Light like a starter

The guests were ushered into the main dining room, which had been decorated with sage greens and violet fabrics. It looked elegant and formal, very Carrie, she thought. Emma made her way to her assigned table, her heels clicking on the hardwood floor. She found her place setting and scanned the cards. Seeing Tom’s name next to hers made her pause. Since he wasn't actually here, she realized she’d be forced to spend the entire dinner sitting at a table full of strangers, trying to make small talk. It sounded exhausting and lonely.

She looked across the room and spotted Liam hovering by a different table, probably his own assigned. It made sense to invite him over. They were old friends, and frankly, having someone she actually knew would make the meal much more enjoyable. It wasn't about anything else; it was just common sense to ensure she had company she could connect with. She caught his eye and gave a subtle wave, signaling him to come over.

He saw her, grinned, and made his way through the crowd. He sat down in the chair designated for Tom without a second thought. She felt a sense of relief wash over her. It was definitely the right choice. Why should she be stuck alone when she had someone perfectly suitable to sit with?

She introduced him to the others at the table; an older couple at the table, distant relatives of Carrie's, two teenage girls presumably cousins, and they exchanged pleasantries and hellos. It was all very civil. A waiter came around, pouring crisp white wine into their glasses to pair with the starter, a bowl of rich mushroom soup.

As she took a sip of the wine, the warming liquid relaxing her, she sat back and felt the comfort of Liam sitting right beside her. It felt natural and easy. There was no reason to feel guilty; he was just an old friend, and having his company was objectively better than sitting by herself among people she didn't know. She focused on the soup, feeling content with the arrangement, convinced that she had made the only logical decision for her own comfort.