Tony took the phone, but instead of excitement, there was confusion in his eyes. He glanced around, and I followed his gaze, noticing for the first time that Lila was gone. That was it, wasn't it? That was why he looked so disoriented.
Desperate to keep his attention, I scrambled for another question. "So, do you like—"
"Excuse me," Tony interrupted, his voice polite but distant. He handed me back my phone and started moving toward the stairs without another word.
I watched him go, a mix of disbelief and irritation bubbling up. I scoffed, raising my glass to my lips. "What a dog," I muttered under my breath. The wine went down too quickly, the burn in my throat matching the sting of rejection.
I needed air. Or maybe just something to distract me from the humiliation simmering inside. I
