fitted slacks, shiny shoes, a belt, and his light brown hair styled with perfectly deliberate messy flair. His blue eyes shine from his handsome face, piercing me in place. There is strength in his stance as he awaits whatever it is I might say, like he prepared himself for a thousand different reactions, for the best and the worst, and is willing to brave any of it—for me. The host sighs, then addresses me. “He claims to be your plus-one, and I told him he’s not on the list, you didn’t approve him, and unless there’s been a mistake, this is an invite-only affair, and he needs to—”
