Suddenly, a high-pitched voice called out Rowan’s nickname. I felt a sudden tightness in my chest and realized that I recognized that voice. I slowly turned around to see Francesca approaching us with a brilliant smile on her face. Suddenly, I felt like I didn’t belong there with the two of them, and I was instantly reminded of that similar feeling that I felt when she joined us at my mother’s wedding reception.
"I’m sorry for arriving late. I wanted to greet you sooner, but by the time that I got here, you were already up on stage," Francesca said before smiling apologetically at Rowan. Her eyes did not even glance my way, and I wondered if she saw me as just some object of decoration in the background. That was just how much her entire attention was absorbed by Rowan.
"You didn’t need
