Beth reappeared first, pushing through the restroom door, face flushed and eyes unsettled. She scanned the room and found me.
“Hey,” I said gently. “Where’s your boyfriend?”
“Outside on his phone. So much for a fun night together.”
Her shoulders dropped and she blinked, trying to hold back a watery tear.
I shook my head quickly. “That is not cool. Are you okay?”
She nodded too fast. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine.”
Sage followed a moment later, flawless again. Smile in place. Lip gloss refreshed. Like nothing had happened.
She slipped her arm around my waist.
“What are you doing over here all alone?”
I searched her face—looking for something I couldn’t name.
“Just grabbing water,” I said.
She smiled up at me. “You worry too much about how much I drink.”
Maybe I did.
But I had good reason.
As I held her close again, felt the club pulse around us, one thought wouldn’t let go:
The guy hadn’t sounded jealous.
He sounded relieved.
Before I could untangle my own thoughts, Beth’s boyfriend cut through the crowd with purpose—jaw tight, shoulders squared like he’d already made up his mind.
He wasn’t drunk. He didn’t look conflicted.
He looked resolved.
“Beth,” he said, loud enough that the music didn’t drown him out. “I’m out.”
She blinked, confused. “What? What do you mean you’re out?”
He ran a hand through his hair, breath coming fast.
“I can’t do this. I haven’t had much to drink, and they really need me. I can’t be here all night having fun while my crew’s out there risking their lives.”
She reached for him. “Wait?—”
He stepped back.
“If I leave now, I can still get out there. The fire’s not going anywhere, and even if it’s contained, they’ll need relief. If anything else happens, I need to be on call.”
There was no anger in his voice.
Just conviction.
Before Beth could say another word, he was gone—slipping through the club doors like he’d never planned to stay.
