Page 30 of Your Biggest Downfall
She narrowed her eyes at me, but Dirks, the goalie, chimed in.
“I’ll walk with you to the bar.”
Luna blushed as she grabbed Dirks’s hand, and he led her toward the bar. I wondered if he was part of her five-somethe other day. The thought lingered in my mind, making me question the dynamics of their interaction. As I watched them disappear into the crowd, a mix of curiosity and unease settled over me. Luna had always been more adventurous than me, but sometimes I worried about how far she’d go to find that thrill.
I stayed put, and a few of the guys came up and talked to me, but their words were lost on me. My focus was entirely on finding Austin. I surveyed the sea of faces, all the people laughing and chatting, but he was nowhere to be seen. I probably looked frantic, but I didn’t care.
I had sacrificed so much to be here tonight. I missed seeing my mother and hadn’t picked up Iris. The guilt of that decision gnawed at me, but I pushed it aside. Being here for Austin felt crucial, like a lifeline I couldn’t let slip away. I needed to see him, to be with him, to remind him he wasn’t alone in his struggles. The urgency of that need pressed down on me, making the chaotic scene around me blur into insignificance.
I forced myself to stay calm, taking deep breaths and continuing to scan the crowd. I couldn’t let my sacrifice be in vain. I had to find him. As I stood there, my heart pounding and my eyes darting around, Jeremy came up to me.
“He’s in the back bathroom,” he said, his voice cutting through my frantic thoughts. “He’ll be out soon.”
I breathed a sigh of relief, the tension in my chest easing a bit. “Wait, how did you know I was... ?”
Jeremy laughed. “You’re so fucking obvious.”
I nodded gratefully at Jeremy, feeling a wave of gratitude for his timely reassurance.
I looked toward the bar, and Luna had wrapped her hands around Dirks. I glanced at Jeremy, who was looking at them. “They aren’t coming back for a while. Maybe you should go join them.”
Jeremy huffed and took a sip of his beer.
I nudged him in the shoulder. “You’re so fucking obvious,” I repeated, and he laughed.
Jeremy turned around, and I noticed Austin walking toward us. My breath caught as I took him in: a plain black shirt clung to his broad shoulders, and his jeans fit just right. His curly blonde hair was styled, except for the rebellious strand falling onto his forehead. His piercing blue eyes locked with mine, and a slow smile spread on his face.
The air thickened with each deliberate step he took, muscles moving under his shirt, his stride confident. The noise of the bar faded away, and it felt like he could see right through me. My pulse quickened, the electric tension between us undeniable.
The moment felt like it was moving in slow motion until Jeremy cut in. “She was looking desperately for you, lover boy.”
With that, Jeremy left, and I wanted so badly to stick my tongue out at him or give him the middle finger.
“So.” His familiar deep voice cut through the noises of the bar. “You were looking for me.”
I turned around. “I mean, obviously, because you invited me here.”
He brought his hand up and brushed a curl off my face. “You look good, Supernova. I like when you don’t cover your tattoos.”
He ran his eyes down my body and paused right in the middle, where I’d tucked the necklace into my cleavage. His gaze lingered there for a few moments too long.
Everything melted around me. It was as if it was just us and a spotlight was shining from above.
“You do, too,” I whispered, breaking the tension between us.
The smile stayed plastered on his face, but he’d been drinking. I could tell by the way his eyes were glazed. He looked the same but a little different. He looked lighter.
Luna came back over with Dirks wrapped around her. “Oops, I totally forgot your drink. Let me go get you one.”
“I, uh . . .” I glanced back at Austin.
“We can get one together,” Austin finally cut in.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Luna asked.
“Totally. I’m with Austin,” I whispered so he didn’t hear.
“Okay. If you need me, I’ll be at the bar with the boys.”
