Deric

I stood in front of the full-length mirror, adjusting my black tie for the third damn time. My fingers fumbled at the knot again like I was some awkward teenager going to prom. My eyes caught my own reflection, taut jaw, furrowed brow, that twitch in my left eye that only ever surfaced when I was either furious or deeply anxious. Today, I wasn’t sure which.

Behind me, I saw her in the reflection, Ava. Her arms slid around my waist, her touch easing the ...