Page 57 of This Blood That Binds Us

“Just having fun. You should try it.” She winked.

Having fun was out the window. I glanced back at Kimberly, who was watching me. When our eyes met, she raised her eyebrows, and I shrugged. Chelsea and I continued to dance, while William spun Kimberly around. My heart jumped every time his hand met hers.

Every so often, I would see Zach and Luke, fist pumping, drunkenly dancing, and jamming to the music.

Each song passed slowly, and I was relieved when Kimberly pulled away from him and excused herself to the restroom.

I mirrored her movements, stopping Chelsea from dancing on me. “I gotta head to the restroom. I’ll be right back.”

“Do you just want me to wait for you here?” Chelsea said, moving her body to the beat of the song.

“Uh, sure. Sure. That works.”

Kimberly and I reached the hallway to the bathroom at the same time. A large red velvet door led into a hallway. The muffled noise felt like a warm blanket over my ears.

I opened the door for her, and we could finally talk despite the music shaking the walls.

“Are you good?”

“I’m doing okay.” She grabbed my arm, ushering me toward the quiet corner. “He hasn’t said anything definitive yet, but...he keeps talking about what we are doing after this. I think he’s trying to get me alone.”

“Well, that’s not happening,” I said. “Do you think this is our guy?”

“I’m still not sure. I feel like I’m getting closer, but he keeps noticing you watching me. Maybe you should back off a little and stay out of sight? That way, if he is the guy, he’ll be more likely to slip up.”

“Kim, that seems like a horrible idea on top of our already risky plan. I don’t like this guy.”

She looked down, calculating. “I know, but there’s something weird about this. I can feel it. It has to end tonight, or we may not get another chance. We have to draw him out. Once he does, I’ll give the signal, and I’ll make an exit and then you can get your brothers. Do you think you could stay in earshot enough that you could hear the code word?”

“I don’t know. It’s so hard to hear in here. ..but I think it’s just one word. I can listen for it.”

She looked so sure of herself. It infused me with confidence. He couldn’t take her anywhere I wouldn’t see and couldn’t hurt her in public without exposing himself. She was right. Our time was up. Everything had to end that night.

I accompanied her back through the crowd, returning her to her date, and I returned to mine.

Chelsea placed her hand on my chest. “Now, where were we?”

Kimberly and William disappeared further into the crowd and into the fog. It was going to take a lot of mental power to listen for her signal, while also entertaining Chelsea. Not to mention, the music had picked up, and people grew more wild, with sweaty bodies moving me in every direction while the music drummed in my ears.

“Chelsea, I don’t know. I’m not in a dancing mood,” I blurted.

“That’s okay. Maybe...we should get a drink instead?” I hesitated, and she caught it. “I know your mind is elsewhere, okay? But I still don’t think you should be lonely tonight. We can have fun.”

Her words cut deep. From the moment I met her, I felt for her.

Her ex-boyfriend had tried to push her down the steps in front of our frat house when I stopped him. I stayed up with her all night as she cried off all of her mascara onto my white shirt.

She could be pushy at times, but she also gave me the impression that she’d been through some things. At the same time, I knew the more attention I gave her, the harder it wouldbe for her to let go of her image of me. I wasn’t the man she envisioned. I wasn’t even a man, really. She wanted something I couldn’t give.

She didn’t wait for my reply and dragged me by hand toward the bar. That was my cue to listen hard for Kimberly’s voice, straining my brain power.

Kimberly’s voice rung through the crowd. “Are you having fun?”

“I’m having a marginal amount of fun,” William said, “Are you?”

“I am...I just don’t feel like I’m getting to talk to you,” Kimberly said.

“Well, this was your idea.” William laughed. “What do you want to know?”