Cassian blinked. ‘?’
He actually pointed to himself, like Ashton had mistaken him for soone else.
‘I wasn’t even here when they started fighting. I’ve no clue what was said. What the hell am I apologising for?’
Ashton looked at . ‘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 . ‘Her tone was worse than mine. Did she apologise to ? No. But I’m the one out of line?’
Ashton shrugged. ‘Didn’t hear her.’
Then he glanced at Emtt, 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 . Selective fucking hearing? You hear loud and clear but nothing from her? Alright. Fine. You want an apology? Here it is—’ He snapped his head towards . ‘Sorry. Happy now?’
He looked like he wanted to put his fist through sothing.
Definitely not sorry.
He fixed with a glare, breathing hard. ‘That good enough for you?’
I rolled my eyes as a reply.
He turned like he was about to stalk off again.
‘Hold on,’ I called. ‘You haven’t apologised to Yvaine yet.’
He froze.
For a second, I thought he was about to keel over.
He yanked at his tie like it was choking him.
One of his shirt buttons shot off and pinged across the floor.
‘You’ve got to be fucking kidding . What am I even apologising for now? I didn’t say a single thing to her.’
‘You took sides. You knew who started it, and you still backed Alexis. By that, you implied Yvaine and I lied.’
Cassian exhaled hard through his nose.
The muscle under his cheek bunched like he was chewing glass.
We all stood there, forming a hostile circle around him.
‘Fine!’ He turned to Yvaine, arms flung wide. ‘I’m sorry, alright? Happy now?’
He pointed at Ashton, then Emtt.
‘You two want one too? Go on, take a number. Sorry, Ashton. Sorry, Emtt. All of this? Totally my fault. What a fucking disaster I am.’
He was shouting now.
Ashton barely looked at him. ‘We’re good. Get out.’
Cassian spun around and left.
Alexis trailed after him, heels tapping fast against the tiles.
The second they were gone, the air changed.
Everyone exhaled.
I turned straight to Yvaine.
‘Are you alright?’ I grabbed her arm and checked her over, still unconvinced Alexis hadn’t done sothing while I was out of earshot.
‘I’m fine,’ she said calmly. ‘She just ran her mouth a bit. Nothing serious. I didn’t let it get to .’
‘Good.’
Emtt stepped closer. ‘Thanks.’ For sticking up for Yvaine earlier.
I shrugged. ‘Don’t ntion it.’
He gave a nod, then started walking.
Yvaine trailed after him.
She looked over her shoulder at with a grin. ‘He’s still pissed. I’m gonna go check he doesn’t punch a tree or sothing.’
Once they were gone, Ashton and I headed back into the ballroom.
The wedding was long over.
Most of the chairs were empty now, a few guests still loitering by the dessert table or packing up their things.
We stepped outside together.
The cold hit straight away.
My arms broke out in goosebumps and I jerked back from the wind.
‘Jesus. Is it snowing?’ I rubbed my arms. ‘Why is it this cold?’
Ashton pulled a scarf out from under his coat—no idea where he’d stashed it—and looped it around my neck.
The wool was thick and still warm from his body heat.
‘Don’t catch a cold,’ he muttered. ‘I’ve got to stop by the office. I’ll drop you off on the way.’
‘I’ve got my car. I’ll drive back to the studio.’
‘Alright. Drive safe. Dinner tonight?’
‘Yeah. Text .’
He didn’t make it to dinner.
Just after seven, Ashton ssaged to say sothing had co up.
Work dinner, or so last-minute stuff.
He told not to wait.
I ate alone on the sofa, half-watching two episodes of a cri show I didn’t care about.
Just before ten, I got up to turn in.
That’s when my phone buzzed.
Riley.
We hadn’t spoken since that ti Yvaine dragged to her new bar for the launch.
Her na lighting up my phone at this hour only ant one thing.
I answered before the second ring.
‘Mira, thank god. Yvaine’s here. She’s drunk. Like, properly hamred. I can’t leave the bar—I’ve got people waiting on deliveries and my manager’s off tonight. Can you co get her? I don’t wanna call Emtt. He’ll lose it.’
‘I’m on my way.’
I hung up, yanked off my pyjamas, and threw on the first jumper I could find.
Five minutes later, I was in the car, heading downtown.
Riley had soone waiting outside the bar when I pulled up.
A young guy in a black shirt with too much hair gel waved in and led through a side corridor.
The private room looked empty from the hallway. No lights, no sound.
‘This the right—?’
Before I could finish, the server flicked on the overheads.
Yvaine was curled up in the corner of a velvet sofa, hugging a half-empty bottle of sothing amber.
Her boots were still on, legs sprawled over the cushion.
One strap of her dress had slipped off her shoulder.
The air slled like spilt tequila, dried lis, and perfu that had lost its charm an hour ago.
I turned the lights down low and crossed the room.
Dozens of bottles were scattered around her, so standing, most rolling near the edge of the coffee table.
I crouched down and nudged her upright.
Her head lolled forward.
I tapped her cheek.
‘Co on. Let’s get you ho. Can you open your eyes?’
Her skin burned under my fingers.
Her lashes twitched a few tis before she cracked one eye open and blinked hard.
‘Mira?’ she slurred. ‘Why’re there two of you?’
‘Because you’re smashed. I’m taking you ho.’
‘No! I’m not leaving!’ She jerked up and lunged for the table. ‘Still drinking!’
I caught her wrist and pulled the glass out of reach. ‘You’re done. That’s it.’
She tried to grab it back, twice, then gave up and went limp.
A second later, she started crying.
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