Before I could ask what she meant, a figure emerged from the grand staircase... 'Is that Dominic's dad?' I whispered to June, my eyes fixed on the tall man.
He tapped his champagne glass lightly clink, clink, clink.
"Good evening, everyone," he began, smiling the kind of practiced smile that felt both warm and distant. "Thank you all for joining us tonight to celebrate my son's twenty-first birthday."
The crowd murmured in response, the music dimmed slightly.
"And I couldn't be prouder of the man he's becoming." He continued. "It's an important milestone….not just for him, but for what lies ahead. So let's raise a toast…"
And then he gestured toward the staircase.
The crowd shifted. Heads turned.
And there he was.
Dominic. My boyfriend.
He appeared at the top, descending slowly beside Ian and his other friends. But I barely noticed anyone else.
He looked… unreal.
