Page 202 of Maddening Fixation

His smile became tentative. “We can talk first.”

A brief pause. “And... if you feel like it later, we could dance.”

I almost laughed.

Dance?

With him?

Not a chance.

Without responding, I followed him toward the secluded booth.

He sat across from me while signaling a waitress.

A few moments later, she returned carrying two drinks.

The instant she placed mine on the table, I wrapped my fingers around the glass and emptied it in one swallow.

The burn of alcohol slid down my throat.

It wasn’t enough.

Nothing felt like enough.

Anything...

Anything that could numb this pain.

Egor stared at me.

Concern replaced the hopeful smile he’d been wearing.

“Juliet...”

His brows drew together.

“Are you okay?”

I pushed the empty glass toward him.

“Pour me another.”

He hesitated.

I nudged the glass closer.

“Please.”

Without another word, he reached for the bottle and refilled it.

I drank the second glass just as quickly.

I couldn’t think about my mother.

I couldn’t think about Romeo.

I couldn’t picture him sitting beside Yarina’s hospital bed, looking at her with the tenderness I had foolishly hoped might one day be mine.