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She raises an eyebrow."Really?"
"They taste great," I respond.
"I don't think I've ever had one."
"You can try mine," I promise, watching the bartender work."How do we pay for them?"
"We scan these."She taps the band."I don't know exactly how it works, but I checked the tickets that came with drinks."
"Oh, cool."
The bartender reappears with the mocktails and scans the band around my wrist.He gives me an intrigued look, as if the band has told him something about me that he didn't expect.Maybe it's rare for cupids to come here, even if we're technically allowed.
I suppose it doesn't matter, especially when I'm only here to support Mandy and not do anything myself.
Mandy picks up her drink, and I grab mine, placing a hand on her lower back and heading over to one of the booths.
She slides in, and I take a seat beside her, setting my drink on the table and putting an arm around her.She leans her head against my shoulder and closes her eyes.She looks kind of peaceful, even with the situation what it is.
"You okay?"I ask.
She bites her bottom lip and nods."I'm nervous being back here, but it's better not being alone.I should have thought about that before I came last time."
"Did you have anyone who could come with you?"
"I guess not.But maybe I'd have done something to find one.Maybe I'd have come to find you earlier and we'd have had some extra time together."
"Or maybe you'd have gotten Carmel and she'd have come instead."I find myself smiling even at the thought of my best friend in a place like this.She'd probably enjoy herself, even if it was just for the experience.
"I think I'll stick with you."Mandy sighs and moves closer to me.I know this isn't why we're here, but it's a nice moment for the two of us, and one I want to savour.
Eighteen
Mandy
Nerves are dancingin my stomach to the extent that I almost want to run away.
I look over at Darius and some of that feeling goes away.Being here with someone who knows what I'm going through, and supports me in trying to figure out how to change things, is definitely putting me more at ease than the last time I was here, even if there's a small part of me that's still wondering whether this is a good idea at all.
"Here, you should try some," he says, offering me some of his mocktail.
I take it from him and have a sip, surprised by the burst of fruity sweetness."That's good."
"It is," he agrees."Do you feel anything with your magic?"
"I can feel a lot with it," I admit."I'm just not sure what to do with it."I fiddle with the hem of my dress and consider how to do this.
"Maybe you need to focus on one particular strand?"he suggests.
"I've never tried that before, but I will."Especially because it makes a lot of sense.I close my eyes and think about all the different pulses of physical desire I can feel coming from the various parts of the club.I focus in on the strongest one, certain that's the right choice, or certainly the easiest one.
For a moment, I feel a little overwhelmed by it all, but then I focus on Darius' steady breathing and that goes away.I can do this, I just have to try.
I look around the room to see if I can tell which of the people in the room my magic is responding to the strongest.
There's a threesome in the booth opposite us who are getting a bit handsy, but I don't think it's them.Nor is it the couple that Darius pointed out earlier.If anything, it seems to be coming from above, though I don't know how possible that is.
"Did you see a second floor?"I ask Darius.
