obvious delight at Cooper’s approach. Her heart squeezed. She had a sudden desire to run for the door, to throw it open and inhale the fresh, open air. Let it cleanse her if that were possible. The crowd bore down again. Oppressive. Stifling.
She placed her empty glass on the bar and moved toward the dance floor, looking for Reagan. “You’re a bitch,” someone said from her left. She whipped her head toward the low, whispered words and saw the guy in the red shirt she’d ditched on the dance floor. He was leaning against a pillar and she blinked at him, unease skittering down her spine along with a jolt of embarrassment as she ducked into the crowd.
I am. I am a bitch, I really am.
She found Reagan a few minutes later just walking off the dance floor, her arm around Evan as they laughed. Reagan looked joyful and slightly drunk, a sheen of sweat making them both glow. “My bestie,” she said, throwing her arms around her. “You’re so pretty. Isn’t she pretty, Evan? God, you’re so pretty, I hate you.” Okay, a little more than slightly drunk. “I love this girl,” she crooned, kissing her on the cheek. Josie laughed despite her desire to get out of there.
“I love you too, Rea. I’m going to head home.”
“Home? No! We just got here.”
“I’m not feeling great.”
She gave her a disbelieving look, but before she could say anything else, Josie hugged her again. “It’s only a couple of blocks. I’ll text you when I get there.”
“I could walk you home,” Evan offered.
She met his intense gaze and shook her head. “No, seriously, you take care of this girl. I’ll text you,” she said again to Reagan, moving away from them both, Reagan’s outstretched hand dropping from hers. She blew her a kiss. “See you soon,” Josie mouthed, raising her hand and blowing a kiss back. Reagan pretended to catch it and hold it to her chest, the crowd swallowing her up as Josie turned away.
Although it was officially spring in Cincinnati, a cool night breeze washed over Josie’s heated skin and caused a chill. She wrapped her arms around her body as she began walking the short distance toward home. She and Reagan lived in an apartment in Clifton, an area of Cincinnati that rented to many of the local college students. It was close to school, and it had a decent nightlife within walking distance, one she and Reagan were enjoying thoroughly using their fake IDs. The streets were well lit and still occupied by people going to and from bars and restaurants, even though it was past midnight.
A couple laughed as they walked past, the woman’s eyes bright, arms clasped through the man’s. He looked down at her adoringly. Josie looked away, loneliness spearing through her. She should have gone over and talked to that older man. Why hadn’t she? Maybe she should go back, see if he was still there, invite him home. But then she remembered the crowd, the overwhelming feeling of being suffocated by all those people. The heat. The noise, when she’d been craving quiet.
She took her phone from her pocket as she walked, telling herself she’d regret dialing his number, but doing it anyway. She just wanted to listen to his outgoing message. Hear his voice. That was all. Maybe it would help remind her why she’d broken things off. Her stomach clenched—with excitement, dread—as the phone rang, once, twice, and then his voice picked up, clipped. “Hello?”
Heart galloping, she stayed quiet, stepping to the curb as though he might be able to tell it was her from the sound of her footsteps. She’d gotten a new number; he wouldn’t recognize it.
“Hello?” he repeated. She heard something in the background. The very low hum of traffic? Was he out too? “Josie?” At the sound of her name, her heart jumped and she hung up quickly, her self-loathing surging once more.
“Shit,” she whispered. How had he known it was her? Because you’re the only pathetic woman he knows, her mind whispered. And why had she done that? Why? Because it was that time of night when alcohol and melancholy tricked you into thinking bad ideas could end well, that was why. How many times had she given in to that feeling? Too many. She’d feel better in the morning, she knew. But for that moment, yearning tore through her, the longing for something she wasn’t even sure she could put into words. You’re drunk,