The music thundered through the dimly lit room, a bass so heavy it vibrated through the soles of my boots and settled deep in my chest. Sweaty bodies swayed and collided under pulsing blue lights, creating a shifting labyrinth I had to navigate. I squeezed past a couple pressed too close together and dodged a guy with a sloshing red cup, my eyes fixed on Charlie and Edd. They stood like beacons near the far wall, but as I drew closer, my stomach dropped.
They weren't alone. Adam stood there, his carefully tousled hair catching the strobe lights like a deliberate pose.
It was a total setup. I realized it a beat too late, the memory of Charlie's voice playing in my head like a broken record: "He's handsome, he's cool, he drives that vintage Mustang... just give him a chance, Everly." She had spent a month pleading with such earnestness that I'd finally caved, even though my intuition told me we were a mismatch. Charlie's obsession with "happily ever after" truly needed to be studied by professionals.
As I reached them, Charlie had the gall to look sheepish, while Edd focused on the ceiling, looking everywhere but at me. Adam, however, seemed entirely unbothered. He leaned back, his eyes beginning a slow, deliberate perusal that started at my boots and scanned upward until they met mine. He grinned.
"Damn, Carver. You look gorgeous tonight."
I restrained the urge to cross my arms defensively. The black dress was shorter than anything I usually wore, and I was suddenly profoundly grateful I'd decided to wear the tights. I'd only agreed to this because Charlie had spent a week making it sound like a matter of life and death. It wasn't that I was afraid of parties, it was just the heat, the suffocating proximity of strangers, and the boys like Adam.
Predictably, Charlie and Edd found an excuse to vanish within minutes. Charlie gave my hand a quick, apologetic squeeze before disappearing into the crowd. I couldn't stay mad at her because we'd been friends since freshman year, sharing every subject and every secret. She was kind, a little curvy, and had a heart far too big for her own good. Her intentions were pure, which was the only reason I was standing in this crowded room. I leaned against the wall, and Adam mirrored the movement, closing the gap. He was a nice guy, objectively speaking, but there was no spark, just a flat, polite interest.
"So," he said, trying to bridge the silence. "How's Professor Hugh's class?"
I cringed instinctively, and Adam laughed at the reaction.
"I heard he made a freshman cry yesterday," he teased. "I'm just glad I'm done with psychology."
"He's tough," I admitted, my eyes drifting to the crowd. "He understands humans a little too well. But I actually find his teaching style... interesting."
Adam laughed again, the sound easy and light. For a second, the tension eased until his smile suddenly vanished. I followed his gaze toward the door.
Natasha.
The air in our little corner turned frigid. She was already glaring at me, her eyes sharp with the kind of ex-drama I had zero interest in mediating. I decided to take it as my cue to exit.
"I'm going to grab a drink," I tossed over my shoulder, already moving. "See you later, Adam." without giving him a chance to response.
I moved toward the kitchen, which had been opened up into a massive layout that overlooked the makeshift dance floor. I luckily found a soda can in the fridge and leaned against the counter, scanning the crowd. People were being wild, losing themselves in the music entirely.
Then, my eyes stopped.
There was a dark-haired guy in the middle of it all, his hands resting loosely on a blonde's girl waist as they kissed. It was a private moment in a very public space, and I was just about to look away not intending to stare when his eyes suddenly snapped open.
He found me staring instantly. And he didn't look away.