Page 37 of His Dark Pull

“Ava, come on!”she exclaims, grabbing my hand with surprising strength. “You have to come inside! I have a surprise for you!”

She tugs me towards the door, her enthusiasm almost dragging me off my feet. Then, she stops abruptly, her gaze fixed on Mendel. “Oh my God, you’re so hot,”she slurs, reaching out to touch his arm with a boldness that would have shocked me had she been sober.

Mendel gently but firmly removes her hand, his expression remaining impassive. “Who is that?”Sarah asks louder than normal.

“Let’s just go inside,”I say, feeling a pang of sympathy for Mendel, who offers me a grateful nod before disappearing through a nearby door.

The ballroom is still a whirlwind of color and sound, the music throbbing through the air and the scent of alcohol and perfume thick enough to taste. The party has escalated since I’d last been inside, the dance floor a writhing mass of bodies, and the conversations louder, more uninhibited.

I roll my eyes as I try to steer Sarah away from a group of men who look like they’ve had one too many drinks. But she’s on a mission, her drunken state fueling a boldness that is both amusing and concerning.

I have no choice but to follow her, my mind a jumble of conflicting thoughts. What if Kovacs was telling the truth? What if Alexander is in danger because of me? Because I got involved?

As we make our way to the bar, Sarah leans in close, her voice a conspiratorial whisper against the backdrop of the music. “So, Ava,”she asks, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “What’s the deal with you and Alexander?”

I take a sip of my champagne, the bubbles tickling my throat, as I try to find the right words. “We’re done,”I say, the truth tasting bittersweet on my tongue. “It just wasn’t working out.”

Her grin widens, and she gives me a playful nudge. “Good,”she says. “Because I have a surprise for you.”

With that, she grabs my hand and leads me across the room toward a group of men gathered near the bar. My heart races as I recognize Tyler’s broad shoulders and sun-bleached hair. Shit, I think.I didn’t tell Sarah that I broke it off with Tyler.

“Tyler!”Sarah’s voice cuts through the party noise like a siren, her arms flailing as if signaling a ship in distress.

Tyler approaches, his usual relaxed demeanor replaced by a tense stiffness. His eyes are bloodshot, and while he attempts a smile, there’s a tight, almost desperate edge to it. The scent of alcohol, stronger than usual, clings to him like a shroud.

Not what I need right now: a drunk Tyler.

“Ava, babe, there you are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”He places a hand on her back, his grip a little too tight, a little too possessive.

“Babe?” I stiffen.

“Friends,”he corrects himself, his voice booming slightly too loudly. “Sorry, friends! Yeah, you’re my buddy.”

Sarah’s eyebrows shoot up, her expression a mix of confusion and amusement.

“I am, aren’t I? It being my work and all,”I reply with a forced smile, hoping to deflect her curiosity.

“Right, right,”Tyler chuckles, swaying on his feet. “You’re so funny.”

“How many drinks have you had?”I ask, a hint of concern creeping into my voice.

“Only the three Long Island Iced Teas Dexter brought me,”he shrugs. “That’s it, I swear.”I glance at Dexter, who smiles and shrugs in response as if to say, “Boys will be boys.”

Dexter looks sober, at least that.

Sarah giggles, her eyes sparkling as she twirls in her dress. “Surprise, Ava!”she exclaims, oblivious to the awkward tension that has descended upon the group.Think, Ava, think,I urge myself, searching for a way to salvage the situation.Maybe we can just enjoy the night as friends after all.

“Come on, let’s dance, Ava!”Tyler slurs, reaching for my hand, his grip surprisingly tight.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea,”I say, trying to pull away, my gaze searching for an escape route.

“Nonsense,”he insists, pulling me closer.

A wave of nausea hits me, the taste of champagne turning sour on my tongue. Tyler’s hand, warm and expectant, waits for mine.Don’t hurt him, a voice whispers in my head. But how can I dance with him, pretend everything’s okay when my heart feels like a shattered mirror reflecting a thousand fractured images of Alexander? My gaze darts around the room; the pulsating music, the swirling lights, andthe press of bodies leave me trapped.

I feel Mendel’s gaze on me from the balcony above.

The DJ switches to a fast-paced song, the rhythm pulsating through the room, and Tyler, despite his inebriated state, moves with surprising grace, his body swaying in time with the music.

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