And everyone was watching it happen. Connor Hayes's phone was already Recording from his strategic position near the center tables. I could almost hear his livestream chat losing its collective mind.
Across the room, Jack Morrison sat with what remained of his once-mighty friend group, looking like someone had reached inside his chest and ripped out his soul. He watched Sofia holding my arm, saw the easy laughter she shared with Madison, and saw her choosing me, publicly, for the second time that day.
Tommy waved from a table utterly surrounded by a new breed of friends—social climbers, wannabe entrepreneurs, and opportunists, all angling for proximity to his newfound wealth. Lea Martinez sat with her quiet new friend, their expressions unreadable from this distance, but I could feel the weight of their focus.
And she was there.
Kayla!
Oh, man. That bitch was still as beautiful as I remembered.
