*

"Do you play any?” Cedric asks, somewhat relieved the topic had switched. He nods. “I’m playing for a charity event next week, and my parents decided to invite nearly our entire clan, so — no pressure.” There was absolutely pressure. “But I suppose I should be grateful that they’re so proud of me.”

“You were worried?” Ana purses her lips. “I didn’t know that. Why?” She was, of course, aware of several reasons why someone would be — she’s heard enough about it from her own family, but she wasn’t sure which of them Victoria would have been concerned about. “To be fair, I did worry a bit as well, but maybe not for the same reasons as everyone else.” Ana’s chattier than usual today. It’s a good thing she trusted Victoria. “You mean, what didn’t they do? I try my best, you know? But every time I think I’ve finally pleased them enough, there’s suddenly something else I’m doing wrong.”

Everything’s fast when they get to the bedroom, and Blaise is just as eager to strip himself bare, his need for the alpha growing with every kiss that scorched his skin. The corners of his lips turn up as he’s pushed down on the bed, and Oliver’s words has his pants feeling all too tight. “Fuck.” Blaise sighs when he’s rid of the rest of his clothing, cock hard as he looks up at Oliver, practically begging to be touched. “I’ll be so good, alpha.” Teeth lightly scrape his bottom lip as Blaise feels down Oliver’s muscular body, and as he reaches the alpha’s jeans, he makes quick work of unbuttoning them before shoving a hand underneath the restricting fabric. “Mm, you’re so big.” Blaise strokes the alpha’s cock, taking a moment to appreciate how Oliver felt in his hand. “I want you to fill me up so bad.”

“Thanks.” Cedric takes a sip from the glass when it is offered to him, and it manages to make him feel a little refreshed. He tilts his head to the side. “I have to.” He’s spent years of his life trying to live up to his family’s exceedingly high expectations. He can’t stop now. “Everything has to be perfect when I play at the benefit tomorrow. No mistakes.”

“Fine. I’ll let you off easy just because I do adore your cooking.” Ana hums, giving it a moment’s thought. “Dim sum. That alright with you?”

“Perfect.” Ana leans back in her seat, letting out a small, relaxed sigh. “Ah, yes. We should have done this sooner. But I’ve been good. Inspired. So I’m totally making the most out of this good mood, and you should too,” she says with a chuckle. “And you?”

“Alright…” Nadia still seemed hesitant, but she knew that Walden had a point. Nothing was going to happen if she stayed locked in her room, but at the same time, nothing was going to happen if she stayed locked in her room. It wasn’t like she was having the time of her life playing it too safe either. “I’ll come out with you, then. Just promise not to ditch, okay? Seriously, Walden. I mean it.”

Nadia nods. “I’ll try.” It was definitely easier said than done, but at this point, what else was she supposed to do? “Well, for starters… Is there anything I can do to repay you for everything? And don’t say I don’t have to.” Nadia’s lucky that Frankie was kind enough to help her, but she didn’t want to feel quite so helpless either. “Surely there’s something I can help you with.”

“Unpaid internship?” Blaise shakes his head. “Don’t work for free. Your degree in psych deserves so much more.”

“Oh, what did these old people say now?” Blaise knew how condescending some old people in town could be. He wrinkles his nose at the thought. “Did you at least try to confuse them with your youth? Sometimes it makes it less annoying.”

His brows quirk slightly at the compliment—not that he didn’t like it, but his fiancé seemed to find it easy to throw around such words, Cedric wonders if Walden’s simply trying to break the ice, or if he was just accustomed to such flirting. “It’s nice to meet you too.” Heavens, he sounded like such a square he felt like he needed to say something. “I’m looking forward to getting to know you… good-looking.” Cedric almost regrets it the moment the nickname comes out of his mouth, if only because it seemed so foreign on his tongue. There’s a light flush on his cheeks as he starts the car and keeps his eyes on the road, suddenly very interested in driving them to the Herring as quickly as possible, as well as changing the topic. “What’s your favorite place in town?”

A smile forms on her lips as he leans in to kiss her forehead and she wraps her arms around him. It means a lot to her that someone would want to give her the best. She never believed it when others said it, but Andrew was… different. She pulls back slightly to look up at him, heart skipping a beat as she knows the words she was about to say, she hasn’t said to anyone in a long time. “I love you.”

“Piss me off?” Ana chuckles. “On the contrary — he’s been making me very happy.” She wasn’t quite so drunk yet, but perhaps she was already a little tipsy. She takes another sip of her drink. “It’s my family. They’re the ones who are driving me crazy. But that’s nothing new, is it?”

Cedric hadn’t had an idea of the kind of man his family had agreed to set him up with. All he knew was that it would be an advantageous arrangement, like all such arrangements his family’s been making for generations. So as he looked upon the face that met him — an attractive face, thank goodness, at least — he was determined to at least try to get along. “Right. Hello. Pardon my manners. My name is Cedric.” An introduction. How could he forget? He’s a little nervous but he’d never admit it. “Special? I just thought it proper. I doubt it would have been polite or appropriate to bring you to some dump for our first meeting.” He steps aside, allowing Walden space to walk on ahead. “That’s my car up front.”

“I’m still not sure what I’m supposed to be doing now. I feel like I don’t know anything. I don’t have a purpose.” Nadia admits in a soft voice. “And now everything is new, and… should I just forget about the past? But what if I can remember?”