She put her hand on his chest before his lips met hers again. “I… I don’t think I can do this.”
He met her eyes, the fog of desire lifting slowly. He looked down her body, then to the bed only a few feet away. “Like, right now or…”
Something in his expression faltered, like this experience was completely alien to him. Was this the first time in his entire life he had ever been turned down? God, maybe it was.
“I’m just not sure…” She started then stopped, trying to find the words.
He blinked and then his lazy grin returned. “No worries. The party’s about to start, I get it.”
She let out a shaky breath. “Right.”
He took a step back, looking down at her body again. “But let me know when you’re ready. Okay?”
She opened her mouth, ready to explain that she wasn’t sure she would ever be, but she was saved by the deep chimes of the doorbell. They both looked to the door.
“Well, I guess that’s my cue,” he said, unfazed.
She smiled. “I guess so.”
Emma wasn’t sure how it happened, but one minute the house was empty, and the next the party was in full swing. Bodies packed tightly into the dining room, lining up as they admired the questionable art, and piling high onto Montgomery’s precious recycled chairs as the throbbing beat of the music vibrated through every bone of Emma’s body.
She managed to find space at the bar, and as she waited for the bartender’s attention, she scanned the crowd for Nadine. For Mrs. Pawloski. For anyone she knew.
In fact… Emma looked around. For a neighborhood party on the Upper East Side, this crowd was exceptionally young. Even more important, Emma didn’t recognize anyone.
“Emma!”
She turned to find Nadine maneuvering through the crowd toward the bar. Her honey-brown hair fell around her shoulders, her cheeks flushed. She smiled broadly.
“Oh my God, I didn’t think I was going to find you!” she said, her voice almost lost in the music.
“I can’t believe you did,” Emma said. “I have no idea who any of these people are.”
“Well, I just saw Mrs. Pawloski in the living room,” Nadine said, nodding back to where she came from. “She’s doing shots with three guys in tracksuits, so I think she’s okay.”
Emma laughed, the tension slowly releasing her body as she gave Nadine a hug. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Me too,” Nadine said. “Oh! I met Montgomery at the door! He’s so hot!”
“Yeah.” Emma’s voice came out an octave higher than usual.
Nadine’s eyes grew wide. “Did you hook up again?”
“No, not really…” She let the words fade and finally shrugged. “I mean, we were about to, but… I don’t know…”
“Well, if it doesn’t feel right…”
Emma shook the lingering discomfort off. “Doesn’t matter. It’s New Year’s, it’s a party, and you’re here!”
“Exactly!”
Nadine began to sway with the music, her hips almost hitting a passing waiter. He dodged at the last minute, lowering his full tray of champagne to keep his balance. Nadine’s eyes lit up as if it were an offering just for her and she grabbed two glasses. “Oh! Thank you!”
She turned and handed one to Emma.
“As Nana would say: here’s to doing and drinking, not sitting and thinking,” Nadine said, raising her glass in a dramatic toast.
“Hear, hear, Nana!” Emma concurred and laughed, taking a huge gulp of her drink.
