Liam buttoned his shirt as he made his way down the grand staircase, his fingers working slowly, missing a button near the top. His mind was still replaying flashes of what had just happened upstairs, Elena's confidence, the way she'd looked at him, the heat of it all.
The main floor was still alive with conversation and soft music. Groups clustered around the bar, others swayed on the makeshift dance floor.
The champagne kept flowing, and the atmosphere hadn't dimmed one bit. If anything, it had gotten louder, messier. Someone laughed too hard near the fireplace. A woman in red stumbled in her heels.
Liam headed toward the bar, needing something cold to drink and a moment to collect himself. His shirt felt wrong against his skin, like evidence.
"Dude, where were you?"
Liam turned. Kelvin was pushing through the crowd, his face flushed, his tie loosened and hanging crooked around his neck. He looked like he'd been having the time of his life.
