“What?” Mia frowned in confusion.
“You’ve got dark circles under your eyes,” Hazel said bluntly, leaning closer. “I can see them even in this lighting. Seriously, men aren’t worth stressing over this much.”
Mia answered immediately, words tumbling out before Hazel could react. “It’s not because of Alexander.”
“Did I say it was him?” Hazel shot back, eyes narrowing, but then her lips curved into a soft, teasing laugh. She studied Mia, reading the tension etched into her posture.
“Stop bothering me,” Mia said, frowning, her expression smoothing into a mask of nonchalance. She pulled her hair back behind her ears and reached for the cocktail on the table. “I’m not worried about anything at all. You’re overthinking it. Stop ruining my night and let me drink.”
Before Hazel could respond, Mia tilted the glass back and downed it in one swift motion.
“Holy shit,” Hazel laughed, eyes wide. “You arereallydisturbed.”
“I told you I’m not disturbed,” Mia insisted, already reaching for another glass and draining it as quickly as the first.
Hazel exhaled, taking the empty glass from her hand and fixing her with a serious, almost pleading look. “Okay. Enough. What actually happened?”
Mia hesitated, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass. Her gaze swept over the crowd—the dancers moving, the music thumping relentlessly, the chaotic brightness of flashing lights. The energy was intoxicating but overwhelming, making her feel raw and exposed. Exhaustion weighed on her shoulders—exhaustion from work, from running into James, from Alexander, from the unrelenting pull of emotions she couldn’t control.
Finally, she let it spill. Her voice was quiet at first, but it grew steadier as she recounted everything:
Meeting James.
Alexander showing up again.
The hospital.
The fight.
By the time she finished, Hazel was staring at her, worry written clearly in the lines around her eyes.
“What do you want to do now?” she asked softly, her voice almost drowned beneath the pounding music.
Mia groaned, dropping her head slightly, letting her hair fall over her face. “I don’t know… I don’t know anything,” she admitted, voice tight with exhaustion.
Just then, a familiar voice cut through the noise.
“Mia?”
Her body stiffened instantly, every muscle taut. She lifted her gaze cautiously and saw Gavin approaching the table, eyes locked on her.
“Shit,” she muttered under her breath, a flush creeping up her neck.
Gavin, however, didn’t seem to notice her reaction. He wore that easy, bright smile of his. He pulled out a chair and slid smoothly onto the seat across from her.
“I was looking for you that day!” he said casually, as if the chaos of the club and her visible tension didn’t exist. “Where did you disappear to without telling me?”
Hazel’s eyes narrowed slightly, confusion crossing her face. “Wait—didn’t you two go out for dinner together?” Her eyes fell on Mia, “You disappeared?”
Gavin froze, a flicker of embarrassment crossing his features. He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “That was my fault,” he admitted finally. “I said some stupid things about her husband, and… Mia got upset.”
Mia waved a hand dismissively, looking away for a moment before meeting his eyes again. “It’s not a big deal.” Her tone was calm, but there was an edge to it. Then, curiosity edged her words. “So… what are you doing here?”
“Just here for drinks,” Gavin said casually, hiding the truth—how he’d seen her outside earlier and followed her in.
Now that they were sitting together, he couldn’t hide his relief. He leaned back slightly, a grin tugging at his lips, and lifted a drink toward her. “Here. I owe you an apology for that day.”
He poured another glass for himself and slid one toward Hazel. Hazel accepted the drink with a polite, careful smile.
