Chapter 45
Liam leans back in his chair, easy and relaxed. “Depends on what you’ve heard.”
Céline hums thoughtfully. “That you are either the golden boy of hockey or a menace off ice. It depends who you
ask.”
I snort. “Both are accurate.”
Liam turns to me, feigning offense. “Et tu, Emilia?”
Céline laughs, and Lacey nudges my arm. “And you-Emilia, right? You’re all over social media these days it kinda feels like I know you personally now. Plus, Bec hasn’t shut up about you.”
I brace myself. “Oh?”
She waves a hand. “Nothing bad, surprisingly. Just that you’d be here.”
“Wow,” I say dryly. “I’m touched.”
Lacey grins, but before she can say anything else, a hush falls over the deck.
A few heads turn toward the entrance, and like some kind of scripted moment from a rom-com, Zane and Becca final- ly make their grand entrance.
Zane, effortlessly cool in a fitted button-down, walks like the whole ship belongs to him.
Becca, on his arm, looks like a goddamn dream-perfectly styled, glowing, the kind of beautiful that makes you feel like you need to check your reflection.
I should be over it by now. Shouldn’t feel anything. Shouldn’t care.
But the way Zane’s eyes flicker toward me-just for a second, just long enough to register something unreadable- makes my stomach twist anyway.
The feeling doesn’t last long. Not after I remember the way he acted in my bakery a few weeks ago-like I was noth- ing. Like all the years we spent together meant less than the crumbs on the floor.
Bile rises in my throat.
I turn away before he can look at me again, focusing on Céline, who’s still chatting with Liam. She gestures wildly with her hands, her French accent thick as she tells him a story about a disastrous first date she had with some football player.
Lacey leans in, dropping her voice. “So, are you gonna pretend they don’t exist, or are we doing the whole polite ex thing?”
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I let out a short laugh. “Oh, I’m way past polite.”
She grins. “Good. Becca loves an audience. You ignoring her will drive her crazy.”
That alone makes it worth it.
Liam must sense my shift in mood because his hand casually finds my thigh under the table, his thumb rubbing slow, reassuring circles. It’s nothing. A tiny touch. But it anchors me.
I don’t need to look at Zane. I don’t need to acknowledge Becca.
I have nothing to prove to either of them.
Well, aside from giving them basic courtesy. It is their wedding cruise, after all.
Zane picks up a champagne glass and taps it with a knife, the delicate clink ringing through the air.
Not that he needed to-his obnoxious, know-it-all voice would have drawn attention just fine.
“Thank you all for coming to celebrate Becca and my impending marriage for an entire month on this ship. It means more to us than you’ll ever realise.”
Liam makes a low, amused sound, just quiet enough for only me to hear. “A whole month? God help us.”
I bite my lip to keep from laughing. Becca stands beside Zane, practically glowing under the attention, her fingers wrapped possessively around his arm. She’s wearing something impossibly elegant-soft silk, deep red, made to cling to every perfect curve. A statement, as if she’s saying, Look at me. Look at what I have. Look at what I won.
And maybe a small part of me still feels like I lost.
But then Liam’s hand tightens around mine, grounding me.
I don’t need to win something I don’t even want anymore.
“Of course, we will make this month worth your while,” Zane continues, grinning like he’s the king of the world. Yuck. “This cruise was designed especially for our engagement and tailored to meet the needs of all our guests. Let’s just say, everyday will be anything but boring.”
Designed? Just for their engagement?
My eyebrow nearly hits my hairline.
The extravagance of it all. The audacity. The money.
I lean in, keeping my voice low. “How much do you think all this costs?”
Liam doesn’t even hesitate. “Not enough to get Zane that hairline transplant, I’m afraid.”
A startled laugh bursts out of me before I can stop it. Céline, sitting next to Liam, flashes me a knowing smile, like she’s been trying to hold back laughter too.
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Zane’s eyes flick toward me for half a second, like he heard something but isn’t quite sure what.
I school my features into something neutral.
Liam just smirks, completely unbothered.
“The accommodations are finally prepared,” Zane announces. “Everyone can go find their suites. Tomorrow will be packed, so get as much rest as possible.”
He flashes a charming, practiced smile.
I roll my eyes.
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