well avoid the other two.”
I shook my head. “Ambrose is seated next to me.”
“Shit.”
“My mother did it on purpose. She’s trying to push us back together.”
“That bitch. Do you want me to accidentally spill my drink on her?”
I gasped. But then I started laughing. “She really is a bitch, isn’t she?”
“Yes, CeCe. She is. She always has been. Get through dinner the best you can. Stay long enough to watch Emberly receive her award, then sneak out and leave.”
“Leave? Early?”
“Yes, that’s what I just said.”
“I can’t do that!”
The murmurs died down in the ballroom, someone beginning to speak on stage.
“We have to go,” Rosamund said. “Just think about it.” She squeezed my hand one last time and hurried away.
I took a deep breath, steeled myself, and headed back to the ballroom.
An elderly man was on stage, going over tonight’s program. Most everyone else was already seated. Head held high, I strode toward my table, heels clicking as I went. Yes, I was late. No, I was not going to cower because of it.
I found my empty chair in between Ambrose and some distant colleague. My mother sat across from me, glaring daggers at me before turning to listen to the speaker.
I crossed my legs under the table and reached for my drink, but it was gone. Sitting in its place was a beer. I looked up, scanning the room for Liam. He was seated two tables away, facing me.
I raised my brows and subtly nodded toward the beer. He smiled and lifted his own in a cheers motion before taking a sip.
My heart did a somersault in my chest as I smiled back. He’d done this. Noticed I hated the cocktail and remembered how much I loved that beer he had on the expedition. It was even the same exact type.
Ambrose leaned over, breaking my trance with Liam. “Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you all night.”
I tensed at his tone, turning toward my ex. His black hair was perfectly styled, a contrast to his pale skin and steel-blue eyes. His presence took up space around me, and suddenly I felt very small.
“I’ve been busy,” I said, feigning confidence, then took a swig of beer.
“Why are you drinking that?” His eyes narrowed.
