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"Perk up," Tate whispers indown to lare that should res stand between us The dilation of his pupils tells lass "You kno to throw a great party"

"Thank you," I say curtly

He frowns at me "You don’t look happy"

I step back "I a to avoid his scrutinizing stare Ro extreainst each other in a way that screaht--I’m not sure whether it’s his fiancée, because I’ve never h this wo in the saetherDahlia while Garrett stands next to theirlfriend of his own I thought he was into Ena, Xander’s assistant, but it seems she’s with Leif I can’t keep up

"You’re extre not to sound as offended as I arin fades "I’m not the moody one," I say in a bold tone I haven’t displayed in a while

He clarabs my arm before I can walk away "Dance with ?" His short, sharp tone isn’t the normal one I’m used to This tone is laced with menace

"Oh, there you are," my mother says, oblivious of the scene before her

I try to sht

Her eyes zero in on er "You look like you got too much sun today"

"Yeah, I think I did--"

I’m interrupted by the sound of Xander’s voice in the microphone "Here she is, everyone--Ivy Taylor," he announces

"Co tofor uilty I haven’t told her about Ben

We press our way over to the stage and listen to a , but all the while visions of Ben kissingme in the most intimate places are all I can think about I openwhen I see the look on Xander’s face He holds out his ar co Ivy around I look at my mother and we both have tears in our eyes She pulls ainstnot to, but seeing him so happy makes me so happy"

"I know, Mom I know"

She takes a deep breath and whispers, "It’s what I want for all of o check on Dino and Matt"

She nods

I spend what’s left of the night talking to the guests and trying to avoid both Tate and Roether and separately My phone vibrates in e

I should be there in about twenty minutes

I text back

I can’t wait to see you

I can’t wait to do a lot of things

My nerves flutter like the butterflies in my stomach, but I don’t have ins and I know it’s ti ed it River starts to sing "Marry Me," the No Doubt version, of course--Xander always said Ivy looked like Gwen Stefani As River sings, Xander braces his ar down her face and when they finish she goes to hug thee of jealousy flares within me River and now Xander--both of my brothers have found their happily ever after Will I ever find mine? But I push that aside because I couldn’t be happier for h a lot, but I think Xander has been through the rin at thee embrace

Dino elbows me "Didn’t you want these?" he asks

"Yes, oh yes" For the first tiht--he’s interested in

I wave rab the chah "I’m prepared"

"No, for real You’re so red Are you okay?"

I jab the bottle at hiet apictures, and I trail behind with the tray of chane flutes

"Pssttt," I say to her

She looks over her shoulder