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With a relieved breath, she opens the gift Inside is a scrap of soasps, then shoves it back into the box, sla the lid shut

“What is it?” I ask, not even trying to wipe the smile from my face

“Nothing” Her voice sounds high-pitched, almost panicked

“Obviously so Nia wouldn’t have wrapped an empty box” I reach for it “Show me”

She hides it behind her back “It’s for me, so I don’t have to share it with you”

“But isn’t that the idea?”

Sloan huffs “Could you back off? This day has already been a lot, and it’s barely nine in the ”

“I just want to talk to you”

“I’”

I guide her over to a soft blue chaise under the ith a view of the lahere everyone is cleaning up and resetting for the next wedding—and the ocean “Sit”

She resists “What are you going to do?”

I merely smile as I spot a portablein the thuht” flows softly from the overhead speakers It’s nice, sets the lass of bubbly”

Wordlessly, she watches while I do, taking the glass froers

“To us,” I toast

“Sebastian…”