Chapter 92 HAPPY BUT BOTHERED.

Chapter 92 HAPPY BUT BOTHERED.
CINNAMON.
The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open to a wave of sound. Laughter burst in first, bright and unrestrained followed by applause that surged too quickly and loudly for a typical Monday morning. Overwhelmed, I stayed inside the elevator, fingers gripping the strap of my bag, my heart racing as if I had stepped onto a stage instead of my own office floor.
Finally getting ahold of myself, I stepped out.
DreamHaven took me completely. People turned in unison, smiles on their faces. Someone whistled. A banner spread across the glass wall, my name emblazoned on it in an overly enthusiastic font sprinkled with glitter that sparkled under the fluorescent lights. It was chaotic, affectionate, and all too much.
The sound struck a soft spot in my chest. I hadn’t realized how empty that space had felt until it was filled.
God, how I had missed this.
The aroma of coffee. The steady hum of printers. The way everyone spoke over one another as if urgency were a form of currency. This building had always buzzed with life compared to the one back at Meadowbrook.
“Welcome back, honey.”
Dante’s voice brushed against my ear just before his lips touched my cheek. His hand settled at the small of my back.
"What's all this?"
“Just a little welcome-back party.”
Of course it was him.
I glanced around at the balloons tied to chairs, the cake already missing a slice, and the crowd trying to pretend this hadn’t been clearly planned days ahead of time. “I said low-key,” I reminded him with a smile creeping onto my face.
“This is low-key,” he replied easily. "If I wanted to be loud, you know it would've exceeded this."
I shook my head but leaned into him for just a moment anyway.
My eyes wandered on their own, looking around before spotting Risa.
She stood by the window holding a glass of wine in both hands, her shoulders relaxed and her lips curved into an almost shy smile. When our eyes met, her face brightened.
I smiled back at her, happier now that my baby girl was present.
She appeared happy too. She truly was. Of course she was. Yet there was a change I thought I detected. A hesitation. A stillness that seemed out of place in the lively room. Her eyes dropped momentarily to Dante’s hand resting on my back before lifting again, her smile broadening as if nothing had interrupted her at all. Instantly, I felt ashamed of myself. What was I doing?
Risa had stood by me when I could barely hold myself up. She had left this company without a second thought when things between Dante and me had spiraled so badly that I struggled to breathe in these hallways. Silently, she packed her desk and followed me into uncertainty without questioning what she might lose.
Jealous? Of me?
I nearly chuckled at myself. How petty of me to let insecurity whisper like that.
I slipped away from Dante and made my way toward her, the crowd parting effortlessly around me. Someone squeezed my arm while another pressed a cupcake into my hand, but all I could see was her.
“You got here before me?” I asked softly.
She shrugged and replied, “Someone had to ensure that banner wasn’t hung crooked.”
I glanced back at it. It was definitely askew.
That did it. I laughed, and she joined in, her laughter sounding genuine. The tension I imagined melted away with it, and I felt foolish for ever thinking otherwise.
I took her hand without asking and gently pulled her toward the center of the room.
“Hey!” someone called out.
Tate came from behind the design team. He raised his coffee cup toward me in salute and said, “About time you decided to grace us with your presence.”
“There it is,” I shot back with a grin. “I was waiting for the attitude.”
 He smiled, that familiar half-smirk indicating that everything was finally back to normal. Raising my glass, “I didn’t come back alone,” I announced loudly. The loudness in the room tuned down, all eyes on me.
Risa attempted to pull her hand free, but I held on tight. “This one,” I continued, squeezing her fingers, “i brought back one of our most capable hands.”
A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd. Tate nodded along with Dante.
 Risa let out a soft, embarrassed laugh and lowered her head, but I noticed the sparkle in her eyes.
I lifted my glass higher. “To Risa.”
“To Risa!” echoed the room in unison. The applause grew around us again.
 This time when I looked at her, there was no hint of doubt in me, just gratitude and love. If there had been any shadow on her face earlier, it was cast by my own fear.
I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “I’m glad we’re back,” I whispered so only she could hear.
“Me too,” she replied.
 I believed it entirely.

We stayed in the midst of everything for nearly an hour, sharing food, making introductions, and engaging in conversations that flowed easily and felt good. At one point, Dante approached me, leaned close to my ear, and whispered that he needed to get a head start on something and was going to his office. I squeezed his hand and let him go.
"You should check on him," Risa remarked about four minutes later with a casualness that suggested she had timed her comment perfectly.
"He just left."
"I know." She took a sip of her drink. "Just saying. Make sure he isn't chasing after someone."
"Risa." I shot her a pointed look.
She raised both hands in mock surrender. "I'm your friend and want what’s best for you. But men like Dante are in demand. Every girl wants him. I'm just advising you not to lose what you have."
"I don't need to do all that. I trust my man."
"Fine."
I turned back to the conversation around us, but my mood was already ruined. I kept talking and nodding at all the right moments, but Risa's teasing words had stirred something already unsettled within me.
Could she have a reason for this persistence? Risa wasn't the type to speak out of turn. She had made the same comment during our Galentine and was repeating it now. 
I didn't want to entertain outside negativity that could slowly seep in and damage my marriage. But should I ask her about her reasons instead of dismissing her? 
However, considering this meant I was already agreeing with everything she had said. 
I felt so confused. Yes, she was my best friend, but Dante was my husband, and I trusted him. That was how we've been able to thrive for a long time.