Had it not been for his tone of voice then Gretchen might have confused his statement for something that Cash would have said; being bleak and mournful were her cousin’s raison d’etre but he rarely followed it with a smile. Nor did that smile reflect in a dozen or more mirrors in such a pleasing way.

“I’d say one cannot be lost enough at gatherings such as this,” she replied, glancing over her shoulder to see the passageway she had come through had ceased to be. The only unfortunate thing was that the drinks were that way and she was now stranded, unfortunately sober, and with a man she barely knew. The former felt far more calamitous at the moment than the latter, though she doubted her guardians would see it that way.

---

Bee is tremendous, isn't she?