Henry’s mouth opened and closed like a fish. No words ca out. His face was turning an alarming shade of red. "I—you—the thing is—I’m—your videos—contemporary—"
"His na is Henry," Sky interjected, letting out an awkward laugh to cover Henry’s complete ntal breakdown. "He’s a huge fan. And also an amazing dancer himself. He’s just a bit... starstruck."
Felix looked at Sky, his gaze lingering a bit before he nodded. His expression softened with understanding. "Ah. Yeah, I get that. Happens sotis." He studied Henry with genuine interest. "You dance?"
Henry nodded frantically, still apparently incapable of forming complete sentences.
Felix smiled wider. "Contemporary? Ballet? Hip-hop?"
"Con-tempo-po-rary," Henry finally managed to squeak out.
"Thanks, man. That’s really cool." Felix seed genuinely pleased. "You know what? Co get a drink with . Loosen up a bit, find your voice, and then you can tell about your training. I’m always interested in eting other dancers."
Henry looked like he might actually faint. His eyes were shining, his hands trembling slightly. He turned to his friends with an expression of pure disbelief.
"Just go, idiot!" Noel shoved him toward Felix, clearly tired of Henry’s tongue-tied madness.
Henry didn’t even have ti to glare. He just nodded rapidly and turned back to Felix.
"Catch you later, Jackie," Felix said to Jack. "Let know before you disappear, yeah? Mom wants to get a picture with you for Aunt Helen."
"Whatever," Jack said with complete disinterest, and Henry shot him a glare of utter betrayal. Like he couldn’t believe Jack had the audacity to be rude to FELIX HARTLEY himself.
Felix just chuckled, clearly used to Jack’s personality, and gestured for Henry to follow him. It was a miracle Henry could even walk as he stumbled after Felix toward the makeshift bar, still looking like he was in a dream.
"Please," Noel said, turning to Jack with his hands clasped together in mock prayer. "Please tell your cousin is gay and they’re going to fall in love and Henry will beco a famous dancer and live happily ever after."
Jack laughed, a genuine sound. The others also seed amused and even Rachel’s lips twitched.
"I honestly do not know what Felix is." Jack answered honestly. "He’s pretty private about that stuff. But Henry can try his shot." He paused, grinning. "That is, if he ever finds his voice and you know... talk like a human?"
The others laughed, the tension breaking. Sky glanced across the room and saw Henry standing next to Felix at the makeshift bar, still looking starstruck but at least managing to nod along to whatever Felix was saying.
Soone waved Jack over from across the room, another young guy in an expensive suit, and Jack’s eyes lit up. "Sorry, got to go. You guys try to have fun, yeah? And seriously, don’t be intimidated. These people might be rich and powerful, but they still put their pants on one leg at a ti."
"Do they though?" Noel muttered as Jack walked away. "Pretty sure so of these people have servants to put their pants on for them."
Rain snorted. She turned to Rachel and i with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Wanna get a drink and look at cute rich guys?"
She paused, glancing at i and Rachel, then corrected herself. "Cute girls too."
i snorted. "I’ll pass and stick with my boy here." She wrapped her arm through Sky’s, leaning her head briefly on his shoulder. "But if you find any girl cuter than you, hook up!"
She smirked at Rain, who rolled her eyes good-naturedly. Sky raised his brows at i questioningly, but before he could say anything, Rain was already pulling Rachel along with her toward the snack bar. But not before Rachel and Noel exchanged a look, sothing loaded and complicated that Sky didn’t have the energy to analyze right now.
"I’m going to go look around," Noel announced. "See what other impressive shit we have here. Maybe hang around Henry and make sure he’s not proposing to Felix."
He disappeared into the crowd before anyone could respond.
Sky turned to i, lowering his voice. "Are you seriously trying to hit on my sister?"
i laughed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "If I didn’t already have soone I’m into? Sure I would. Have you seen Rain? She’s gorgeous. And smart. And funny. Honestly, you Satos have unfairly good genes."
Sky looked at her in mock disgust, making her roll her eyes. But then her expression shifted, becoming more serious. She studied his face carefully.
"Are you okay?" she asked quietly.
"Yes, why?"
"Because you’ve been unusually quiet since we left. And you seem..." She tilted her head, considering. "Lost in your head. And maybe also... happy? Like, genuinely happy. Plus there’s this perpetual blush on your cheeks that’s been all evening. So either you’re running a fever or sothing very good happened."
That... was true.
Even despite all the distractions; the mansion, the guests, the overwhelming wealth on display, Sky’s mind kept replaying the dressing room. Chris’s words. The weight of ’I love you’ settling into his bones like it belonged there. He felt light. Impossibly light. Like he might float away if he didn’t have sothing to anchor him.
In that mont, as if summoned by his thoughts, Chris’s eyes found him across the room. There was a brief frown on his face when he saw how entangled Sky and i was, but it disappeared as quickly as it ca but Sky did not pretend lkke it was nothing and removed i’s hand from his, stepping aside.
i eyed him and scoffed dramatically.
Chris simply smiled. That private, knowing smile that was just for Sky, and Sky’s heart did sothing stupid in his chest. Chris was standing with an older woman, but he waved Sky over, tilting his head in invitation.
Sky raised a questioning brow, especially since Chris was clearly in the middle of what looked like an important conversation. But Chris’s gesture was insistent, beckoning him closer.
"Okay..." i said, following Sky’s gaze and smiling knowingly. "I’ll go try the wines then. See if super rich people alcohol tastes better than normal rich people alcohol. See you later, love."
She squeezed his arm once before disappearing into the crowd, leaving Sky to make his way toward Chris.
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