Katya took a deep breath. She really didn't want to get into it right then and there.
“I haven't forgiven him,” she replied. “And you know what happened between you and I is leagues different than what happened between him and I.”
“Do I know that? Because what I remember are promises being made, and then promptly being broken. I remember someone claiming to care about me, and then turning her back on me at the first sign of real trouble.”
The tidal wave of emotions she felt was unlike anything she'd ever experienced before in her life. Anger and rage and betrayal and hurt and disgust and sadness and … nausea? Did nausea count as an emotion? She wanted to simultaneously punch him in the face and vomit on him. But all she could manage to do was sputter and stare at him until Liam finally reached her side.
“Hey, they ran out of limes, so it's sweet and sour mix. I hope -”
Katya didn't wait for Liam to finish. She grabbed the glass out of his hand and downed the margarita-esque concoction in a couple gulps. Then, while gasping for air, she grabbed his drink and polished it off. She gagged on the last gulp. Bourbon, neat. She shoved the empty glass into his hand and worked hard to keep all the liquid in her stomach.
“Jesus, I hadn't realized you were so thirsty, I would've … oh. Hello, Wulfric.”
She took deep breaths and glanced between the two men. Wulf had fully turned to face them. Liam stood directly opposite him, and Katya was the only thing separating them. It was a surreal moment. Up until almost three weeks ago, she'd thought they hadn't known each other. She'd only ever seen them together once before, and it had been sort of a crazy moment in time. Lots of screaming and chaos and crying.
Now she took a moment to take it all in. How much taller Liam was than both of them. How much broader Wulf's shoulders were in comparison. Liam's dark tan next to Wulf's pale complexion. The laid back attitude meeting the control freak. She couldn't have found two more opposite people if she'd tried.
And yet they found me, somehow.
“Eden,” Wulf finally replied, using the nickname everyone but Katya used for Liam. The name hung in the air like an icicle and for a tiny moment, she wondered if they would fight over her.
“Oh god, just give me this!” she snapped, yanking Wulf's glass out of his hand and slamming that drink down, as well. She gagged and coughed almost immediately. Scotch, neat. What was it with these guys? Didn't they know the value of a good mixer!?
“So how did you get in?” Liam asked, shoving his hands into his pockets. In response, Wulf folded his arms across his chest.
“I was invited. How did you get in? Service entrance?” he guessed. Liam laughed, but Katya thought it might actually be true.
“Man, how I've missed these little meetings of ours,” he sighed.
“Really? I can pencil you into my schedule, if you like. Take my lunches down at the club.”
“I don't think anyone deserves that kind of punishment.”
Their words were laced with venom and it was very clear they didn't like each other one bit. Yet the way they spoke to each other, it was still with a comfort and ease that said these were two men who knew each other. Knew each other so well, they knew which buttons to push and when the best time was to push them. She'd been in separate kinds of relationships with both of them, for a couple months, and had never realized that not only were they aware of each other, but they'd had a working relationship for years. Much longer than anything she'd had with either of them.
And I never ever once figured it out on my own.
“Just stop,” she finally interjected. Liam glanced down at her. Wulf kept staring at him. “It's bad enough that we're all here – can you two not fight like children, just this once?”
“But I -” Liam started to argue.
“We still need to -” Wulf tried to say.
“No. I don't want to hear it. For the next hour, I'm Sally, and you're Harvey and Ted, and the three of us have never met before, got it? I'm pissed off,” she said, then held her hand up when Wulf opened his mouth again. “At both of you. But this day isn't about me, and it sure as shit isn't about either of you. So keep your mouths shut and try to pretend like we all know how to be nice and have fun together, understood?”
The slightly psychotic edge to her voice must have gotten through, because Liam nodded and Wulf kept his mouth shut. She glared back and forth for a bit, then nodded and looked out onto the dance floor. Both men turned and stared into the crowd, as well. They maintained an awkward silence for maybe a minute before one of them cracked.
“I meant to say,” Liam spoke. “You look really nice tonight.”
“Thanks,” she ground out.
“Yes,” Wulf agreed. “I've always liked you in that dress, though it looked different the last time I saw you in it.”
Flames raced across her face. She knew exactly what he was talking about, but she refused to respond. There was a brief pause, then on her other side, Liam let out a groan.
“Shit, I know what you're talking about. God, this is weird. This is so fucking weird.”
“Yes,” she let out a deep breath and grabbed two champagne flutes off a passing tray. “This is so. Fucking. Weird.”
And as if it wasn't already weird enough, Tori finally remembered she'd come with her best friend and she wandered over to where they stood.
“Can you believe that guy?” her roommate was laughing. “He was so drunk! I tried to find you earlier, but you were dancing with some tall guy. I hope … Eden! I, er, ooookaay. I didn't know … holy shit, Wulf is here, too.”
Katya was busy draining the champagne flutes while her friend spoke. When she finished, she leaned back and set them down on an empty table.
“Yup, I am fully aware of that.”
“This is awesome.”
“Not the word I would've chosen,” Wulf said, surprising everyone. Katya barked out a laugh, then slapped a hand over her mouth. Tori's eyes bounced between everyone in the small group, then she grabbed her friend by the wrist.
“C'mon, you need to dance with me!”
Before anyone could argue, Katya was being yanked and pulled onto the dance floor. Some techno song was blaring, driving most of the dancers to their seats. Tori moved off rhythm to the awkward beat and stood close to her roommate's side.
“I have no idea what's going on,” Katya cut her friend off before she could ask anything.
“They just showed up!?”
“Yes. First Liam, then Wulf. They didn't plan it together. At least I don't think so.”
“Judging by the way they're glaring at each other like they want to have a knife fight, I'm guessing it was unplanned.”
“I swear to god, if they give me any grief tonight ...”
“Why would they? I mean, they're trying to like win your heart or whatever, right?” Tori asked, glancing back at the two men.