The garden looked different after everyone left—quieter, softer. The fairy lights swayed gently in the breeze, their glow dimming as the night deepened. Empty glasses sat forgotten on the table, a few petals scattered across the floor where Maya had been dancing barefoot an hour ago.
Maya stretched with a small yawn. "Okay, that's officially the last dinner before the wedding. No more planning, no more tasting, no more decorating. I'm exhausted."
Ethan smiled, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "You say that now, but by morning you'll find something else to stress over."
She groaned and leaned into him. "Probably true."
Leela emerged from the kitchen carrying her jacket, her curls a little wild from the night's wind. "Maya, you throw the best not-parties," she teased, pulling her cousin into a quick hug. "I'll head out now before I start helping you clean and ruin my reputation."
"Drive safe," Maya said.
"Always." Leela's eyes flicked briefly toward Adrian, who stood near the edge of the patio, rolling up the sleeves of his shirt as if he couldn't quite relax. "Goodnight, everyone," she said, her voice lingering just a touch too long in his direction before she disappeared through the gate.
Silence settled over the group like a slow tide. Ethan excused himself soon after, muttering something about calling the florist first thing in the morning. When his footsteps faded, only Adrian, Elena, and Maya remained.
Maya began stacking the plates, humming under her breath. "She's fun, isn't she?" she said, almost casually.
Elena nodded without looking up. "Yeah. Very… lively."
"Too lively," Maya said with a grin, glancing at her friend. "You didn't like her much, did you?"
Elena's head snapped up. "What? No, she's fine. Why would you say that?"
"Because," Maya said, leaning closer with mock seriousness, "you had the same look on your face that I get when someone compliments Ethan in front of me."
"I did not," Elena said quickly, turning away.
Adrian's quiet laugh broke the tension. "You two never change," he said, picking up a half-empty bottle from the table. His tone was light, but something unreadable crossed his face when his gaze met Elena's. She couldn't quite tell if it was amusement… or something sharper.
Maya, oblivious, grinned. "Oh, we're changing. Some of us faster than others." She gave Elena a knowing wink before disappearing inside with the dishes.
That left the two of them alone beneath the flickering lights.
Elena rubbed her arms, pretending to be cold. "I should probably help her."
Adrian tilted his head slightly. "You're avoiding something."
Her pulse jumped. "I'm avoiding the mess."
He took a step closer—not enough to crowd her, but enough to feel the shift in the air. "You looked upset when Leela talked to me."
Elena blinked, caught off guard. "I wasn't upset. Why would I be?"
"No reason," he said, and though his voice was calm, there was a faint, knowing edge in it. "Just curious."
She looked away, finding sudden interest in the empty wine glasses. "You should go too. It's late."
"I will." He hesitated, then added quietly, "She's not my type."
Her eyes flicked back to his. "Who is?"
The question escaped before she could stop it. The words hung between them, soft and dangerous. Adrian's lips curved—half smile, half secret.
"You shouldn't ask questions you're not ready to hear answers to," he said finally.
And with that, he turned and walked away, his footsteps fading down the stone path until all she could hear was the wind in the trees and her own heartbeat refusing to slow down.
Maya's voice drifted from inside. "Elena? You coming?"
"Yeah," she called back, her throat suddenly dry.
As she turned toward the house, she realized she hadn't even noticed the chill anymore. The air was warm enough now—with confusion, with curiosity, and something else she didn't dare name yet.