Chapter 4

The air in the private nook of the event space was thick, heavy with the scent of stale perfume, expensive cologne, and the lingering humidity of a hundred bodies that had already departed. Outside, the storm that had been threatening all evening finally broke, sending a deluge of rain hammering against the high, arched windows that framed the corner where we stood. The glass rattled in its frame, a rhythmic, chaotic percussion that seemed to isolate us from the rest of the world. Inside, the only light came from a single, low-hanging Edison bulb that swung gently on its wire, casting long, dancing shadows across the plush velvet armchairs and the mahogany table we had abandoned. I pressed my back against the cool surface of the window, the condensation seeping through the thin fabric of my dress, a stark contrast to the heat radiating from his body just inches away. The venue was silent now, save for the distant thunder that rolled like cannonades across the mountains and the soft patter of rain against the stone exterior. It was just us. The noise of the wedding guests, the clinking of glasses, the orchestrated laughter of the reception had faded into