Page 93 of Hidden

I didn’t care either way.

Because every time Gabriella’s face threatened to rise up again, every time I pictured the balcony and the glass and the exact shape of her mouth when she was trying not to cry, I moved harder. Louder. Faster. Whistle. Lights. Noise. Anything to keep from hearing the one thing under all of it.

Go to her.

Go to her.

Go to her.

I didn’t.

That was the point.

That was the whole fucking battle.

By the time the music shifted again and the room had melted into that loose, happy kind of chaos that came after too many drinks and too much dancing, I was sweating through my shirt and breathing hard, my chest heaving, my head full of static.

I leaned both hands on the bar and laughed at something Rachel said without fully hearing it.

Then, when no one was looking, I glanced toward the window.

Toward the dark beyond the glass.

Toward enemy territory.

She’ll be waiting, something in me whispered, and the thought hit me like a grenade. Because she would be, wouldn’t she? She’d step onto that balcony or stand behind the doors orflick the light and wait for the answering shape of me in the dark, and tonight… tonight there would be nothing there.

I gripped the edge of the bar until my fingers hurt.

For one insane second, I nearly went anyway. Nearly walked straight out of the club, half mad with need, and headed for the bike.

Then Rachel slammed another drink down in front of me. “No brooding.”

“I’m not brooding.”

“You’re aggressively brooding.”

“I’m contemplating.”

“So brooding with a touch of multi-tasking then.”

I snorted despite myself.

Dante passed behind us, muttering something about idiots and babysitting and needing stronger alcohol, and Rachel took immediate offence and started singing again just to annoy him.

I should have smiled.

Instead, all I could think was that somewhere across town, Gabriella might already be at the glass.

Waiting.

Wondering.

Missing me.

The thought was so dangerous I had to swallow against it.

I picked up the drink Rachel had given me and knocked half of it back in one go.