The warmth of her hand presses against the back of my neck, her fingers playing with the strands there.
“You have no idea how badly I want to keep hating you.”
A smile tickles the edges of my mouth. “And how are you feeling about me now if it’s not hate?”
Her hands slide down my chest, her hips moving to the beat of the song. “Now, I feel like maybe I could tolerate you again.”
Laughter floods out of me and she giggles in return. “Maybe I’m pathetic but I’ll accept tolerate.”
“I need another drink.” She grabs my hand, tugging me from the dancefloor to the bar. “What about you?”
“Another drink sounds like a great idea.”
She smiles at me, her skin glistening with sweat from all the dancing she’s been doing. It’s good to see her happy for a change. For the past few months especially, she’s been less herself, and I’m sure it’s all thanks to her ex.
Leaning over the bar, she gives our order when the bartender comes near.
“Have you seen our friends?” she asks.
I look around, searching the packed club. “Nope.”
“They must be having fun. That’s good.”
The bartender returns with our drinks, and we make our way back to our booth.
“What time is it?” Ebba asks.
I check my phone. “Just after midnight.”
She leans back against the couch and sips her drink. Shooting a conspiratorial smile my way, she says, “Still plenty of time to get into trouble.”
I arch a brow. “What kind of trouble are you thinking?”
She shrugs her slender shoulders, her smile coy. “We’ll see.”
The three girls walk ahead of us, laughing and giggling and struggling to stay upright.
“What a time to be alive!” Noah slings his arms over Elias and me.
Elias laughs. “How drunk are you?”
Noah lets his arms drop. “Not that much.” He scratches his jaw. “I don’t think.”
“Are you sure about that?” I tease.
Up ahead, the girls stumble and I instinctively lurch forward for Ebba, but she quickly steadies herself and the three of them burst into hysterics.
“I saw you dancing with Ebba.” Noah elbows me in jest. “Do you like her?”
My eyes meet Elias’s, and he gives me a knowing smirk.
Does her brother know about us?
Elias didn’t know about us when we were together, but I wonder if she’s since filled him in on our relationship.
“I like her,” I reply. “She’s … nice.”
“Nice?” Noah laughs, tugging me against him with an arm thrown around my neck. “Surely you can do better than that.”
