Page 78 of Dare to Fall

“So, you and Eva are doing well, then? Even with all the shit going on with her ex?”

“Surprisingly, yeah. It was really difficult for her when everything leaked out. She was actually one of the last people to know. Apparently, a few of her old friends knew before she did that he was cheating on her and just didn’t tell her.” I kept my voice low. “But she’s held up pretty well despite all of it. She’s really strong, and I’m just lucky to have this time with her.”

Lucas’s eyebrows rose. “Wow, Garth. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you talk about anyone like that before.” He shot me a smile before taking another swig of beer. “I’m really happy for you.”

I smiled back at him. “Thanks, man. I’m happy for you too. It seems like you and Drema have a really good thing going.”

Just as the words left my mouth, Drema walked out of the bathroom with newly painted lips in a muted red that brought out the low tones of her hair. She walked up behind Lucas and leaned over the back of the sofa to plant a kiss on his cheek.

I watched as my best friend of over twenty years lit up brighter than a Christmas tree. And the weight on my chest that I’d held since that day in his office started to lift just a bit.

A shimmer of gold caught my eye, and as I looked up to find Eva dressed in a curve-hugging dress that landed just a few inches below the apex of her thighs, my heart skipped a beat. The way her long, tan legs looked coming out of the dress made me wish they were still wrapped around me just as they had been a few minutes ago.

Placing my beer on the table, I rose from the sofa and made my way over to her. Warm spice mixed with vanilla wafted through the air from her perfume. Her lips parted as she smiled at me before twirling around to reveal the back of her dress cut so low the curve of her ass was nearly visible.

“That dress should be illegal.”

“That would only make it more fun to wear.” She giggled. “Do you like it?”

“I like it a little too much, beautiful. If we don’t leave soon, I don’t think I’ll be able to restrain myself from peeling it off of you.”

Eva stepped toward me, and as she pressed her body against mine, I could feel the soft curve of her breasts with nothing but the sheer material of the dress covering them.

“Well, I guess I have a lot to look forward to when we get home, then,” she whispered against my lips.

Home. As our lips melded together and the sweet taste of her took over my senses, I realized there was never a time when I had felt more at home.

Eva

Time didn’t exist when Garth’s arms were wrapped around me as we swayed together to the beat of the blaring music. There was no need for alcohol when the feeling of his body against mine was intoxicating enough to make every fiber of my being feel electrified. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach as he pulled me in close and ground my hips into him.

I let my head fall back, knowing I was safe in his strong arms, as he leaned forward and trailed kisses along the center of my neck down to my collarbone. His fingers twined through my hair at the nape of my neck, then he tilted my head forward and captured my mouth with his.

My feet dangled above the floor as he lifted me up and held me in a tight embrace. I could feel the ridges of his abs as my body slid down his, my feet finding the floor once more.

“Let’s get a drink, beautiful,” Garth whispered against my ear.

He led me to our VIP table along the far wall where Drema and Lucas were huddled together in the corner. It was difficult to miss Drema’s fire-red hair and smitten glow. It warmed my heart knowing that she had found something we were all desperately searching for. And it wasn’t lost on me that we seemed to have found it in the same place. Garth and Lucas were practically brothers, having grown up together since before they could walk.

And he suited her well. Where Drema was shy and modest, Lucas was extroverted and flamboyant. He brought out a level of excitement in her I’d never seen before, and she brought a calming presence that I could tell alleviated his anxieties.

“Hey, lovebirds,” I said as I scooted into the booth. “We missed you out there.”

Drema peeked over her shoulder with a broad smile on her face. “We were a little preoccupied,” she giggled.

“Yeah, I can see that,” I said as I raised my brows at her.

As Drema turned back toward Lucas, I saw her face drop. I followed her line of sight to another VIP booth a few tables down where all of my old friends and Connor were sitting. It was the same table we had the last time I was at Bloom 31.

But everything was different now.

I grabbed Garth’s hand and squeezed.

“What’s wrong, beautiful?” he asked.

As I nodded toward the table where they were sitting, I could feel Garth’s body go still next to me.

“Do you want to leave?”

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