Alma drifted over, all shy smiles, and the edge in Christopher's expression softened instantly. He wrapped an arm around her and started walking toward the door.
She glanced back at me, eyes wide with practiced sympathy. "Are you upset? Babe, I don't need a title. Why don't you two just go ahead and get married like you planned?"
Christopher shook his head. "If she could accept another man, she wouldn't have stuck around this long. She can't even stand it when a guy tries to buy her a drink. She'll spend her whole life giving in to me."
I had been with Christopher for seven years.
I knew exactly what it looked like when he loved someone.
Three days. He'd known Alma for three days, and the look in his eyes was unmistakable.
What I also knew was that Christopher still didn't understand me at all.
Once I decided to let go of this, I could disappear to the ends of the earth, and he would never find me.
I stood up to grab another drink, and the spotlight landed squarely on me.
"Well, would you look at that! First Christopher, now Louisa. This party just keeps delivering."
I froze for a moment, then kept walking to the bar and picked up my glass.
The host bounded over with a grin. "So, Miss Henson, Truth or Dare?"
"Doesn't matter."
"Dare it is, then?"
"Sure."
The host's eyes lit up. "You're certain? If you back out, the entire venue's tab goes on yours."
This party happened once a year. Half the city's young elite were here tonight. The tab was longer than a mortgage statement. The number of people who could actually cover it could be counted on one hand.
I didn't think too hard about it. I agreed.
The host's voice pitched higher, ringing across the room. "The dare is: pick anyone here to spend the night with!"
The place exploded.
I set my glass down and scanned the room. Christopher's lips curved into a brief, knowing smile.
"Come on, this is boring. She's obviously going to pick Christopher. Don't they have an engagement?"
"Didn't they call it off?"
"She's definitely picking Christopher. Even just to spite Alma, she'd do it."
The crowd buzzed with speculation.
Alma clenched her fists around the hem of Christopher's jacket.
"Babe, if you agree to this, don't ever touch me again."
"Relax. I'm not agreeing to anything."