1 8| h a p p i n e s s

A A R O N

I can't believe this.

The ballroom shimmered with too much gold and too many people. I barely noticed the music. My eyes scanned the room as I stepped inside, the weight of the evening already dragging on my shoulders. I wasn't here for the party. I was here to pick Courtney up, maybe make an appearance.

That was before I saw her.

Hermia.

She stood near the rose archway with Cameron, her Hollywood boyfriend, her hand on the sleeve of his blazer. They looked close. Too close. She was laughing at something, her face soft, open, the kind of laugh that made her shoulders shake.

Cameron looked smug. That was new. Or maybe I just hadn’t seen them like this before. It was only in the articles and TV shows.

"You seriously told the valet you were royalty?" she said through her laughter. They were so loud I could hear from the distance I stood.

My stomach twisted.

Then Cameron dropped to one knee. She blinked, frozen where she stood.