“What?” I ask.
“Because he didn’t know I was coming.” My ex-favorite voice that’s made me smile for the last five years cuts in.
“Nate’s here.” Ads scrunches up her face.
Camila chuckles, and I shake my head. “No kidding?”
“Can we please talk,Madeline?” He accentuates my name.
I hate him, I remind myself repeatedly, but for some reason I can’t get the words to come out of my mouth.
“You’re drunk.” It’s the best excuse I can come up with.
“I am. I’ve been drinking in the hotel room all day, so fucking nervous to see you, but so are you. More than I’ve ever seen.”
By total accident, I lift my eyes, searching his, and I hate that every inch of me is affected by him. His eyes, his smile, everything.
His stupid, thick eyelashes even turn me on.
And what I would give to run my hands through his hair and kiss his lips.
No.
“Either you leave or I do.”
He hangs his head. “Fine.” He turns and walks away, shocking me that he gives in so easily. I hate that I feel even a small percentage of loss.
“Are you all right?” Addie comes and drapes her arm around me.
I shake my head.
No. No, I’m not.
“Let’s dance.”
He never left.
I don’t know where Nate is, but the heat of his eyes has been on me the whole night.
He sat sipping a dark amber drink in the corner for a while, not hiding his presence.
But as the night went on, the crowd got thicker, and I couldn’t spot him anymore, except I know deep in my bones that he’s here.
Go away.
I text him, drop my phone back into my purse, and go back dancing on wobbly legs. I planned to slow my pace, but after my first and second run-in with Nate, I needed something strong to keep the buzz going.
Camila walks to me, a wide smile on her face. “Nate says you blocked him, so he can’t message you back. But he’s not going anywhere.”
“At least you look freaking hot tonight.” Addie touches my dress and pretends it burns her.
“You’re so stupid.” I laugh. “But I do love my dress. Thank you.”
Addie brought me one of her dresses to wear, knowing I couldn’t afford a new one. Even though Mase gave me a credit card, I will only use it in an emergency situation.
The dress is a black minidress, hugging me in all the right places, with slinky gold chains as straps and a completely exposed back. Addie styled my hair in loose, beachy waves that cascade down my back, while Camila braided the coolest halo to form a crown, with wispy pieces framing my face.
Tonight, I feel like a sexy princess, and I hope Nate is suffering from a royal case of blue balls in the corner somewhere.
