CHAPTER FIVE

LENA

By the time Ava’s surprise party came around, I had managed to push the mugging attempt to the back of my mind. Distraction had become my coping mechanism, and thankfully, I had more than enough distractions to keep me occupied for the foreseeable future.

"I can't believe you guys did this," Ava murmured, taking in the transformed restaurant with wide eyes.

And by "transformed," I meant a seven-foot ice sculpture, multiple gourmet food stations, a live DJ, a chocolate fountain, and a makeshift dance floor—all thanks to her boyfriend, who was wealthier than anyone I knew. "You really didn’t have to go this far."

"No, but we wanted to," I replied with a playful grin. "Plus, it was a perfect excuse to get a chocolate fountain. I’ve always wanted to see one in person." I pulled her into a hug, inhaling her familiar scent. The smell triggered a wave of nostalgia.

Ava was the first person I had met at Thayer, and we’d clicked instantly. I would never forget how she stood by me when Ethan insisted we end our friendship. She and Ethan were incredibly close, so the fact that she stood up for me meant more to me than she would ever understand.

We still hung out after graduation, though not as often as I wished. Sometimes, I longed for the days when Ava, Stella, Bridget, and I would stay up all night, bingeing cheese puffs while the girls in the dorm next door screamed at each other because one had hooked up with the other's boyfriend.

"Happy birthday, babe." I forced a smile, not wanting to bring down the mood despite the melancholy that clung to me. "Surprised?"

"Definitely." Ava turned to her boyfriend, swatting him lightly on the arm, though her eyes sparkled with joy. "You told me we were going to lunch!"

"We are," Alex Volkov replied with a faint smile, his rare expression of amusement only visible to those who knew him well. Ava was probably the only person who could get that kind of reaction out of him—and the only one who could hit him, even jokingly, without risking her life. "Technically."

I gasped. "Was that a joke?" I looked around at Ava and Stella and purposefully skipped over Ethan, who stood on the other side of Ava. "Alex made a joke. Quick, someone mark down the date and time."

"Hilarious," he said flatly.

He radiated CEO vibes even in a button-down shirt and jeans, which was as casual as Alex ever got. His eyes glinted like jade-colored ice chips in a face that could've been carved by Michelangelo himself, and his expression was cold enough to give someone freezer burn.

Whatever. He could glare all he wanted, but as Ava's friend, I was immune to his wrath, and he knew it.

"You surprised me with a birthday party once," he told Ava, his voice softening a smidge. "I figured it was past time I returned the favor."

I could practically see Ava melt.

"I think I just got a toothache from the sweetness," Stella said as Alex whispered something else in Ava's ear that made her blush.

"We need to book a dentist appointment, stat," I agreed. Despite our jokes, we were grinning like idiots. Alex and Ava had been through a lot, and it was nice seeing them so happy, though the word was relative where Alex was concerned.

Meanwhile, Ethan lounged against the dessert table, his expression darker than his black shirt.

He used to be best friends with Alex until their falling out, which was a whole other story unto itself. They were civil now, but there was a big difference between civil and friends.

"Wipe the sour expression off your face, Dr. Killjoy," I said. "You're bringing down the vibes."

"If my face bothers you so much, don't look at it," he drawled. "Unless you can't help yourself, which is understandable."

I scowled. I'd planned the party with help from Stella and Alex, and while I'd been tempted to exclude Ethan from the guest list, he was Ava's brother. His presence was expected, like E. coli on undercooked chicken.

Before I could respond to his conceited statement, an excited squeal punctured the air, followed by a loud clatter and two dozen heads swiveling toward the entrance.

I followed their wide-eyed stares to the couple that had just entered, flanked by two suited bodyguards the size of mountains.

My face lit up. "Bridget!"

She grinned and waved. "Surprise."

"Oh my God!" I rushed over to her at the same time as Ava and Stella, and we collided in a messy, laughing group hug that would've ended with us on the floor had Bridget's fiancé Rhys and bodyguard Booth not steadied us. "I thought you couldn't make it!"

"My scheduler found an event at the embassy that coincidentally 'required' my presence this weekend." Bridget's blue eyes glowed with mischief.

"My meeting with the ambassador ran long, or I would've gotten here sooner." She gave Ava a one-on-one hug after we untangled ourselves. "Happy birthday, sweetie."

"I can't believe you're here." Ava squeezed her tight. "You must be so busy..."

Bridget von Ascheberg may have attended Thayer University with us, but that was where our similarities ended because she was an honest to God, real-life queen.

She'd been a princess when we met her, but after her older brother abdicated, Bridget became first in line to the throne of Eldorra, a small European kingdom.

Her grandfather, the former King Edvard, recently stepped down due to health issues and Bridget had been coronated queen two months ago.

"I wouldn't miss this for the world. Plus, it's a good break." Bridget brushed a strand of golden hair out of her eyes. With her blue eyes, classic features, and cool elegance, she bore a striking resemblance to Grace Kelly. "Parliament is being difficult. Again."

"I got her out of the palace just in time, or she would've ruptured an artery," Rhys added, his dry tone at odds with the affection in his eyes as he looked at Bridget.

Standing at a tattooed, muscled six foot five, Rhys Larsen was one of the most dangerously good-looking men I'd ever met, but beneath his rough exterior was a heart of gold.

He used to be Bridget's bodyguard until they fell in love, and now he was the future Prince Consort, since the King Consort title didn't exist in Eldorra.

They'd had to overcome a lot of obstacles to be together considering she was royalty and he wasn't, but they were now one of the most beloved couples in the world.

The loud snap of a camera shutter interrupted our reunion, and I suddenly remembered we weren't alone. The rest of the guests were still staring, slack-jawed, at Bridget and Rhys.

Having a literal queen waltz into a birthday party without warning could be a bit of a shock.

No one approached us though, except for Ethan, who greeted Bridget with a normal hug and Rhys with one of those handshake hugs guys loved so much.

I guess Booth and Rhys's bodyguard looked intimidating enough to scare off people from approaching.

"So." Bridget linked her arm with Ava's and walked to the nearest table. "Tell me what I missed."

For the next half hour, we caught each other up on our lives while Ethan hit the bar and Alex and Rhys sat quietly across the table.

They occasionally said something to each other but spent most of the time watching Ava and Bridget with infatuated expressions. Well, as infatuated as someone as cold as Alex and as gruff as Rhys could look anyway.

I ignored the pang in my heart at their obvious love for my friends and refocused on the conversation.

I'd given up on love a long time ago. There was no use longing for it.

"Lena and I are looking for a new place after our current lease is up," Stella said. We still lived in Hazelburg since I was attending Thayer Law, but our lease ended in April, and I would be graduating in late May.

After that, we'd both be working in the city, so it made sense for us to find something in D.C. "No luck yet though."

Everything we found was either too far from our offices, too expensive, or too gross. I was pretty sure one of the apartments we'd looked at used to be a drug den.

Gotta love house hunting in the city.

"Where are you looking to move?" Rhys asked.

"Ideally downtown, anywhere close to the red line," I said. The red line dropped me off right at Thayer, and the fewer metro transfers I had to endure, the better.

A thoughtful expression crossed his face. "I know someone who owns a building downtown. He may be able to help. Don't know if he has any openings, but I'll ask."

Stella's eyebrows shot up. "He owns the entire building?"

Rhys shrugged. His shoulders were so massive the movement was akin to mountains shaking. "He's into real estate investment."

"That would be great." I gave Alex a pointed stare. "At least someone in real estate can help us."

Alex was CEO of The Archer Group, the largest real estate development company in the country.

I was joking about him helping us, but he actually responded instead of ignoring me. "My properties are full, unless you want to sleep in a shopping center or office building."

"Hmm." I tapped a finger on my chin. "The shopping center has potential. I love clothes."

"Me too," Stella agreed.

Alex looked unamused.

"Speaking of real estate development..." Ava said, her gaze shifting to Ethan as he returned with a drink in hand. He carefully sat down next to Alex, pointedly avoiding eye contact with his ex-best friend.

"One of Alex's business associates has a new ski resort in Vermont, and we got tickets for the grand opening to support him. Four tickets, actually, so we can bring two guests. Bridget and Rhys, I know you guys won’t be able to make it, and Stella, you mentioned you have a big event in New York the last weekend of March..."

Stella was always being invited to glamorous fashion events because of her blog, but if she couldn’t go, and Bridget and Rhys couldn’t either, that left...

Oh no.

"Ethan, Lena, what do you think? We can all go together." Ava grinned. "It’ll be so much fun!"

A weekend trip with Ethan? I’d rather have a root canal without Novocain. But Ava looked so excited, I couldn’t bring myself to say no, especially on her birthday.

"Yay." I forced out as much enthusiasm as I could muster. "Can’t wait."

"I’d love to, but..." Ethan grimaced, his attempt at looking remorseful failing miserably. "I’m working that weekend."

Thank God. I could handle being the third wheel, but there was no way I could endure that weekend with Ethan—

"Too bad." Ava didn’t even blink at her brother’s response. "The resort has a triple black diamond."

Ethan froze, his glass halfway to his lips. "You’ve got to be kidding me."

My stomach dropped. Ethan was an adrenaline junkie, and there were few things that got his blood pumping like the world’s most dangerous ski trail.

It was like dangling a line of premium cocaine in front of an addict.

"Nope," Ava said, sipping her drink, while Stella tried and failed to hide her grin behind her phone, and Rhys and Bridget exchanged knowing glances. Alex was the only one unfazed. "I know you’ve always wanted to ski one."

"I think I can trade shifts," Ethan said after a long pause.

To ski on one, but since you have to work... "Great!" Ava’s eyes lit up with excitement, and my inner alarm bells started ringing. "It’s settled then. You, me, Alex, and Lena are going to Vermont." Ethan’s strained smile mirrored my own. We didn’t agree on much, but I knew without him saying a word, we were both thinking the same thing.

This trip was going to be a disaster. And we both knew it.