Page 67 of Before Eve

I want to wave so he sees me, but that’s idiotic.

Her hand slides across his chest, and I grit my teeth. Her nails flex into him, and I take my drink and down half of it. It helps numb me even more.

“You look kind of out of place,” says some guy who comes up beside me.

I turn toward him, taking in his shaved head. “Didn’t know I was coming, otherwise I would’ve worn a dress or something.”

Chuckling, he nods at my shirt. “Yeah, but then Tweety Bird would’ve missed out.” He sits down beside me. “My name’s Jerome.”

“Eve,” I tell him and take another deep sip. It rolls down, fuzzing my thoughts even more.

Jerome shifts closer. “You here with anybody?”

I give that more thought than it needs. “My friend, Anne.”

“Not a date then?”

I giggle and then frown. Did I just giggle?

He shifts even closer, and now we’re almost touching. “You’re the only girl in here with blue hair.”

“I’m a blonde.” Woops, I probably shouldn’t have told him that.

Jerome leans in. “I’m not bald.”

I glance back across the room to West. He’s staring at me again. It makes the hairs on my neck tingle. Without really thinking about it, I finish off the drink.

“I’ll go get you another,” Jerome says.

Still staring at West, I slowly nod.

West doesn’t say anything to the group he’s standing with, just steps away, and comes straight toward me. Behind him, Illana says something, and he ignores her. I watch him the whole way, consumed by his presence. God, I’ve missed him, and the closer he comes, the more it hits me just how much that’s true.

Finally, he’s in front of me.

“Hi,” I say.

He doesn’t say hi back. “How many of those have you had?”

“One. No, two.” I frown. “Maybe three.”

Jerome comes back with my third. Or fourth. He gives West a confused look. I offer them both a smile.

West takes the drink from Jerome. “Thanks, but she’s with me.”

“I didn’t know.” Jerome holds his hands up. “Sorry, dude.”

He walks off, and I turn to West. I’m with him? That’s interesting.

He doesn’t seem as amazed as I do. “Can you walk?”

“Sure.” I shrug. “Why?”

He arches a brow. I get up, the room tilts, and I reach out at the same time West grabs my arm.

I giggle. West sighs.

And that makes me giggle more.