Worse, she could bringhimhome with her.
Which is probably why I want to break his jaw.
I stare down at the amber liquid in my glass, telling myself to walk away. Be the adult. Besane.
But then I notice movement in my periphery and watch as Claire disappears down the hallway.
I’m out of my chair before I can think better of it, heading toward the same corridor just as the door to the women’s restroom swings shut.
I lean against the wall and stare at the scuffed floor, trying to pull myself together. Come up with some sort of rationalization for what I’m doing. But there isn’t one.
All the more reason I should turn around right now before Claire sees me waiting outside the ladies’ room.
But I don’t have a chance before the door opens.
Claire steps into the hallway and freezes when she sees me. Her eyes go wide, hand flying to her chest.
“Jesus,” she breathes. “You scared me.”
“Do you want him?” I demand.
Her brows knit together. “What?”
“That guy you’ve been flirting with. Do. You. Want. Him?”
She crosses her arms, lifting her chin in defiance. “Maybe.”
I narrow my eyes. “I don’t believe you.”
She doesn’t respond right away. Just glares at me like she wants to both slap me and kiss me at the same time.
Then her expression softens, showing a vulnerability I didn’t expect. “Maybe I just want to forget you.”
The words hit harder than they should, leaving me momentarily speechless.
“Is that why you’re flirting with him?” I take a cautious step toward her. “To forget me?”
She gives a small nod of her head.
“And have you?” My gaze drops to her mouth.
“No.”
Relief hits me hard and fast. My pulse pounds as I press one hand to the wall beside her, caging her in. The scent of her body wash curls around me — vanilla and spice, warm and infuriatingly addictive.
“But I need to,” she adds, yet doesn’t attempt to retreat. If anything, she leans into me even more.
“Why?”
“We both know why.”
“I don’t think I can ever forget you, Claire.” I edge closer still, regardless of every single reason I shouldn’t be here.
I know this is wrong. Know I should walk away right now, but I hate the idea of anyone else knowing the side of Claire I was lucky enough to have for one night.
“The way you move. The way you feel. The way you taste.”
She closes her eyes as a tiny whimper escapes her throat.
