Lingering Obsession

ng with me.

th something that could only be described as reckless determination. I

ngers through the tangled mess of hair I hadn't gotten energy to brush. "My

r short vacation, taking a break from whatever luxurious pharmaceutical conference she'd been ne

her. God, I

like she was twirling fate itself. "You're in desperate need of fun, Elara. When was th

had been nothing but pressure lately-a slow, creeping tide that started with Darlington bleeding out on my journey and ended w

a club," I grumbled, looking at

ng simple, don't freak. You'll look hot, I promise. Uber will be outsid

fore I could argu

ainting soft shadows on the walls. A soft ache bloomed in my chest. I

it was

-

something simple"

no apology, and the slit up the thigh was so high I felt like a gust of wind might make me a local legend. I

iew mirror that made me consider askin

e already pullin

all over the sidewalk-gold trim, velvet ropes, and a line of pe

like a queen at the gate, lips glossy and ey

me into a tight hug. "You clean up w

y raccoon imperson

racter. Now, tonight, you're not a nurse. You're Elara, hot

cing with my heartbeat. Lights flashed, bodies moved, and somewhere in

hampagne flutes in o

k overpriced bubbles and get tin

into the VIP lounge upstairs. C

rse th

-

ind of place that smelled like expensive perfume and heartbreak. V

e-Truth or Dare, apparently. I tried to sit qui

rn!" someon

"How do y

d. "I might've

, but it was al

guy asked, a smirk

" I answered,

. "Alright then, who

chill of the trauma room, Damien's broken body beneath mine. I hadn't kissed him, n

ile," I said qu

, someone handed

gain. And no backing

arlington Cross is in the club so I dare you to go dow

G

be I could burst into flame

anxiety. So I downed the rest of

hted. "Do it." She whispered something into my ears, "H

I shot back. "I'm

terrified of

ike a living thing. I moved through the bodies, scanning

's when

mess like he'd clawed through it too many times. He lo

ngton

d. I couldn't mov

n away, his gaze l

rything

t really. But his eyes lin

ossed the floor and stopp

aid, brea

head. "Do we k

"No. I'm... h

eyes. "Let me guess. You're

act

was flirting. Like a man trying

hest

who's lost something,"

back to mine. "Yo

rld buzzing around us. The hum of music,

finally, "you

Only if you wa

typed something in, and hande

Let's see if fate brough

l's voice called out from the stairs

tep away, he spo

urn

s your

ated. "

n again, slower. Lik

asked, even thoug

n't know me? I'm not much of a bragger...

in the air lik

en, knowing this night had just twis

hing