Page 162 of Rite of Unity

Maryn’s eyes were wide, terrified, and she nodded.“Yes.I was looking for the restroom.”

Micah glanced between my hand on his arm and Maryn.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood at attention.For a moment, it was as if some silent conversation played between them.I looked at my friend, then at Maryn.They’d grown up outside the wall together.Micah was older by several years, but Maryn was one of the most lovely women I’d ever met.Even in her earlier years, she would have caught a man’s attention.

Had I missed it?Was it right in front of me this entire time?

Was Maryn the girl Micah was upset about?

I released him, stepping back.

“Actually, I still need to use the restroom,” Maryn said.

Her words snapped me out of it.I already knew who Micah was worried about.I'd seen her on the tape.

I nodded.“It’s just outside.I’ll show you the way.”

“No,” she said too quickly.“I can find it.”

I tracked her movement as she crossed to the door, tensing.

She turned, glancing back at me, and a smile touched her lips.Not the false, bright smiles I was forced to fabricate.It was soft, tentative.

“I’ll see you out there?”

My chest squeezed.“Yeah.”

Her lips tipped up, and warmth spread through my middle.

The door clicked behind her as I faced Micah once more.

“Please be gentle with her.I’m fond of her.”

His brows were low slashes as he straightened, glancing around the room.His gaze lingered on August’s whiskey collection.Something about the way he looked at it made me pause.

I dismissed it, moving to the table.“Let’s have a drink.”

“I’m working.”

I looked up, snorting.“You work for me.You can have a drink.”

I chose my father’s favorite, sliding two glasses toward me and lifting the bottle to pour.“I want to celebrate with—” I looked up.“My oldest friend?”

I hated the insecurity lacing my words, but Micah's distance these past few weeks had been a weight, refusing to budge.I knew what haunted him.I just hadn't found a way to fix it yet.

He moved, gaze trailing to the glass I held out to him.

He took it.

I almost said something.Almost told him I knew, that I was already trying to help.But this wasn't the moment, not with eyes everywhere tonight.

I lifted my glass.“A toast.”I touched my glass to his.“To my Rite.”I smiled.“To a wedding in the near future.”

I pressed the glass to my lips.

Micah lunged forward, knocking the tumbler from my hand.It crashed into the glass table, shattering it and sending all the whiskey bottles toppling to the floor.

I looked between my empty hand and my aide.“Micah, what the hell?”