Page 71 of The Replay

Ames reaches us and gives Saint a drink refill. "Gael, you definitely overdid it."

"Never." He gives Ames a quick kiss.

Saint is a man who doesn't mind an overstatement. He's dressed in black pants covered in large, white flower print, and a silky navy shirt. It contrasts with my own more sober style of a dusty green, textured sweater, and my favorite black jeans.

"Besides," Saint argues, "it's raining and we need to keep the warmth in one place, right? We're going for cozy vibes, just like your show."

"I didn't need this to be a branded event," she laughs.

"Maybe not, but I did," he says.

All I do is smirk their way. I'm used to my friends' antics.

"Regardless, I'm thrilled," I say. "Congrats on your show, Ames."

I offer her a quick hug that she accepts, before they turn to continue hosting and preparing for the main event and following dinner. Most couples are already in their place and I take the time to say hi to everyone, before finding my place on the empty couch at the back.

"Sorry, the call went a little longer than I thought," Mariana says.

She comes into the balcony wearing wide-leg, black linen pants, a low-cut black t-shirt, and a loose, long tan cardigan. She looks pretty, in a more casual version of her typical attire. She holds a glass of white wine in one hand.

She talks to Saint and Ames nearby. "I needed to talk to my dad and with the time difference I couldn't wait…"

"No problem," Ames says. "We're about to start."

They bring Mariana to my couch.

"You don't mind, do you?" Saint asks us with a mischievous grin. "We had limited space and we didn't have other options."

She gazes at me with a smile. "Not at all."

"We're good," I agree.

She sits next to me. It's a little bit of a tight squeeze.

"Hey," she says.

"Hey."

We don't say anything else.

"Mhh," Saint says. "Lovely."

"Okay." Ames echoes his smile. "Let's get ready."

They go to the front, where Saint clinks his glass to call our attention.

"I'm more nervous than I thought!" Ames exclaims.

"It's going to be amazing!" several people pipe up.

"You haven't seen it?" Evie asks.

Ames shakes her head. "Not the final cut. And I happen to care about your guys' opinion so please be gentle!"

"We're going to love it!" I scream from the back.

"That's right," Saint says. "We're all going to love it. Because you're incredible, Ames, and when you cook, you glow. I have full confidence the cameras will pick up on that, the same way they did on that Christmas special we did together almost a year ago. The same way I did when I met you years ago."