But I don’t look back.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Lainey

The entire first floor of the opera house has been transformed for the gala, everything done in a dramatic black and white motif. They’ve draped white silk from the ceiling to create the illusion of an indoor tent. There are round cocktail tables covered in black linens, and on each one, there’s an extravagant centerpiece made from white orchids and black roses. In the heart of the space, right in the center of the dance floor, there’s an ice sculpture of two swans resting against one another that soars almost seven feet tall. Couples pose in front of it for photos, and my grandmother leads us around it, to where Diana and Victoria have already started to amass a group of friends.

One of the principal dancers from the ballet is among them, still dressed in his prince costume. He’s tall and lithe, good-natured and polite enough to indulge all of our questions. It’s a good fundraising effort for the ballet company to send out their dancers and have them schmooze the crowd. Even I’m a little starstruck by him.

“Think I have a chance with him?”

The question is asked by one of Victoria’s friends, a tall handsome man with pale blond hair and thick black glasses. He stands just to my left, and though he’s bent down to talk to me, his enamored gaze is still on the dancer.

“Romantically?” I ask, just to be sure.

He winks, and I nod.

“Are they allowed to flirt with gala attendees? I’m sure it’s frowned upon.”

“Well technically I’m a guest of Victoria’s, a no one, really, so maybe I should exploit that loophole.”

I laugh. “Well you do have good taste, I’ll give you that.”

He smiles, and then it fades as he catches sight of something over my shoulder.

“Speaking of good taste…don’t look now, but there’s an insanely handsome man looking over here. Wait, he’s not just looking—he’s shooting daggers at me.”

Awareness trickles down my spine.

I don’t bother to turn back to see for myself. “Does he have dark hair?”

“Yes, and an amazing suit, and he has to be, what, six foot two? Please be gay, please be gay, please be gay,” he starts to chant.

I can’t help but laugh.

“How angry does he look?”

“Um, yeah, now that you mention it, I think he might want to rip my head off. Strange considering I don’t recognize him.”

“It’s because of me,” I admit with a note of apology.

“Oh my god, what did you do? He’s coming over here. He isn’t going to try to fight me, is he?”

Another laugh bursts out of me. “I sincerely hope not.”

“You don’t sound convinced, and this is a rented tux. I can’t mess it up or I’ll lose my deposit.”

I take pity on him. I barely know this man; there’s no reason to drag him into the crossfire.

“I’ll sacrifice myself,” I tell him with a wink and then turn to face Emmett all on my own, walking away from the safety of the group.