Page 77 of Icebound Attraction

I nod nervously and we push open the heavy doors.

1 Jessica Rabbit is a fictional character created for the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988).

15

Liam

The gala room opens up before us and the music blares as Emily and I enter arm in arm. It's a wonderful feeling to no longer have to hide my affection for her. Our torrid embrace has literally galvanized me and I feel ready to take on the world.

The twinkling lights and the cheerful murmur of the students present create a pleasant atmosphere. The ambiance is chic yet relaxed. Rhythmic music vibrates through the speakers without being deafening.

We cross the room to join our friends we've spotted near the bar, and behind us a few heads turn. Still, we're a long way from the big buzz we thought we'd generate by showing up together. Phew!

As I order us something to drink, I notice out of the corner of my eye an all-too-familiar curly redhead - what the hell! One of my ex-girlfriends glares at us and my heart rate quickens, but I decide to ignore her.

We grab our drinks and hang around the counter to enjoy the atmosphere. Our friends, who seem to like each other, are out on the dance floor, doing their best choreography.

I really need to tell Chase he can't dance...

I can't help laughing as I watch him do it, and soon Emily joins them.

Suddenly, I feel a presence beside me, and I excuse myself by pushing back my stool to make room. A throat-clearance pulls me from my observation and I look up at the person in question.

An uneasy feeling overcomes me when our eyes meet.

My ex again...

The expression on her face is hard to interpret - a mixture of surprise and maybe also displeasure. I can't deny that she and I didn't part on the friendliest of terms. Still, water has passed under the bridge, and I hope she'll get off my back. I don't need that tonight. I just want to enjoy Emily and my friends.

“Liam, hi,” she finally says, smiling falsely.

“Sara,” I answer soberly.

“I've heard that you have a chance of being drafted, congrats!” she continues.

I nod and we talk for a few more minutes before I feel it's time to end the conversation. I don't think it's right to talk to one of my exes on my first date with my official girlfriend. It also has to be said that Sara has never been the best date in the world. And I don't want to be associated with her. Campus rumors are rife, and already my arrival with Emily has aroused a bit of curiosity, so I'd like to avoid a scandal along the lines of ‘Liam Scott was seen with his ex at the End of Spring Gala, were he also introduced his new girlfriend’.

“I'll leave you to it and go dancing with my friends.”

I don't have the nerve to say that this meeting was a pleasure, and Sara nods before looking towards the group.

“Sure... Have fun, Liam.”

I take my leave politely and head for Emily.

As we dance, laugh and enjoy our evening, I always feel a gaze upon me. And every time I turn my head in the direction of the bar, I see my ex staring bitterly at us.

She's gonna be all over you, man...

Sara took our separation very hard. But I couldn't cope with her addiction problems. As an avid sportsman who wanted to become a professional, she wasn't helping me. I tried to reach out to her, but every time I did, she turned to drugs. I picked her up several times in a bad way, and one day that was the last straw. But that's all in the past, and I'd hoped that running into her again wouldn't arouse so much anger on her part.

As Emily and I head back to the bar for a breather, Sara approaches us with a determined step.

What the hell is she up to?

“So, you're the ‘new girl’?” she asks, mimicking quotation marks with her fingers.

Emily pauses in surprise and turns her eyes to me for a moment before returning to Sara.

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