“Just say whatever you need to say, Mags. Nothing can sink me lower than I’ve already sunk.”

She rolled her eyes. “Great,” she said. “I’ll just be the nail in the coffin of your shit day, then? Excellent.”

He grabbed her hand and squeezed.

“Thought you had a grip on the fear,” he said. “More than I do on the drama, I guess.” He chuckled, and this seemed to encourage her.

“I’m leaving Minneapolis,” she said, squeezing his hand back, and Miles’s throat tightened.

“You’re going to D.C. with Griffin.”

She nodded, and he felt the ridiculous hot sting of tears. Christ, what was wrong with him? This was what he wanted for Maggie. This was what he told her she should do. But on some level he had hoped she wouldn’t. Because Maggie staying would be a reason for him to stay—a reason for him to ignore what was missing from his life by focusing on someone else’s.

“This is good news,” he said, and he watched her swipe at a tear.

“Then why do you look so sad?” she asked, and he bit down hard on the inside of his cheek. Then he groaned.

“Because I’m a sad excuse for a human right now. Because if you didn’t go with him, you’d end up like me. And as much as I’ll miss you, I would never want that for you.”

She wrapped him in a tight embrace, and he let out a shuddering breath as he squeezed her back. He knew when he let go that this would be the beginning of the end. Of all the people in his life, she was the closest thing to home. He’d been veering off course for years now. Without Maggie, he feared he’d be utterly lost. But that was not her burden to bear.

He pushed her from him, his hands firm on her shoulders.

“I’m happy for you, Mags. Do you get that? This is what I want for you.”

She pulled him close again.

“I love you, Miles.”

“I love you, too,” he said.

He didn’t want to know if she heard his voice crack on that pivotal word. It had been so easy to say it to her in the past. She was his closest friend, and he knew she would never leave. That was enough for him to hand over a little piece of his heart.

Little pieces could break, too. This wasn’t what surprised him, though. What caught him off guard was the realization that he wouldn’t have done it any differently. Things with Maggie would be different once she left. And yes, it would hurt like hell to say good-bye. But he would never give up the five years he spent letting her burrow into that tiny place in his heart. He wouldn’t trade the hurt for never knowing her at all.

“Shit,” he said.

Maggie pulled free of his embrace. “What?”

“Well, I’m twenty-six years old, and I think—maybe—I just fucking grew up.”

Maggie laughed. “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

He shook his head, more at himself than anything.

“Would have been good if it happened before I royally fucked things up.”

Her grin only grew wider.

“Miles Parker…” Her voice took on a teasing lilt. “Are you falling for a boy you met on a plane?”

He ran a hand through his hair. “That’s crazy, right? I mean, not just the meeting-him-yesterday part. But he lives in Greece.”

Maggie nodded. “I can see where that might make things difficult. What are your plans after earning that PhD this spring?”

“Maggie…”

“Do you have a job lined up? I know you wanted to teach. At a university. I hear they have those here.”

He laughed. “I just basically told the guy to fuck off. I don’t think he’s asking me to move in anytime soon.”

Maggie raised a brow. “But if you tell him how you feel and that you’re all grown up now, and maybe bat those gorgeous baby blues, he might forgive you. You’ve got five months of school left. Who knows what could happen between now and then?”

He straightened his tie, then loosened it. Then he tore the fucking thing off.

“You’re cute when you’re falling for someone,” she said.

“Shut up. I’m a fucking mess. Are you going to be okay if I go? I need to find Alex. Does this look okay without the tie? Jesus, my palms are sweating.”

She stood on her toes and pecked him on the cheek.

“It’s okay. You’re actually adorable,” she added.

She pulled her small camera from her purse and snapped a picture of him before he could object.

“Here,” Maggie said. “So you remember the moment you decided to follow your heart.”

Miles grabbed the photo and then took in a deep breath.

“So I’m doing this?” he asked, and even though she nodded, he didn’t need her to answer. Maggie wasn’t responsible for his happiness. And neither was Alex, for that matter. He still had a lot to learn about taking a chance on it, but he was the only one responsible for that.

He kissed the top of her head.

“I love you, Mags.”

“Love you, too.”

The image on the photo started to take shape as he began to walk.

He laughed hard when his form came into focus—a version of him he’d never seen before. A complete and utter mess.

He was tired of neat and pretty, of putting on a show. Alex just had to take a chance on the real him, the one who was done with the act. But Alex wasn’t in the restaurant. Miles even snuck into the kitchen, but he knew what he’d find when he got there. No Alex. He was no longer on the clock, and it was New Year’s Eve.

Alex could be anywhere.

Chapter Thirty-One

Duncan

How many people could they possibly know? Duncan had lost count four tables ago. And never mind the people who never sat down and just milled about. They didn’t make the list. According to him, if you weren’t seated you weren’t greeted. Oh bloody well.

“One more,” Elaina said. “And then we get to eat.”

Duncan groaned until his eyes fell upon the familiar faces at this final table where they had to put on the bride and groom show. He collapsed in a chair next to Jordan, who sat with her feet resting on Noah’s lap.

“You’ve got the right idea, Jordan.” He watched Elaina dutifully kiss her American guests on each cheek, then patted his thigh with his palm. “Come sit, wife. I beg you. I can’t stand anymore.”

She obliged, sinking onto his lap and draping her arms around his neck. She kissed him, and he wished that when he opened his eyes, the party would be over and they would be alone in their hotel room bed.

No such luck.

“Do you know that’s the first we’ve kissed without someone else asking us to do it?”

Sure, he’d been kissing her all night, but only on command when someone tapped a spoon against a glass or brandished a phone or a camera. This was the first kiss that was for no one else but them—and the four others at the table watching.

Elaina slipped her tongue past his lips, and bloody hell, Duncan couldn’t give two shites that they weren’t alone. She was his wife, and he would never refuse her lips on his.

When she did pull away, he felt light-headed, drunk even, and he hadn’t had a single sip. He heard quiet laughter and finally opened his eyes.

“Maybe we should leave you two alone,” Jordan said.

Duncan nodded. “Aye. Would it be inappropriate, though, to consummate the marriage at the table?”

Jordan was still giggling. “You do have easy access with the kilt.”

Elaina raised a brow. “Not my husband. He wanted to be a gentleman instead of a true Scotsman. How would you say it? Oh, yes. Access denied.”

Maggie joined in the laughter, and Duncan looked from Griffin to Noah, who were both eyeing each other and shrugging.

“No,” Duncan said. “Please, lads. Tell me I didn’t cover up just so you two could…”

Jordan had her hand on her belly, laughing so hard she began to hiccup.

“Duncan is the only man at this table wearing something under his kilt?” Elaina’s smile was replaced with a set jaw and pursed lips. She stood. “Come. I need to speak to you alone.”