Page 33 of Dance of Madness

Before I can respond, a blonde, pink shape comes between us out of nowhere and jabs a stern finger at Alicia.

“Um,PS,” a slightly red-faced Evie slurs loudly.

I groan and brace myself. I love her to death, but it takes all of half a cosmo to turn Evelinalooseon the world. And I’m suddenly aware that I haven’t been monitoring her alcohol intake like I usually do when we go out.

“You’renotinvited to parties at my house anymore.”

I manage to suppress the giggle that threatens to break free. “Sassy Evelina” is like a Pomeranian with bows on its tail trying to take on a prison guard dog.

“Ohno,” Alicia sneers. “How will Ieversurvive the disappointment?”

“Hey, Alicia?” Brooklyn scowls. “I think you can fuck off now.”

“I’m just…” Alicia sighs dramatically. “I don't know how I’lldealwith never getting to watch Evelina’s drunk ass of a brother make a fool of himself again?—”

She gasps as another shape lurches out of nowhere, grabs her roughly by the front of her dress, and dumps a glass of champagne over her head.

The whole booth falls silent and Alicia’s eyes bulge as they stare up at afurious-looking Val.

“Consider ‘you can fuck off now’ the polite version. Mine will be considerably less cordial. Walk thefuckaway, cunt.”

Alicia purses her lips, her face going vermillion. Then, without another word, she yanks herself from Val’s grip, spins and marches away, dripping champagne in her wake.

I glance at Brooklyn. She glances at me. Then we both turn to look at Val as he rolls the tension out of his shoulders and sits down between his dates.

“What?” he shrugs. “That bitch can go fuck herself in the ass with a clawhammer.”

“Hear hear! Clawhammer!” Evelina crows, grinning sloppily before I reach up and delicately pluck a glass of bubbly out of her hand. “Heyyy! I was drinking that!”

“Yeah, you’re done, killer.”

She pouts but accepts it, sitting back down and resting her head on Brooklyn’s shoulder.

After all that, I need a second alone to breathe.

“I’m going to go pee,” I lie as I stand. “Back in a sec.”

“Want me to come?” Brooklyn asks.

I grin at a sleepy-looking Evie.

“Why don’t you watch her. I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll come,” Kylie drawls in a voice that quite honestly sounds like she's on drugs.

“No, you won’t,” I smile at her.

Val rolls his eyes, mouthing “be nice” as Kyle and Kylie turn to each other and start making out behind him.

“Don’t catch anything,” I mouth back before I turn and head off.

I take the long way around to the restroom, trying to clear the buzzing in my ears and shake off the prickle at the base of my spine that won’t go away.

I don’t know why the thing with Alicia just now threw me off so much. Maybe it’s because it forced me to replay what I’ve been trying to block out all week.

A man chased me through the dark. He caught me, pinned me down, and yanked off my panties.

This is easily eighty-five percent of the fantasies I have deep inside me. But the reality was so muchmore.

---