The guy looked between the two of them with a sly grin.
"How about you two kiss? Then we'll call it even."
Alfred's eyes flicked instinctively toward Maud. She covered her face, laughing with exaggerated helplessness. "I knew it."
She took a deep breath, steeled herself, and stood.
"Fine. We're both single. Who's scared?"
Alfred didn't refuse. She rose on her tiptoes. He leaned down.
A quick, featherlight kiss.
The room erupted.
I kept my head down. My nails dug into my palms until crescent-shaped welts carved themselves deep into the skin.
A few more rounds passed before it was my turn.
Someone studied me with a thoughtful expression. "Maria, you're such a pretty girl. How come you've been single all these years?"
I smiled and shook my head. "I'm not."
"What?"
Alfred's entire body went rigid. His phone was in his hand instantly, a message firing off to me: "Don't forget what you promised me. Don't say anything stupid."
Then another: "And about what just happened—don't be jealous. I'll explain when we get home."
I let out a quiet, bitter laugh.
Every single time. He was always terrified I'd slip up in public, that I'd let our secret relationship spill out.
Especially when Maud was around.