Suddenly, the spell broke. James whispered with his low, soft timbre, “Will’s looking for you.”
Then he turned around, leaving me to admire the colors marking his imposing shoulders.
“You know something, Snow White? I’ll remember that.”
“What?” I fell right out of the clouds.
“That you asked me to take off my pants.”
I shook my head disapprovingly.
“James.”
He bit his lower lip, then left me alone to stare at the door that he left ajar behind him.
6
June
I looked at myself in the mirror. What was different in me?
Why did I feel so beautiful right now?
Just because that meathead deigned to spare a second look at me? I jumped off the sink and left the bathroom. I made my way slowly through the crowd until I bumped into William, who surprised me with a big smile and a splash of color on his chest.
“June, there you are! Do you know why Amelia told me to go fuck myself when I asked where you were?”
“Forget it,” I muttered embarrassed.
“What happened?”
“Really, Will. Why don’t we get something to drink?” I recommended impulsively, completely forgetting that he couldn’t drink. William didn’t make me repeat it twice. He took me right to the bar and ordered.
“Are you sure you want to—”
I couldn’t even finish the sentence before he downed two shots right in front of my incredulous eyes.
“Come on, you gotta keep up!” He laughed, catching me off guard. Aided by the drink I’d already had, I decided to throw back the shot. The clear liquid burned in my chest like the flames of hell.
“Oh, you’re slow,” he teased.
The next two went down much easier. A short time later we found ourselves in the middle of the crowd, dancing. Not a second went by that our eyes weren’t locked in the dark, our mouths eagerly seeking the other’s out.
We started making out. Nobody was paying attention. Our kiss had the aftertaste of mint and peach vodka. Will smiled at me, his snow-white teeth glittering under the neon lights. I smiled back, until he took my face in his hands and stuck his tongue between my lips. I didn’t have much to go off, but I was sure that Will was a really good kisser. Softly, delicately, but at the same time unafraid to be bold. I jumped as his tongue changed rhythm and his hands squeezed tighter around my waist.
“Too much?” he asked kissing me a few times on the neck.
“Well, there are so many people here.”
Which makes it worse, I should’ve added, but I kept my mouth shut just as Will opened his to say, “You look beautiful.”
That took me by surprise. Will just paid me a compliment, and that was enough to make me understand how disconnected we were and out of step our conversations were. We were talking, but we weren’t really communicating. It wasn’t a sincere dialogue. Sometimes it seemed like he was using lines on me, and I couldn’t understand if he really felt that deep down or just wanted to make me happy. An unexpected glint flashed in his dull gray eyes.
“Come with me, June.”
Will took my hand and pulled me out of the crowd. As I followed his bare back, Marvin stopped Will to whisper something in his ear.
“I have them if you need ’em.”
