Chapter 25There were a lot of people. Julian gave up counting after fifteen, not including his own friends. Maria had capped the party at twenty-five online, but she stood by the door to the hotel conference room to be sure nothing got too out of hand. When Julian hung around with her, casually trying to play security guard, she rolled her eyes.
“Go and enjoy the party.”
“But you’ll be by yourself.”
“Not forever. Just for a little while. I’ll come find you then. But for now, consider this a good gauge of who you can count on as a friend or at least an ally.”
Julian nodded. After giving her a quick kiss, he wandered around the party room. Hannah was still playing DJ, and she couldn’t have looked happier. A few people came by—Julian recognized them from English—to talk to her, but she wa
