My sister looped her arm through mine again, her smile now forced. “Fucking assholes.” She said it without moving her lips.

“Apparently everyone’s thinking the same thing, so I’m not sure they’re out of line.”

She rolled her eyes as soon as we were out of view. The lobby of the building was echoey and quiet in comparison, even with people milling about, waiting to go upstairs. “They’re so fucking far out of line I’m going to have my lawyers rip them a new asshole. I get they have to ask about the relationship stuff, and it sucks. But they don’t get to ask about dad or if you’re in fucking therapy.”

I swallowed and pulled her into a hug. Every day I missed Dad. And yes, I’d gone to therapy, though it was no one’s business. But it hit Eva hard, too. He hadn’t been gone long, and he hadn’t been there to present her at her bonding ceremony.

If—when—my time came, I was sure I would feel the same.

I shoved down the emotions about Dad. Though it had been two years, I hadn’t really grieved. I had, and I hadn’t. It was too hard, and every time I thought about him I couldn’t breathe.

So I did my best not to think about him.

Denial was the best medicine, right?

“Sorry,” Eva muttered. “It just pisses me off.”

“I know, and I appreciate it. But let’s go do this party thing so we can get the hell out of here.”

Eva laughed, quickly swiping under her eyes. “Deal.”

“Why is this party happening again?”

She snorted inelegantly as we walked to the elevator, Neil close behind. “Honestly? What we just walked through was most of it.”

“This was all for pictures?”

“Kind of. Just press in general. You know how it is. A lot of pretty, famous people in one spot draws attention. Wellbridge Studio doesn’t have any huge films out until the end of the summer, but they want to keep us in everybody’s mind.”

Neil pushed the button for the elevator, and we followed him inside.

“I hate that that makes sense.”

“Plus,” Eva added. “They get to spoil us at these parties, and they’re fun. You’ll see. Now that I’ve finally dragged you to one you’ll always want to come.”

“I highly doubt it.”

But I had to admit, the doors of the elevator opening onto what looked like a mix between a circus and a nightclub might be able to change my mind.

Deep red fabric draped from the ceiling, creating a tent. Black chandeliers dotted the space with actual candles flickering in them. The rest of the light came from roving spotlights and patterned beams in warm colors shifting over the tent itself.