Cole starts speaking again. “For the next part of the ceremony, the two regional heads will have five minutes with Jacqueline to do whatever they would like. You can both come up and join Jacqueline in the center of the circle now.”
As two familiar faces begin advancing towards me, I smile. It’s Maverick and Brooks—the two men I went on a date with last week. Brooks hardly acknowledges my existence as he approaches me, while Maverick gives me a brief smile.
I feel hurt for a second before remembering that this is a ceremony and there’s probably rules about not breaking form. Giving welcome hugs probably wouldn’t really fit in with the evening’s mood.
Maverick and Brooks huddle together, and I assume they’re discussing what to do to me. A thrill runs down my spine as I think of all the d
