Page 40 of Revive

“And what would you have done if you did know? Veto all the questions before I answered them.”

“Maybe.”

“Sweet." She runs her thumb down the side of my face, while her eyes shine with gratitude. “But it’s completely unnecessary. I’m big and old enough to take care of myself.”

What if I want to take care of you?The errant thought has me hastily pulling back, breaking the moment. Her hand awkwardly falling away. “Does the food taste okay?”

The change in subject does the trick. Personal space regained and an unimpressed look from all three women sitting at our table. I’m clearly winning at life. The four pairs of eyes heighten every reaction, and I begin to regret bringing her. I don’t know how to just be with everyone’s eyes on us. It doesn’t feel like last week. It feels like a show I have to perform for or a test I have to pass, and she deserves better than that.

She slides her hand off my thigh, and I let her. I fucked up. She has no idea what goes through my head all the time, and with the constant whiplash I manage to give myself, neither do I. I’m all over the place. It’s all on me, and she needs to know that, but unfortunately, this isn’t the time or place for that.

The rest of the meal is sat in an awkward silence between us, and an excessive, obvious attempt of inclusion from everyone else. The pretence is hard to keep up with, and I find myself counting down the minutes till we can get out of here, and maybe I can make it right.

“I’m just going to the bathroom,” she announces. And it takes no less than ten seconds for all eyes to turn on me.

“What the fuck was that?” Stacey asks.

“Just let it go, Stace.”

“One minute you two are close enough to kiss and then the next you act like she’s got some fucking contagious disease. She’s really nice—”

“And fucking hot,” Evan adds.

“Really? With your girlfriend right there,” I say, pointing at Kat.

“What, she doesn’t care. Do you, honey?” She smiles and shakes her head, just as he kisses her cheek. “It’s the truth. She’s the complete package and you’re going to fuck it up.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, you guys.”

Having a little too much to drink, they’re the king and queens of opinions. Thinking they know best for me and Taylah.

“Listen.” Stacey gets up out of her seat with a slight sway, the alcohol clearly making an appearance. “Kat and I are going to go to the bathroom, you guys go next door to the bar, and we’ll meet you there.”

“I don’t know, guys. I should go after her, or just take her home.”

“Take her home,” she scoffs. Like an older sister, Stacey narrows her eyes at me and lays down the law. “Let me work my magic, because right now, there’s no way she’s getting in a car with you.”

12

Taylah

I’m washing my hands when the door swings open and a tipsy Kat and Stacey walk in. I quickly cover up my surprise with a smile. “Going to the bathroom?” I ask casually, choosing not to ask them directly if they came in here to check up on me.

They flank me from either side, pretending to use the other free basins in the bathroom. “We just wanted to freshen up before we go to the bar,” Stacey says while taking her lipstick out of her clutch. She eyes me through the mirror, as she meticulously applies each pale pink layer.

“Oh, I don’t think I’m going to come to the bar.” I break eye contact and move over to dry my hands. “Dinner was beautiful, though. Thanks for letting me crash.”

“You didn’t crash,” Kat corrects me. “You were invited.”

I smile in response, because I really don’t want to have whatever conversation this is. I don’t know these women, and while they’re lovely, Hendrix and I aren’t even a thing, let alone anybody else’s business.

Facing the mirror again, I look at both of them. “I appreciate whatever this is, but I really just want to go home.”

“He didn’t mean it,” Stacey blurts out.

“I don’t want to be rude, because you guys have been nothing but nice to me, but I don’t want to have this conversation with anyone else but Drix. And even that might be a bit of a stretch considering how I’m feeling right now.”

“I know the alcohol is going to my head, but I’m not drunk enough to not notice he likes you. An—”

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