I spin around, speechless, and watch him go. The door shuts behind him and I stare at it for a long time.
Then I realize it’s not even that late yet, so I yank my door open and head back down to Meela’s. I’m not going to sit in my room all night feeling… whatever this is.
There’s no trace of him in the halls.
When I walk through her front door, the music is still playing softly in the background, but there’s a lot more raucous noise, chatter, and a few lively drinking games going on too.
I don’t know why she agreed to host this. I’d want them all out by now, but some will probably linger all night. At least she propped her bedroom door wide open and told everyone she has a no fucking in her room policy.
I head for the drinks, grab a glass of pink wine, and drink half of it in a few big gulps. Then I set the rest down. That should help calm whatever is going on in my head.
I turn to go find Meela, not seeing her in the main room.
I find her in her bedroom with Raef and two other male elves. Ryndon and Farlon. They’re playing some game with several mugs being flipped and passed around. They’re laughing and yelling, cheering each other on.
“Elle!” Meela yells with excitement when she sees me.
“Hi,” I shoot back, not even attempting to match her enthusiasm.
“Sand!” Raef yells, beckoning me over.
I laugh again at the ridiculous nickname.
“I didn’t expect you to come back,” Meela tells me more quietly, looking at me curiously.
I shrug and look away.
“Where’s my guy?” Raef asks rather loudly.
I shrug again. “Probably back at your room. I don’t know.”
“Something wrong?” Meela asks.
“No…” I smile at her suddenly, petting her hair softly. “Why would you think that?”
“Oh fuck me. You drank the pink wine again.”
I nod my head with a huge, closed-mouth grin. “Your hair is so silky-smooth. Did you know that?”
Raef side-eyes us.
“Raef, did you know how soft her hair is?” I ask him, still petting it.
She shakes me off, pushing my hand away.
“Stop it. Go over to my closet and pet my dresses, okay? There are plenty of silky ones in there.”
“Oooh, okay!”
Raef laughs and they turn and get back to their silly drinking game.
“I like your laugh, Raef,” I say as I walk toward the closet.
“Thank you!” he yells back, barely ripping his attention from the game.
She has almost no purple in here. I think I’ll talk to her handmaid about adding more. There is a shiny blue one that catches my eye, and I slowly run my hands down it. It’s the same shade of blue I wore when Daegan commented on my switch up.
My stomach flutters at the memory.
