Don't Be In Love by Liana Cincotti

Author:Liana Cincotti [Cincotti, Liana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-10-29T00:00:00+00:00

22

Don’t Sit In Between Them — Adelaide

Spotting Mia and Sabrina in the crowd, I followed their path out of the ballroom and into the dining room where three long tables fit for serving an army spanned the space.

A hand brushed my wrist as I passed over the threshold. I jerked it back, expecting to find Dorian.

“There you are, we never got to dance,” James said, his mask pushed over his hair.

“I know, I’m so sorry. I really just needed some air,” I winced, hoping he, and everyone else, hadn’t realized I was with Dorian.

“It’s alright, there’s always another ball or gala to dance at.” He laughed. “Come, let’s sit.”

Before I could find Mia or Sabrina, James was pulling out two seats at the center of the table for us.

“Have your thoughts on holidays changed yet?” he asked.

“Oh Jameson, I’m not that easy.” I smoothed out the hair on the top of my head as I pulled my own mask off.

“Come on, you can’t say you aren’t having fun.”

“Maybe a little.” I pinched the air.

He laughed, shaking his head. His smile twinkled under the chandelier.

I reached for his hand on the arm of the chair. “Thank you for inviting me.”

“It wouldn’t have been worth coming if you weren’t here.” He squeezed my hand back. His gaze skipped from my face to a space behind me. “There he is. I haven’t seen you all night!” He stood, taking a few steps from the table.

“Sorry, I was busy arguing with—”

I turned around at the sound of his voice. James stepped to the side just enough, halting Dorian’s sentence.

“Adelaide, how nice to see you tonight,” Dorian commented.

“Good to see you,” I responded with a closed lip smile.

“Who were you arguing with?” James asked, taking a seat again.

Dorian took a step forward, right as an older woman filled the seat beside James. He looked at me, and then the open seat beside me.

Oh no. Please, no.

He slid the chair out and sat down, looking as if he was taking a seat beside the dreaded Aunt Margaret he mentioned once.

How quickly I had fallen to Aunt Margaret status.

He took his cloth napkin and folded it over his leg before leaning towards me—towards James to answer his question. I pressed my back firmly against the chair. A button from the cushion pierced my spine. I’d let it drill a hole through my skin though.

“I was arguing with this girl. I had invited her to come last night, but she turned me down and showed up anyway,” Dorian explained.

Dammit, Dorian.

“She’s here, right now?” James was abashed. Then he leaned in. I could smell his woodsy cologne and see the rich brown of his hair growing in at the root.

“Yup. And I found her kissing another guy.”

“What? You need to point her out.”

“Actually, I think you know her—”

“I can just move so you both can speak,” I offered eagerly, trying to end this conversation.

Placing my hands on the side of my chair, I pushed myself up—

“No,” they blurted out. Their hands landed on my legs.

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