Page 52 of Tempted By Eden

Hailee jangles her car keys in front of me, her grin widening. “Come on! I’ll drive.”

I hesitate, then sigh. “Fine. Give me five minutes.”

“Yes!” Hailee claps her hands together, practically skipping toward the door. “I’ll wait for you in the foyer.”

Once she’s gone, I finish getting dressed, pulling on my summery dress and a pair of heels. My reflection in the mirror stares back at me, eyes shadowed with fatigue, but I force a smile. It doesn’t reach my eyes. I run a hand through my hair, smoothing it down, and make sure my makeup is intact. I look the part—put-together, confident—but inside, I’m anything but.

Fake it till you make it, right?

With a final glance in the mirror, I grab my purse and head out to meet Hailee, ready to let the night drown out everything I don’t want to feel.

***

The Pink Diamond is perched on the fortieth floor of a skyscraper in the heart of Sydney. As we weave our way through the crowd, the first thing that hits me is the view. From up here, the city glitters like a sea of lights, the Opera House and Harbour Bridge illuminated in the distance. The bar itself is sleek, with dark wood and floor-to-ceiling windows. There’s a three-piece jazz band in the corner, playing something smooth and soulful.

“Isn’t this place great?” Hailee shouts over the music, her eyes sparkling as she leads us toward a round table in the back where her friends are already seated.

I nod, though my mind feels detached from everything around me. The views are breathtaking, the music is good—but there’s a numbness settling over me.

As we reach the table, Hailee introduces me to the group. “Everyone, this is Cora.”

She rattles off names—Orlando, Harper, Liz, Brent, and Dave—but they blend together in a haze. I give a small, awkward wave and take a seat, hoping no one expects me to keep track of who’s who.

“Espresso martinis for the ladies,” Orlando—I think—says, handing Hailee and me a drink each when a waitress sets them down on the table.

I don’t hesitate. I down mine in one go, the strong mix of coffee and alcohol burning my throat. I shudder as it hits my stomach like a brick, but it’s exactly what I need. Hailee lifts a brow at me, clearly impressed, and I shrug with a small grin before signaling the waitress for another round.

“Damn,” Orlando chuckles, shaking his head. “Someone had a rough day.”

“You could say that,” I mumble, already feeling the alcohol numb my frayed nerves.

***

By the time I’m on my third martini, the buzz has fully set in. My head is light, my limbs loose, and for the first time all evening, thoughts of James have faded into the background. Hailee’s friends have welcomed me into their group, and the conversation flows easily. Between the drinks, the music, and the breathtaking view, I’ve managed to keep my mind off our disastrous encounter and the hurt I caused him.

But when a fourth martini lands in front of me, I hesitate. The room is starting to spin and my stomach clenches in protest. I take a sip, but the bitter taste makes me grimace. I’ve hit my limit.

I glance around the table. Hailee is deep in an animated story, her arms swinging wildly, nearly knocking over a few glasses. Her friends are laughing, clearly having a good time, but they’ve all sailed past their limit a couple of drinks ago.

I need to get out of here.

I push back from the table, my legs wobbling slightly as I stand. Just as I’m about to slip away, Hailee catches sight of me and jumps up, pulling me into a sloppy hug.

“You know I love you, riiight?” she slurs. “Are you feeling betterrr?”

I can’t help but laugh. “Yeah, Hails. I’m good. But I’m heading off now.”

“Nooo, you can’t go yet!” She pouts dramatically, swaying on her feet. Then, as if she’s had an epiphany, her expression shifts. “Wait… I should go too. I’ll come with you.”

I chuckle at how quickly she changes her mind. “Alright. Let’s get out of here.”

After a quick round of goodbyes to her friends, we stumble out of the bar and into the cool night air. The crisp breeze should sober me up, but instead, it makes everything worse. My head spins, my stomach churns, and I feel hot—too hot. My body is burning up like I’ve been engulfed in flames. A wave of nausea rolls through me, and I groan, wishing I was already home and curled up in bed.

Why haven’t they invented teleporters yet? I mean come on, it’s the twenty-first century!

I fumble for my phone, ready to call us a rideshare, when Hailee stops me.

“Wait! I can’t leave my car here. Can you drive it back to my place? It’s just around the corner, pleeeaaase?” She clasps her hands together, giving me the best puppy-dog eyes I’ve ever seen. Even better than Leo’s.

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