Page 107 of The King Contract
Sofia stares down at our hands and I don’t have time to process what the fuck is happening before she whips her head up and kisses me square on the lips.
43
MILLIE
Fucking blabbermouth
Finally,we’re ready.
A selection of photos hang around the main room in black frames. A long table with a white tablecloth sits at the opposite end, with champagne flutes ready to be filled. Jazz music drifts softly from the speakers. All that’s left now is for people to show up and for me to not pass out from the panic.
When the door swings open twenty minutes before the exhibit is due to start, I nearly fall over. Relief washes over me when I see it’s Mack sauntering in with a big bouquet of flowers, Dan lumbering in behind him.
“Maelstrom!” Mack cries.
“You guys came,” I whisper, almost to myself.
“We wouldn’t have missed this for the biggest waves in the world,” Mack says, wrapping me in a tight hug.
“Liar,” I whisper in his ear.
Mack grins as he pulls back. “These are for you. Dan picked them out and made me carry them because he hates coming across as affectionate. I’ll get a vase.”
I smile at Dan as Mack walks off. “Thank you.”
He lifts one corner of his mouth and gives me a quick kiss on the cheek. Dan’s the quietest of the group, but he expresses so much in his actions. He kisses me on the cheek, he holds out chairs for Steph, he shakes his head at his friends. He communicates the loudest with the most subtle of actions. Plus, he knows Noah and I are fake-dating, and he’s still welcomed me in, even though he’s been against the idea from the beginning.
Dan’s gaze drinks in the room. “The place looks great.”
I huff a nervous laugh. “Thanks. I think I might vomit.”
“You’ve got this, Maelstrom.”
Mack returns without my flowers. “Ellis told me they didn’t suit the decor, so she’s left them out the back.”
“This minimalist look was very carefully crafted,” I reply.
Mack claps his hands. “Can I pour myself a drink? What time is it? Have you heard from King?”
Dan sighs, like a father would when his child won’t stop asking questions and looks at me. “I can’t promise there won’t be punches thrown tonight.”
I giggle. “Yes, you can get yourself a drink and it doesn’t start until four.” I lift my phone and frown. Still no word from Noah.
“He’ll be here,” Dan assures me.
“He’s coming straight from the event, but it’s Saturday,” Mack chimes in. “They’ll probably hit traffic.”
Dan frowns, fishing his own phone out of his pocket. “I’ll get the drinks.” He walks off staring at his phone and unease settles in the pit of my stomach.
Mack steers me by looping his arm around my shoulders and stopping in front of the photo of him in the surf. His mouth drops open, and a quiet pride replaces the unease. “Maelstrom, this is me.”
“Mhmm.”
His arm leaves my shoulder, and he steps closer to inspect the image. It’s from our camping trip, his head thrown backtowards the sun and his surfboard under his arm. “This is beautiful.”
I beam, clasping my hands together to keep from fidgeting. “Really? You’re not saying that because you’re in it?”
“Well, sure that’s part of it.” He turns back and winks at me. “I can’t get over how you captured this.”
