“We won’t have to put up the charade much longer,” I added, forcing a smile, hoping the words came out as light and happy as I wanted them to. And I did. I wanted so, so badly to be happy for Clay, to feel nothing but unbridled joy in my heart that he’d gotten exactly what he wanted.

Maliyah wanted him back.

And I’d helped him get her back.

It should have filled me with pride, the kind you get only after being a great friend to someone you love. Instead, it soured my gut, and I dropped my head to Clay’s chest to avoid looking at him any longer for fear I’d crack and reveal the truth.

Which was… what, exactly?

I felt Clay’s hands tighten where they held me, felt his heart pick up speed in his chest where my ear was pressed against it. He stopped swaying, pulling back until his hands were framing my arms and his eyes were pinned on mine.

“Giana, I—”

But before he could speak another word, the band stopped playing, applause rang out so loud it drowned out the rest of what he was going to say, and within seconds, Charlotte was speaking into the mic that it was time for bidding to begin again.

“Meet me at my place after,” I breathed.

And then I reluctantly slipped out of his grasp.

Chapter Nineteen

Clay

It was cold and windy as I waited on the steps outside Giana’s building after the auction. I’d dipped out long before the event actually ended, unable to stand the charade or Maliyah’s not-so-subtle gazes across the room for any longer than I already had.

Can’t wait for our date, she’d said seductively after I’d walked off the stage. I still felt the chill from her fingernail dragging down the length of my arm, could still see the promise in her eyes.

It had worked.

Just like I knew it would, seeing me with Giana had driven her mad, had made her realize that she still wanted me.

But now…

The soft sound of heels clicking on the dark sidewalk brought me out of my haze, and I jumped to my feet just as Giana met me at the bottom of the stairs. She looked frazzled, her hair falling from the bun she’d fixed it in thanks to the wind, and her makeup was a bit smeared, the night too long and involved for it to survive unscathed.

Without a word, she slipped past me, unlocking the door to her building and holding it open for me to pass through first. We walked silently up the stairs to her apartment, and once we were inside, she was on me.