Page 65 of Triple Play
“You don’t like law?” she asks.
“I like not disappointing my father more than I like law.”
“That’s depressing.”
“Welcome to my life.” I take a drink. “But hey. At least I’m pretty.”
She snorts. “You’re ridiculous.”
“I’m self-aware. There’s a difference.”
The party swirls around us. But we stay in our little bubble. Just talking. Just existing.
Then someone bumps into her. Hard. Beer sloshes on her shirt.
“Shit.” The guy—some freshman I don’t know—is drunk off his ass. “Sorry, sorry.”
Elise looks down at her shirt. Soaked. Sticky. She grimaces.
I nod toward the stairs. “Go change. I’ll deal with this idiot.”
She nods. Heads upstairs.
I watch her go. Watch the way she moves through the crowd. Confident. Unbothered.
God, she’s perfect.
I turn back to drunk guy. Make sure he’s not about to destroy anything else. Get him some water. Point him toward the couch.
Then I head upstairs.
I shouldn’t. Should give her space. Let her change in peace.
But my feet carry me down the hall anyway. To her door.
It’s cracked open. Not closed all the way.
I knock. Soft. “Elise?”
“Yeah?”
I push the door open. Just enough to see inside.
She’s standing by her dresser. Wet shirt already off. Sports bra. Jeans. Looking for something in her drawer.
I should leave. Should absolutely turn around and—
She looks up. Catches me staring.
“Sorry. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“I’m fine. Just beer-soaked.” She pulls out a clean shirt. “You can come in. Door’s open.”
An invitation.
I step inside and close the door behind me.
Suddenly the party downstairs feels very far away.
