“I’m sorry, I?—”
He palms my thigh. “Don’t worry about it. You don’t need to apologize.”
I wasn’t thinking when I said it, that while he can enjoy a drink out with friends, that he never wants to turn to it asa buffer or a crutch. Doesn’t want to give it the chance to take power over him like it did with his mother.
“You know, last time I was at this club, I got into a fight and was hauled out of here by Nikolai and Walker.” A devilish glint gleams in his eyes, and I’m thankful for his attempt to turn the conversation.
“I’m surprised they let you back in after that!”
“The guy had it coming.”
Marley and Sara join us, and the four of us make small talk as best as we can with the music blaring. Nicole and some of the others head down the dance floor with a group of guys from one of the booths near ours.
The champagne is bitter so I only have a few sips before swapping to a vodka lemonade.
“Don’t have expensive taste buds, huh?” Reid teases.
My face twists at the half-drank glass sitting on the table. “I don’t care how expensive that bottle is, it tastes horrible.”
He barks out a laugh and Sara stares at him as if it’s the first time she’s seeing him. He notices and raises a brow at her. “Can I help you with something?”
I cringe at the sarcasm in his tone but Sara isn’t bothered by it. “I just think that’s the first time I’ve seen you smile, or laugh, since I’ve met you.”
“You’ve only met me twice.”
“Exactly. Normally people would’ve smiled at the first introduction.”
Marley hides her amusement behind her glass of champagne, and I tuck my face into Reid’s shoulder, doing the same.
Done with the inquisition, Reid rises to his feet and extends a hand toward me. “Want to go dance?”
I place my hand in his, mine so much smaller and softer than his, and let him lead me downstairs into the throng of people.
I don’t know if it’s his height, his aura, or maybe his recognizable face, but I can feel every eye turn in our direction the minute we’re in the crowd. He doesn’t seem to notice. Maybe he’s used to it by now. But my skin feels like it’s crawling. A flash goes off to my left, different from the strobe lights pulsing through the club.
“People are taking pictures,” I shout over the music. My face grows hot with my proximity to him and all those cameras. “If those get posted of you with me, they’re going to be all over online tomorrow.”
He shrugs and grips my waist, bringing our bodies flush.
“They’re going to talk,” I say. “They’re going to wonder about the girl you’re out with this time.” Trust me, I’ve seen more than enough about Reid out with various women at clubs and bars. Never the same one, often multiple times a week during the height of Whisper Me Nothings’ fame.
And now I’m going to be one of those girls.
“I don’t care if they do,” he says simply, leaning down so I can hear him. “Let them talk. Let them take their pictures.”
“But…people will see us together.” My protest is weak and Reid’s sly smirk proves it.
“Yeah, that’s kinda what happens when you’re together with someone, Penny. Like I said”—his lips trace the shell of my ear, sending a shiver down my spine—“let them see us.”
Us.
Two letters, one word, and it sounds like the greatest thing in the world. I’ve always felt alone, needed to be independent, watch out for myself because there wasn’t anyone else to. Inever had anus.
There’s still a part of me that’s scared to trust him, trust that this is real and I’m not going to wake up and find him gone again. But it’s getting quieter and quieter each time we’re together.
With every car ride, every night watching the sunset at the beach, every dinner date at my apartment, my stupid, weak heart gives more and more pieces to him.
“This dress,” he says, voice guttural. “I like this. I like it a lot.” His fingers brush the thin strap of it. One small movement, one flick of his fingers, and they’d be off my shoulders and the entire dress would pool at my ankles. It’s a cobalt-blue shift with a low neck and even lower back.
