He stood near the drinking area with a fountain, tall and still as a statue, amber eyes scanning the crowd like he was searching for something or someone he was standing there with 2 more people, just nodding in the converaation. Her stomach flipped. She crouched lower, heart pounding. Don't look this way. Please, don't look this way.
But fate had a sick sense of humor.
"Aria!" a bright voice called out.
She froze.
Serene appeared beside her, clutching a glass of rose-colored wine, her smile wide and innocent, but her eyes? Sharp. Curious. "There you are! Your dad's been asking for you.
Aria forced a tight smile. "I just got back. Long day."
"Oh, come on!" Serene looped her arm through Aria's before she could protest. "You can't hide in the bushes all night. Let's go say hello to Leonel. I wanna meet him ."
"Serene, I really don't -"
