Later on, Leah excused herself from the lively circle, slipping into the restroom to gather her composure.
The laughter faded behind the heavy door, and she took a breath, splashing cool water on her face.
Her curls clung to her temple, damp with both humidity and the weight of the evening.
She stared at her reflection for a moment, steadying her thoughts before stepping back out.
She made her way to the bar, grabbed a drink, something strong but smooth, and reclined lazily against the counter, eyes scanning the crowd.
Velicia was laughing again.
This time, with Cole.
Leah sipped her drink, her expression unreadable. She couldn’t lie, it still hit a nerve. Not because she didn’t want Velicia happy.
But because there was something quietly aching about watching someone else receiv
