The kind that makes everyone take a step back.
Tony’s holding his shoulder now. “Easy. Easy, man.”
But Ethan’s been drinking all day.
I’ve never seen him like this.
Not sharp.
Not controlled.
Raw.
Embarrassed.
Territorial.
Dangerous.
The whole dance floor is watching.
My skin crawls.
I suddenly feel like I’m standing in the middle of something I should not be part of.
Like collateral damage.
Like this whole night just tipped sideways.
So I do the only smart thing I’ve done all evening.
I slip out of the crowd.
Quiet.
Unnoticed.
And walk away.
I don’t even remember deciding to leave.
One second it’s bass and shouting and Ethan looking like he’s about to commit a felony.
The next I’m pushing through the side door with my drink still in my hand.
Cold air hits me like a slap.
The back patio is quieter, but not quiet-quiet.
Smokers clustered near the railing. A couple making out against the brick wall. Someone laughing too loud. The harbor just beyond, black water glinting under dock lights.
Music still thumps through the walls, muted now. Like a second heartbeat.
I slip farther back.
There’s a pergola half-covered in vines and a couple big potted plants. I duck behind one and sit on the bench tucked in the corner, mostly hidden unless someone’s looking for me.
I breathe.
