Page 75 of Shattered Oath
Aria was one of the first to go.
"I have to get home," she said, gathering her gifts. "Sebastian's flight gets in at nine and I want to be there when he arrives."
"You saw him two days ago."
"Two very long days." She hugged me tight. "Thank you, Isabelle. For everything. The shower, the dress, all of it. I couldn't have done any of this without you."
I hugged her back. "You could have. But I'm glad you didn't have to."
She left in a flurry of flowers and gift bags, Priya and Nalani trailing behind to help her carry everything to her car.
The rooftop emptied slowly after that. Staff began clearing tables, folding chairs. The music switched off, leaving only the ambient sound of the city below.
Soon it was just me and Kim, sitting at one of the remaining tables, nursing the last of the champagne as the sky deepened to navy.
"Good shower," Kim said.
"Very good shower."
"Aria cried. That's how you know it was successful."
"Happy tears."
"The best kind."
My phone buzzed. I glanced at it without picking it up. Femi, again.
I silenced it without answering.
Kim noticed but didn't comment, her expression carefully neutral. We sat in comfortable silence, watching the city lights flicker on below us.
My phone buzzed a third time. Same name glowing on the screen.
"You can answer that," Kim said gently. "I don't mind."
"I don't want to answer it."
She nodded slowly, understanding. Didn't push.
The rooftop door opened behind us.
I turned, expecting a staff member come to tell us they were closing. Instead, Matteo stepped through, looking slightly uncertain, his hands in his pockets, his eyes searching for mine.
"Bella." Relief flooded his face when he found me. "I hope this is okay. You told me where you'd be, and I thought…”
He trailed off, glancing at Kim with sudden awareness.
"I'm Kim." She stood smoothly, extending her hand with a knowing smile. "Xavier's fiancée. We've met briefly before."
"Yes. At the wine tasting for the wedding." He shook her hand. "It's very good to see you again."
Kim looked between us, reading the room with perfect clarity. A small smile played at the corner of her mouth.
"I should go," she announced. "Zoe has a ballet recital tomorrow and I promised I'd help her practice tonight. She's very serious about it."
"Kim, you don't have to?—"
"I really do. Zoe is very serious about this recital. She's made me a schedule." She gathered her things, hugged me quickly. "I'll see you before you leave for Milan?"
