FROM WHERE MINETTE is sitting she can see Paul and Alex before they come back into the dining room. Paul has his arm around Alex’s waist and murmurs something in his ear before he kisses his cheek, unwraps his arm, and nudges him through the doorway and back to the table.
Alex is pale under his freckles and looks like he’s seen a ghost. As he makes his way to his seat Liam, his own face drawn, twists around, grabs Alex’s hand, and gives him a wordless, questioning look that’s uncomfortably intense.
Alex’s expression doesn’t change, at least not that Minette can tell, but Liam must see something because his face loosens and he smiles. He presses a kiss to the palm of Alex’s hand before he lets it go. He resumes talking with Ellen as if nothing had interrupted him. Alex squeezes Liam’s sho
