Cassie wasn't ready to announce her relationship with Franklin yet, not to the world and not even to her closest circle, but the way Ocean had been sitting there all night with that nervous smile and guarded eyes made something restless stir inside her, and suddenly the curiosity clawing at her chest became stronger than her caution, stronger than her instinct to protect something still fragile, because whatever secret Ocean was hiding had started to feel like a loose thread she couldn't stop herself from pulling.
She exhaled slowly, rolling her shoulders back as if bracing herself for impact, then finally gave in with a crooked smile.
"Fine, you got me," Cassie said, lifting her glass slightly before setting it down again, her gaze drifting toward Evelyn as she continued, her voic
