"I don't know about that, but so far it's fun and the sex is good and I'm glad we're calling whatever we were doing something official. And, she was the one who wanted to go official." Her eyebrows were arched high as she shimmied a little dance. Drinks were served and as Eloise sipped on her old fashioned she smiled widely as they talked, voices in competition with the loud music until their voices lost the battle and they found themselves on the dance floor.
They danced together and with arm-raised strangers who asked. The freedom and laughter was a tonic running through each woman's veins as they moved and swayed to the medicinal beat.
Eloise was languishing in the feeling when she caught sight of someone familiar dancing with a beautiful woman, and the pang that hit her heart was so sudden and so intense that she nearly buckled from it before she righted herself on Tilly's outstretched arm.
"You alright?" Tilly called over the beating music.
She nodded, about to move her eyes from the couple when blue eyes lifted to hers, then caught.
Detective Taylor White stared at her, across from a packed dance club, as a golden-haired woman who looked like she could be cast in any movie of her choice moved easily like she was made of water. They looked perfect together. And even though she knew that he could not and would not choose a relationship, seeing them together was the kind of painful that made standing still impossible.
"I need water, and to sit for a minute," she said into Tilly's ear, who nodded and continued dancing with a laughing Kelsea and Jen. Eloise found an open leather stool to sit on and catch her breath. She flagged the bartender for water and closed her eyes against the cool slide of it down her throat. She could not allow herself to be sucked into the kind of sadness she was not owed. Taylor was not meant for her. He wasn't meant for anyone. And to borrow sorrow would not do; not for her heart and not for her new life. She could shake this off and though she hoped he hadn't looked at her and seen her hurt across the dance floor, she knew that she would have to pretend it didn't cut her. And she could do that.
Jen spotted her and came over looking alive and glowing. Here was a true happiness that she could settle on and celebrate. What a beautiful thing to find your friend experiencing joy and the excitement of a new relationship.
"I'm so happy for you. Are you happy?"
Jen's white smile, whiter in the flashing lights, was brilliant. "I am." A look of concern crossed her dark eyes and Eloise watched them shift to something behind her over her shoulder. The way Jen's face froze and her eyes flickered to where Eloise sat with uncertainty, she knew she'd seen the same thing that brought her here for respite. But then her brilliant white smile flashed and she said, "And I want this for you! Let me try to set you up again."
Eloise groaned and slumped a little on the stool. "I was wrong. I don't feel like I need to date. If someone comes along who intrigues me, then fine. But I'm not going to force it. And frankly, the set ups so far have made me want to declare myself single forever."
Jen frowned, the disbelief strong on her face. Eloise tilted her head. "Admit it: I'd make a great cat lady," she smirked and Jen laughed.
"Yeah, heard about set up number two. And to be fair, my attempt wasn't a failure; it was just postponed," she said with a smile, but when Eloise let out a feminine warning growl she held up a hand. "Okay, fine. I won't meddle. And you're right; you don't need to date. And screw me for being that person that would ever make a woman feel like she needs to."
Eloise laughed and leaned gently against her. "No, you're happy. And you just want me to have that too. I get it. But I am happy."
Her heartbeat felt bruised at the lie, at what she had seen moments ago of a man she couldn't have. Still, a bruise would heal, and her heart would beat along no worse for wear.
Jen pointed to the bartender then to her empty glass. "Then we will work on keeping you happy just as you are."
"I need to use the restroom. Will you babysit these seats so we don't lose them?"
Jen saluted. "On it."
Eloise did a scan of the dance floor not wanting to bump into a certain detective. Faking indifference across a dark dance floor was one thing. Faking indifference to his face and the face of his beautiful date? Entirely another thing.
The bathrooms were down a long corridor with low lighting and speakers strategically placed so that the music never stopped pulsing. When she finally pushed through the door she let her eyes adjust to the black and white walls and triedto picture it how she saw it in the tame daylight. During the day it was gleaming white and black mosaic tile flooring in the cafe style with black beadboard and a black and white floral wallpaper halfway up. The chandeliers were milk glass drops in the shape of flowers.
At night it was beautiful and dramatic. There were lights underneath the black baseboards and the wallpaper looked like the most intense still-frame of an old picture taken in the middle of a garden at the height of spring.
She quickly used the restroom after waiting and as she was washing her hands she looked into the mirror and stopped with a gasp when she saw a pair of eyes looking at her. A woman she didn't know was staring and when she realized she was caught she laughed self- consciously.
"I'm so sorry. I just, you have really pretty hair." She pulled on the paper towel holder, her face turned away and her shoulders held in a pose of embarrassment.
"Oh no, it's fine. You just took me by surprise. And thank you." Eloise laughed as she shook her hands free of the droplets of water. When she went to grab a paper towel there were none.
"Here," the woman said gently.
She took the offered paper towels thanking her. "Your hair color is beautiful too. I hope you're not wishing you had this," she lifted a curled lock, "over that," she pointed to the woman who was smiling sheepishly. She was tall and willowy, with copper red hair, the kind you see perfectly coiled in time period films against perfect porcelain skin.
"Well, thank you. I'm Kyra," she said holding out her hand.
"Eloise."
"Eloise Willow. You live at The Lost Souls House, don't you?"
"Yeah, I guess I need to put that on my resume now," she joked.
