Taking in the amount of people in the living room had me fighting the urge to duck behind Beau to shield myself from view. This scene of Beau’s guests conversing by the fireplace, those who weren’t in high school chatting over glasses of wine, the delectable appetizers spread out on the coffee table, probably would’ve made the perfect stock photo for fancy living.

I felt very underdressed in my jeans and T-shirt when I saw the skirt and blouse get-up two girls I knew from the student council were wearing. The only redeeming thing about this—apart from getting to stand so close to Beau—was that Nina was here. Yeah, she was currently talking to Jackson of all people, but at least she was here.

DON’T WORRY, Beau signed to me when he saw me gnawing on my lip. NICE PEOPLE.

Nice of him to try to reassure me, but I had my doubts about that, catching sight of the look Dr. Watson sent our way when he saw Beau sign to me.

A man came wandering over to us while I was debating pulling Nina away from Jackson to chat with her myself. He looked pretty similar to Dr. Watson actually, save for the graying hair, so my bet was that this was one of Beau’s relatives.

MY UNCLE, Beau signed as I shook the man’s hand. E-D-D-I-E.

“Nice to meet you,” I said, hoping he wouldn’t notice how clammy my palm was.

Beau’s Uncle Eddie pointed to his ear and said, “. . . deaf?”

I nodded, forcing myself to keep meeting his gaze and not go scampering off from the intensity of Dr. Watson’s stare. What was his deal?

“Cool,” Eddie said with a grin, and he left it at that.

I appreciated that.

Beau introduced two more family members next. There was his aunt Paula, Eddie’s wife, who seemed nice as she smiled and shook my hand. Then there was their daughter, Lacey, who did not bother with a hello and just gave a limp wave.

Everyone else I knew were friends or student council members from Engelmann, so any further introductions were unnecessary. But tonight was about Beau, so it was no surprise most eyes were on him. This wasn’t so different than standing next to him at school.

FOOD? Beau signed, nodding toward the appetizers on the coffee table.

SURE, THANK YOU, I signed.

I decided to stuff my face while the socializing continued. I didn’t really notice what I was eating, but I was relishing the distraction. Guests were itching to talk to Beau and congratulate him on his acceptance from Yale. That wasn’t the type of conversation I wanted to be lipreading.

Beau barely registered my signing, DRINK, to him, pointing toward the kitchen, while a colleague of Dr. Watson blabbed away at him. I slipped away before he could respond.