Page 38 of When the Smoke Clears

When she breezes past a group of guys standing at a tall, round table, drinking beer and watching the game on the TV, one of them cranes his neck to watch her, then he pulls his trucker hat lower on his head and mumbles, “Shit, that’s my shrink. I’m not supposed to be at the bar this month.” He ducks his head and bumps into me on his way out.

“Phil, where ya going?” one guy calls, but Phil doesn’t stop to respond.

I chuckle to myself, making my way through the crowd to sit at the opposite end of the bar from Everleigh. Before I get my butt planted on the stool, she hops down, straightens her dress, and grabs a guy’s hand. They strut past me toward the restrooms.

“What the fuck,” I whisper, jumping on her tail before she gets to the door. “A word,” I say, clasping her free hand and yanking her away from the guy who looks like a teenager.

“William,” she scolds as I drag her out of the bar and around the corner of the building.

“What are you doing?” I release her hand and back her against the brick wall.

“What do you mean? I’m getting laid in the bathroom of a bar. Are you having memory issues?”

“Everleigh, we just got here. It literally wasn’t a full minute. Who is that kid, and how the fuck did you convince him to go with you so quickly?”

She squints. “Well, thanks for the vote of confidence. But in case you haven’t noticed, I look hot tonight. How long did you think it would take me? I’m playing Fortnite with some online friends at eleven. I don’t have all night to engage in small talk. He asked me if he could buy me a drink. I said I was just looking to have sex in the ladies’ room since I have to stay sober to drive. I asked if he was interested. And as luck would have it, he is.”

I open my mouth to speak, but as luck would have it, no words come out. So I grunt and shake my head, hoping to knock a few words free. “Do you know how old he is? Is he legal?”

“Kade is a running back for the Grizzlies. Don’t you follow football? So, yes. He’s legal. But I understand your concern. And I appreciate your looking out for me. Also, don’t say anything because I don’t want him to know I recognize him. Nobody likes an obsessed fangirl.”

“Ebony?” Kade says, popping his head around the corner.

I grit my teeth. “Her name is Everleigh.”

“Sorry. My bad. Listen, my friends just showed up. They want to get pizza, so if you’re still wanting to”—he eyes me before returning his attention to her—“you know, then we need to make it quick. I mean, I’m still down for it.”

“Yes. I’m ready, Kade—”

“Actually, no, Katy. She’s no longer interested,” I say, because I’m losing my fucking mind.

“Kade,” he corrects me.

“Sorry. My bad. Enjoy your pizza.”

He lifts an eyebrow at Everleigh, and she sighs with a slight headshake, so he disappears back around the corner.

When I look at Everleigh, she has me ensnared in her unblinking gaze.

“William,” she says slowly.

“Everleigh,” I say just as slowly.

“I think we need to set some boundaries. Would you like to share what your expectations were of me tonight? Then I’ll reciprocate, and we can find a healthy compromise since we’re friends.”

I twist my lips to keep from laughing. Is she serious? “Okay.” I nod. “I expected you to order some fruity virgin drink and awkwardly try to flirt with an old married guy who just came into the bar to pick up some burgers and chicken fingers for his wife and kids. Then I figured you’d give up and go home.”

“You thought I’d fail?”

“No. I thought you’d feel too . . .”

“Too? Too what?”

“Too sophisticated to have sex in a bathroom with a stranger.”

“But you suggested it.”

I rest a hand on my hip and stare at the gray evening sky, a sliver of light still visible over the building across the street. “Not literally,” I say. “The things I suggested weren’t literal. It was more of a vibe.”