The colleague arrives breathless, still pulling on her jacket.
"The engraved stick glasses haven't shown up and neither have the game pucks—the admin manager needs us both, now." She's already looking at Lisa with apology pre-loaded in her expression. "ESPN starts recording in forty minutes."
Lisa frowns. "Elias isn't even here yet."
"That's exactly why we need to move. The opening toast setup has to be ready before he walks in."
Mia puts a hand briefly on Lisa's arm. "Go. I'll be right here."
Lisa hesitates, leaning in close enough that only Mia can hear. "Stay away from Claire. Elias isn't here yet and I don't trust the geometry of that." She squeezes Mia's hand once, then she's gone.
Mia watches her disappear into the crowd.
The evening's structure makes more sense now.
The engr
