An urge to follow her into the bathroom rose, but I remained rooted to the dance floor.
There weren't many things I would not do—especially in judgment of person's character or just to piss off God—but spying when Anna would be at her most vulnerable was succinctly off the list.
A thick wooden support beam joined the floor and ceiling, so I leaned against it and crossed my arms. My attention remained glued to the door.
She stayed in there for quite a while.
Herdatetapped his foot impatiently as he stared in the bathroom's direction. After several more minutes, he threw up his hands then sidled up to another woman who must've caught his eye.
Definitely not her boyfriend, then.
This revelation lifted my spirits.
Still. Why did Anna come to a place like this?
I expected to come back and find her a world-renowned artist or at least well on her way to a productive life. Instead, she has become a pious sister during the day and a hypocrite by night.
Finally, she opened the restroom door. She'd pulled her loose hair into a tight, shiny ponytail, exposing more of her face, which was gaunter than I remembered.
Slipping part ways out of the door, she craned her neck and carefully scanned the dancing humans.
When her focus landed on Frances, whose back was turned while he stuck his tongue in another woman's mouth—really, he wasn't that good looking—she closed her eyelids for a moment and let out a breath.
What in damnation was going on with her? And why did she steal his wallet?
I admit it; she'd piqued my fascination level. This Anna I did not know, and it both terrified and excited me. Most humans I could figure out in a heartbeat, but Anna? No. She'd become a welcome enigma.
I wanted to laugh. Not only did she tempt Frances Shark Teeth, but she'd stolen his wallet from under his very nose.
It reminded me of when she'd retrieved one of the sister's raunchy books from the trash all those years ago.
It's good to know she hasn't completely changed. A little sin does everyone good.
Though, on further thought,whydid she take it?
Surely she wasn't destitute. The fund I'd created years ago would've matured when she graduated and should've provided a modest amount of income. Perhaps not enough to be a bum, but enough to help provide a roof over her head while she worked her way through college.
A teensy, tiny shard of guilt pricked my heart.
Maybe if I hadn't abandoned her for two years, she wouldn't have felt the need to steal.
But I'd never promised her anything.
Anna skirted the dance floor, walking next to the walls until she reached the busy bar area closer to the entrance.
A woman with ostentatious aquamarine hair bounced up from the behind the counter and smiled at Anna. Her hands flew around as she spoke.
I gave in and tapped into my power to hear the conversation.
Anna shook her head. "No." She dug the wallet out of her purse and handed it to the other lady. "I'm not feeling well, Bridget. Here. I found this near the bathroom."
"Oh, damn it. I was hoping you were having a great time and loosening up." She thumbed open the wallet and pulled out a wad of cash, then glanced at the man's driver's license. "At least no one stole his money."
Anna rubbed her ear lobe. "Y-yeah. I guess it's a good thing I found it." A sheen of sweat shone on her forehead. "Well, I'm going to head out before I get into a heap of trouble."
Bridget, a few inches taller, leaned down and hugged Anna. "Take care, and think about what I said, okay?"
Anna pulled back and gave the other woman a stare. "I will. I promise."
