And then I spotted Amy. Her sparkling silver dress put mine to shame. It was short, figure-hugging, and something my dad would have killed me for wearing. Every guy in the place was drooling over her, their heads turning and whispers rippling through the crowd as she walked past. The sequins on her dress sparkled in the candlelight, and she’d piled her blonde hair on her head, letting a few long curls hang loose and draw the eye to her tan shoulders.
I tugged at the bodice of my own dress and wished I’d gone with something…tighter. I let out a sigh and finally noticed the guy she was clutching like her life depended on it.
Asher.
My lips parted as a whoosh of air snuck past them. I barely recognized him in his tux. His hair was still messy, but he’d worn a blue bowtie that matched the color of his eyes. And the way his jacket molded to his shoulders? So. Hot.
Amy toppled on her heels with a giggle and clutched at his arm to stay upright. Asher slipped an arm around her, and I tried not to growl as they approached. He made my heart pound on a good day but dressed like this?
Pull it together, Kepler, I told myself.
I squared my shoulders. Beside me, Zella clutched her hands together, and I flashed her a sympathetic smile.
“Zella, don’t you look cute.” Amy’s eyes raked up and down Zella’s dress, and then she turned to me, eyebrow raised. “And Lexie. That’s an interesting color. You look…a bit like an ultraviolet catastrophe.”
I wrapped my arms around my waist, trying to hide from her as my eyes started to smart.
“I think Lexie’s dress is gorgeous,” Zella said, stepping forward so we were shoulder-to-shoulder. Beside her, Max nodded. Gratitude flooded through me, and I smiled at both of them.
Amy giggled. “I didn’t mean anything by it, you know. It’s just…violet.”
I stared at the floor and wished it would swallow me. Or Amy.
“Lexie always looks beautiful. But tonight…” Asher’s voice trailed off, and I glanced up at him. A ghost of a smile played on his lips, making my insides squirm. His eyes only left mine to travel down the length of the dress and back to my face. A blush heated my cheeks as his smile deepened, and for a moment, we were the only two people there.
“Tonight, she’s the most beautiful woman in the room.”
Amy went still, her lips parted in shock. I couldn’t help the smirk I felt on my face.
Even clueless Max obviously felt the tension as he glanced between us. “What’s the plan then?” he asked. “Danvers has an announcement scheduled for eight. Do we do this now or during the announcement?”
Asher scanned the room. “I’m tempted to do it now just to get it over with, but it’ll make more sense to wait. Everyone will be here listening to her.”
Max nodded once. “My thought, too. We have twenty minutes. I’m starving — anyone up for some food?”
Zella rolled her eyes. “You and your stomach. Maybe after you eat, we can dance?”
His eyes widened. “Um…yeah. Maybe.”
They wandered off toward the buffet table, leaving me with Asher and Amy. His words still made my cheeks burn, and I wobbled a little on my heels, not wanting to meet his gaze. Especially not with the death stare Amy was giving me.
“I’m going to…” I started
“Want to go…” Asher said.
We both laughed uncomfortably, and I waved at him. “Continue.”
“I was just going to ask if you wanted to scope out the other end of the room. We should probably figure out some alternate escape routes.”
I nodded. “Sure. That’s a good idea.”
Amy leveled a stare at me before smiling sweetly at Asher. “I’m going to go find something to drink. Catch up with me when you’re done, all right?” Amy slunk away, hips swinging. She glanced back at us and blew Asher a kiss.
“Oh my god. Seriously?” The words escaped before I could stop myself.
Asher scuffed a shoe against the floor and looked away. “She doesn’t get the point, does she?”
“Then maybe you’re not hinting loud enough.” I turned away, heat flooding my cheeks again at my outburst.
“Lexicon…” He gave me one of those looks, and I shook my head. I had to keep reminding myself it didn’t matter. Asher’s love life was none of my business.
“Come on — don’t be like that.”
I let out a sigh, his smile melting away my embarrassment and anger. I shrugged. “Let’s go check out the other side of the room.”
He offered an arm, and I slipped a hand in the crook of his elbow. I watched the violet fabric of my dress swish around my ankles as we walked and tried to ignore the heat from his body wrapping around me.
We stopped at a pair of glass doors, and Asher waved to the space past them. “This is the main corridor to Avery’s office. About halfway down, there are two smaller ones that loop back around on either side. It’s basically a circle bisected by a line.”
I strained to see further into the corridor, wishing I could make out more than the soft security lights illuminating nameplates on each door. “So we could sneak out one of the side halls if we needed to?”
He nodded. “But let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. I can’t imagine playing hide-and-seek in the dark would be much fun.”
I flushed and looked away. Sounded like a lot of fun to me. As long as he caught me at the end.
Asher pulled his cell phone out of his tux pocket. “It’s five to eight. Should we warn the others we’re going in?”
I searched the crowded ballroom but only saw a wall of tuxedoed men and swirling dresses. “Might as well. That way they can wander in this direction and keep an eye out.”
He texted, and almost at the same moment, the tone of the crowd shifted as they started making their way toward the dais at the other end of the room. The murmurs grew more pronounced, swelling with excitement.
I spotted Max and Zella pushing their way through the crowds in the opposite direction. Amy didn’t seem to be having a problem; they parted for her like the Red Sea as she passed.
“Ready?” Asher asked as everyone joined us near the door.
Max nodded. “I’ll go left, Amy, you go right. Zella can have the middle. We’ll give you a fifteen-minute warning. And we’ll text if anyone starts heading your way.”
“Let’s do this.” Asher held open the door for me with a flourish that made my heart trip.