The situation turned out far better than Marcus had feared.
Anya gave him a quiet, melancholy look before moving to stand beside him without complaint. Marcus introduced her to everyone, and she greeted them warmly before taking a seat next to Lily and Willow. Before long, the three girls were chatting comfortably together.
It helped that Anya, Lily, and Willow had all attended the same college. Even if they hadn't been close before, they'd heard enough about one another to find common ground quickly.
Still, Marcus knew Anya too well.
Behind her gentle smile and calm expression, he could see the loneliness she was trying to hide. There was sadness in her eyes, buried deep beneath her graceful composure, and seeing it made something twist painfully in his chest. He wanted to say something to her, anything at all, but every word felt wrong before it even reached his mouth.
Chloe, meanwhile, was acting far colder.
