I looked away from Ryan and walked with Roxanne.
There was no way Ryan would do something to me in Roxanne's presence. Besides, Estelle and Joel know we stepped out together.
I convinced myself and tried to relax.
The moment we stepped inside, everything hit me at once.
Lights. Sound. Bodies moving too close, too fast.
The air was thick—perfume, alcohol, heat.
I stiffened… This felt wrong... All of it. And then it got worse.
"Isabelle!"
I turned and saw Stella and Dominic.
Two more cousins from the dinner. The obnoxious siblings.
They were smiling and laughing; apparently, they were already present. Which meant they were waiting for us.
My chest tightened.
"You didn't tell me they were coming," I said under my breath.
Roxanne blinked innocently. "Ryan thought it'd be more fun this way."
Of course…Ryan… And, obviously, this was his idea of fun: catching me off guard.
I shot him a glare and gave him a look that said 'fuck you'.
