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“It’s not the same, you know—“

“Guys! Hurry up! We’re almost there!” Gemma interrupts us before Ben can interrogate me even more, which I am grateful for. What I am not grateful for is the look on Eden’s face when we join them at the end of the line. She’s tipsy—which I gathered from her unsteadiness on the stairs—and her face is mesmerising. A blush has settled over her cheeks and her red lips are curled into a smirk.

“Bit slow today, Oliver? That’s unlike you.”

“Surprised you knew your way here with all the street signs. Considering you don’t read.”

“I can read if you force me to.”

“That can be arranged.”

The air is so thick, so heavy. Whatever was in the cocktail Gemma gave me has filled me with a confidence I didn’t even know I had. We barely notice the fact that we’ve moved up in line until after the bouncer clears his throat and breaks the spell. We show him our ID’s, then make our way inside the building.

Walking in almost takes my breath away. It’s a grand historical building—something about once being a jail was on the door as we passed through. Exposed bricks line the dimly lit room. The vaulted ceiling is made of glass, revealing the lights of the city above us.

I watch as Eden takes it all in—the people, the crowded room, the thumping music. There’s a bar in the centre of the back wall and a small dance floor in front of a DJ booth. My stomach flips as she takes my hand, making our way to the bar. I try telling myself it’s only because the room is teeming with people and we’d lose each other, but I still savour the warmth of her hand in mine.

“There you are! We thought we lost you guys!” Gemma already has four shots lined up across the bar for us, and I know it won’t be the last. That’s when I realise this is going to be a long night. And I’m probably going to do something stupid.

“Bottoms up?” Eden says, passing me a glass. Our fingers brush, and I feel it tingle throughout my whole body.

I’m definitely going to do something stupid.

“Cheers.” We clink glasses, and I tip the burning liquid into my mouth. I splutter, and Ben thumps my back a few times.

“There, there,” he laughs. “He’s not used to this,” he mock-whispers to Gemma and Eden, who giggle. Luckily for me Eden also struggled with the shot, and she wipes the excess drink off the corner of her red lips— a motion I think I enjoy a little bit too much.

“Come on,” Eden says, taking my hand again. “Let’s dance!”

The dance floor is packed with people. Which—for me— is a very good thing. It forces Eden’s body closer to mine.

But that is also a very bad thing.

Especially in public.

Watching the way the tassels shift on her dress as she moves her hips is doing things to me. And I wish I could be doing things to her.

“You alright?” Eden shouts above the thumping bass. Before I can respond the DJ changes the music and she squeals. “I love this song! Where’s Gemma?” Right on cue Gemma materialises out of nowhere with Ben, a glass in her hand.

“Eden! Eden! They’re playing our song!” Gemma shoves her drink into my hand then takes Eden’s. She drags her further into the throng of jostling bodies, and they laugh and giggle as they jump to the music.

“Like what you see?” Ben’s voice in my ear makes me flinch.

“Jesus, dude. You have to stop creeping up on me like that.”

He shrugs, handing me a drink which I grab with my spare hand. I take a sip. Vodka, lime, and soda. My favourite. “Make a move. Michelle is blowing up my phone waiting for updates and it crushes me to give her none.”

“She’s just going to have to be patient.”

“But is she going to be patient?”

When the song transitions into another, the girls make their way back over to us, faces flushed. Ben’s words echo in my mind. I’m not going to pretend I don’t see other guys throwing glances her way. My knuckles involuntarily tighten around my glass as one of them lingers a bit too long on her ass.

“Did you see us?” Eden asks, eyes twinkling with excitement. How could I possibly miss her? Gemma takes her drink back, and I lean closer to Eden. “Hey, what are you drinking?”

“Vodka soda,” I reply. “Want some?” Eden takes a sip then pulls a face, making me laugh. “Sour?” She nods. When I look up away from her, I realise Ben and Gemma have disappeared. Totally unintentional, I’m sure.

“Do you want to dance again?”