Chapter 10: Her Birthday Dinner

Tavola's private room had a long table, candles in squat glass jars and twenty-four people holding champagne.

I stood in the doorway in Ivy's green dress, with Tobias's hand warm at the small of my back.

The dress fit me.

It was cut low in the back, and Ivy had pinned my hair up with a bobby pin shaped like a tiny silver leaf.

"You look dangerous," Tobias said into my ear.

"I feel like I'm going to throw up."

"That's the same feeling."

I laughed, and walked into the room.

The first person to see me was Connor.

He was at the head of the table with a glass in his hand, laughing at something Lacey's father had said.

The laugh died halfway out.

His face did something extraordinary.

It went white, then red, then smooth, all in about two seconds.

"Lena," he said.

The room turned.

Lacey was already crossing it, arms out, in a shimmering pale pink dress that matched the ribbon in her hair.

"You came!" she cried, and hugged me hard.

Her perfume was peach and expensive.

Her mouth was at my ear.

"I'm so glad," she whispered. "You're going to love it."

I stepped back and smiled at her.

"Happy birthday, Lace."

"Everybody, this is Lena, my oldest friend!" Lacey took my hand and pulled me toward the table. "She's been through a rough week. Be nice to her."

Twenty-four faces turned toward me with a little wave of concerned sympathy.

I knew what she'd told them.

I could see it in how they looked at my dress, and at Tobias behind me.

Lena, the sad one.

Lena, who couldn't take a joke.

Lena, who ran off with the wrong man.

"I saved you the best spot," Lacey said, and led me down the long table.

Past the head.

Past her mother, her father and her cousins.

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