Page 29 of Finally Loved

Alba’s smile changed to something more sincere. “I like your room. It suits you.”

“Thank you,” Neve replied, looking around at her belongings as she attempted to figure out whether that was more of a compliment or an insult. “I like your suit. It suits you.”

“Oh, that old thing?” Alba laughed again. “It’s actually pretty new. As you might have guessed, the birthday girl likes pink.”

“I had noticed that. It looks good on her.”

“I’ll let her know you said so.” She gestured to the suit jacket. “Zainab picked it out, actually. As I’m sure you can tell, fashion is kind of her thing.”

“I’ve only really met her once, but I probably would have guessed that, yeah.”

Alba held her gaze. “What would you guess my thing is?”

Neve’s breath felt tight and she spoke without really considering, still distractingly aware of the place where Alba’s skin was touching hers. “Well, I probably would have said saving people before tonight, but, from your incredible eyes—”

The eyes in question, staring back at Neve, widened. “Thank you!”

“No, not that… I mean, they are… lovely. I just—I meant… Oh, my god. I meant your eyeshadow—liner—makeup. Your makeup.” She took a deep breath. “Your makeup looks incredible. Professional.”

“I’m glad you like it.” Her eyes shone as she finally pulled her hand back only to reach up and drag her thumb over her cheekbones before reaching across the distance between them and running the same thumb over Neve’s cheeks. “There. Now you have some too.”

Neve breathed a shaky laugh. “Nothing like getting ready for bed by putting on body glitter.”

“Every time is the right time for a little glitter.”

“I don’t know if most parents would agree.”

“Valid,” she laughed, shuffling forward slightly on the floor. “But it suits you, so that’s all that really matters.”

“You know, I was sort of expecting you to be drunk.”

Alba’s eyebrows shot up her head. “Should I be insulted?”

“No, no. I didn’t mean anything by it. Just… you know, night out, birthday celebrations, showing up at 2 AM… It is sort of giving—”

“Booty call?”

“No! I definitely didn’t mean that!”

Alba folded forwards, laughing, and, despite the fact that she’d been out partying all night, all Neve could really smell from her was her perfume—bright, hypnotic, fresh. “I know. Don’t worry. I’m just teasing.”

Neve cleared her throat. “But, you know what I mean. Most people would be…”

“Drunk. Yes. I can see why you’d think that. But, no. I’ve been on water for hours, and I just thought it would be fun.”

“Your friends didn’t mind dropping you off?”

“Not at all. Well, Zainab’s probably going to give me shit tomorrow, but that’s kind of our thing.” She nodded to the bedroom door. “Think your friends will mind me being dropped off?”

Hung up on the Zainab comment, Neve answered without considering whether the truth was the right answer. “Yes.”

Alba didn’t seem bothered, more amused, if anything. “Charlie really doesn’t like me, huh?”

“It’s not a big deal. I’m going to talk to her about it. She’s just…” Neve wasn’t sure how to end the sentence.Protectivewas probably the word she was supposed to say, but this felt more than that. It felt overprotective, restrictive, but that felt too critical to say.

“Looking out for you,” Alba finished for her. It felt generous from the subject of Charlie’s ire, but every one of Neve’s interactions with Alba so far had suggested she was the least bothered person in the world, so maybe that tracked.

“Sure.” She took a deep breath. “Just as I’m sure Zainab’s only looking out for you when she gives you shit.”

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