Christoph and Eline moved through the restaurant with annoying ease, like people who had grown up being welcomed everywhere. Staff greeted them with polite warmth. The hostess spoke to them briefly, then gestured in Sophia and Matthew’s direction.
Sophia’s stomach dropped.
“No,” she whispered. “Absolutely not. Universe, be serious.”
But there they were, changing direction, heading straight for their table.
Matthew stood smoothly, all business. “Play nice,” he murmured.
Sophia straightened in her seat, arranging her features into what she hoped was a calm, professional expression and not the face of a woman mentally replaying pool acoustics and pavilion trauma.
“Matthew,” Christoph greeted, voice low and even. “I did not realize you were already here.”
“Long day,” Matthew replied, sh
