“Her stool?” Sophia asked with exaggerated innocence.

Daniel leaned back against the wall, silent for a beat before his lips twitched with suppressed laughter. His head snapped up, eyes locking with Sophia’s as realization dawned.

Don’t laugh, Juniper ordered herself, but the absurdity of the moment was making it difficult to maintain her cold facade. Juniper kept her gaze fixed firmly ahead, as if they’d both ceased to exist, though her pulse defied its gag order, delivered a closing argument she’d never acknowledge.

Around them, the restaurant hummed with energy as celebrations broke out near the bar, glasses clinking and laughter swirling off the towering ceiling.