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“‘Good-looking’? ‘Darling’? ‘Jeff’? How about—”
“DON’T TOY WITH ME!” Lady Mina could feel her whole body shaking. Her face must have been as red as a tomato. She’d never felt so humiliated!
The smile dropped from the man’s face then.
“Alright,” he said, his voice suddenly somber. “I get it. I’m sorry, I’m just messing around. Please don’t cry.”
“I-I’m not—!” But she was. There were tears streaming down her face. She hadn’t realized.
“Ahh… I just didn’t think it was important, you know? I was happy just to be some silly story for you all to tell in the morning. It’s not like I’ll see any of you again, right?”
“Huh?!” That surprised her. “Why wouldn’t I see you again?”
“Oh come now, I’m just someone’s plus one, ain’t I? That’s a straight-up fluke, isn’t it? Who’s going to invite some banker from Lion’s Arch to a ritzy scene like this again?”
I would, but she stopped herself from saying it, and felt mortified that she’d even thought it.
“Anyway, you want my name, right? It’s Trip Leonardis.”
“Trip Leonardis.” She said it softly, considering the sound of it. It wasn’t a bad name. “Thank you, Leonardis.”
He gave her a gentle smile, and she paused, scrutinizing his face. Maybe he wasn’t that bad? A bit rude certainly but…
“You know, you’ve danced with nearly everyone here, haven’t you?” She huffed.
“Have I?” He chuckled.
“But you haven’t danced with me. It is my birthday, you know. That’s quite rude of you.”
“I suppose it is, eh?” That maddening grin of his crept back across his face as he offered her his hand. “May I?”
She took it and he pulled her close, content to dance exactly where they stood. He was still damp from the fountain, but surprisingly warm. As they swayed about the garden, she noticed his scent—like sea breeze and something flowery she couldn’t place.
“By the way,” He spoke casually, in a low voice just loud enough for only her to hear. “The name’s Trip but…”
He twirled her around and gave her a wink.
“Friends call me Bandi.”
*
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