Page 286 of The Grand Duel

I bite my lip, closing my eyes.

I hate this.

I hate this so much.

“No,” I say, composing myself. “This is silly.”

I walk by her and into the kitchen, finding Nina, Lucy, Scarlet, and Megan standing around the island.

Scarlet spots me first, her mouth dropping open. “Lissie,” she says as if mesmerised, making my cheeks flame under my makeup.

“Oh boy, I feel stupid for him,” Megan says, shaking her head.

I try to suppress my smile and look away. “Stop it,” I plead.

“Trust Luce to find the dress that’ll have all the men questioning the size of their dicks,” Nina muses.

We all laugh in unison.

“You look beautiful. You just as much so, Jovie,” Nina adds.

“Thank you,” my sister tells them.

Megan walks around the kitchen, handing me a glass of champagne as the girls become busy around us. “You look terrified.”

“I am.”

She watches me, something slipping on her face. “Me, too.” She turns to the girls before I can ask questions, linking her arm in mine. “Girls, come on. The party can’t start until we arrive.”

We walk through the house and out into the gardens where the marquee is set up.

My legs feel like jelly.

“I’ve got a weird feeling about tonight, girls,” Lucy says, catching hold of my free hand as she steps over the cobbles.

“We’ve had a two-year break,” Nina says. “Please don’t get too drunk without me.”

“We won’t,” Lucy promises.

We walk through the entrance of the tent and seemingly every eye in the room falls on us.

Megan tightens her arm in mine, and I squeeze Lucy’s hand, quickly looking around for Jovie. I find her locked arm in arm with Nina, Scarlet following behind with a glass of champagne in both hands.

Megan puts the first foot forward, setting us in motion. I keep my eyes trained on the ground as we cross the entranceway, between the round tables, and to the bar.

I lift my champagne to my lips without unlinking my arm from Megan or letting go of Lucy, my hand trembling.

I close my eyes.

“You okay?” Megan asks.

I can feel him.

I can feel his eyes.

I can feel his heart.

Meeting her eyes, I shake my head. “I might need some fresh air,” I whisper.