Eleanor
I needed a break.
The noise, the crowd, the tension simmering beneath the surface, it was all getting to me in a way I hadn’t expected. So, with a polite smile and a quiet excuse, I turned to slip away, fully intending to take a moment to myself.
But just as I started walking, a voice cut through the hum of conversation, and the sound of my name made me slow my steps.
“Why did you even bring Eleanor?” Emma’s voice was light, casual, but there was an edge to it, something sharp enough to make my fingers tighten slightly around my glass.
I didn’t turn around, not yet, not when I knew I could just keep walking and pretend I hadn’t heard a thing.
But I stayed, lingering near the edge of the room, pretending to adjust the strap of my clutch as I waited for the inevitable response.
