Maddy's POV
The reception thinned out slowly after Max and Alissa's dramatic exit. One by one, guests filtered away, their laughter quieter now, their curiosity finally satisfied. The air still felt thick, as if the room hadn't quite recovered from the storm that had passed through it.
I stood by the edge of the dance floor, the soft strains of the final song drifting lazily through the hall. Nate was beside me, his jacket now slung casually over one shoulder, the top button of his shirt undone. He looked effortlessly composed, like the night hadn't touched him at all.
"You ready to get out of here?" he asked, his voice low and smooth.
I hesitated, glancing around at the mess of half-empty glasses, abandoned heels, and wilting flowers. "Yeah," I breathed. "I think I've had en
