Page 2 of Solanum

I didn't rise to her emotions and kept my breathing even. "Fine. I'll walk you home."

"You will not." She reached for the doorknob, but I held my hand over the jamb. "Move."

"First, calm down," I said, holding onto a gentle tone. "Look at me."

Nora's eyes flickered to mine.

"Calm down," I repeated, taking in a slow breath to steady myself and thereby, easing her discomfort.

She choked on a stifled sob but held my gaze.

"Everything's fine. Take a breath. I know you're uncomfortable, but let's just settle down a minute."

She sniffled, swiping at her nose. No tears left her yet though, and eventually she cooled off.

"Why are you wearing that?" She gestured to the black tank I wore atop my usual black jeans.

"I was going to run some scenes. Why are you wearing that?" I mimicked her wave, focusing primarily on her skirt.

"I don't know…" She moved away from the door then. "Raven asked me to."

"Where did you meet Raven?"

"She's friends with Greg."

"Cyber Crimes Greg?" I frowned at the thought of it. "I don't like him. Why are you friends with him?"

"You don't like anyone," she said, slipping her hands into the pockets of her jacket. "I need to go."

"Did you drive?"

She shook her head, her eyes lingering on the floor between us. "I shouldn't have come here."

"Coming here isn't the issue." I opened the door for her, and she met my gaze. "Coming here alone is the problem."

She rolled her eyes at me and stormed out.

I followed, regardless of her attitude, and helped navigate our way through the crowded club. We emerged from the green stairwell that led to the sets of private rooms downstairs only to be greeted by the bouncers who guarded the entrance.

"What's up, Beast?" Harvey asked, clapping me on the shoulder.

"Not much. See ya later." I gripped Nora's shoulder when she slowed down and turned back to look at me.

Music pounded, hot bodies grinded, and leather chaffed in the mix of people on the dance floor. I urged her onward, and she didn't seem to mind at the moment. The rush of people appeared to overwhelm her, and she shied away from the crowd. I kept her close to me, finally bursting out into the cooler night air. She seemed to breathe then, taking a second as if steadying herself on the sidewalk.

"It was stifling in there," she said.

"Usually is. C'mon." I nodded to my left toward the busy Seattle streets filled with nightlife on a Thursday night. "I'll walk you home."

"I can walk myself home."

"Yeah. So, that's not happening. Let's go."

"I didn't come here to be bossed around by you," she said, but followed me anyway. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and spent a moment returning a text. She appeared red-faced and sweaty despite the cooler night air.

"Maya?" I asked when she pocketed her phone.

"Yes." She zipped up her jacket and stared straight ahead as we walked. "What time is it?"

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