She tries again .
I shrug and shake my head .
She frowns .
I smile as I take her hand and dance some more. I feel much better after having a couple of drinks. The only thing bringing me down is the fact that I keep thinking that I see Arlo. Everywhere .
I see him in the face of every man dancing around me. Every time they turn and look at me, I see him .
I see him in the face of every bartender .
I see him lurking on the side of the dance floor, holding a scotch .
He haunts me .
Eden grabs my arm and pulls me close to her so that my ear is just below her mouth. “Arlo is here !”
I pull back and rub my ear from the pain of her screaming into it. I’m going to be deaf by the end of the night if we keep this up .
I laugh as I shake my head and go back to dancing. Now, I’ve convinced Eden that Arlo is everywhere too .
Eden grabs my cheeks and turns my attention toward the far wall .
“What?”
“Arlo!”
I catch my breath when the crowd parts just enough for me to see a tall, dark man leaning against the wall with an amber-colored liquid in a glass. His eyes are fixated on me with a deep grimace on his face .
“He’s here,” I say slowly, looking at Eden .
She nods .
“Why is he here?” I ask .
She laughs. “Because he likes you .”
I bite my lip and then grab Eden’s arm. I head straight toward the restroom, weaving and pushing people aside. I have to talk to her. Now .
When I see the line outside the woman’s restroom, my heart sinks. Of course there is a line .
Instead, I pull her into the men’s room .
“Hey, ladies,” one of the men at the urinal says as we enter .
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“Get out!” I say. I walk over to the stalls. “Everyone, out. Now !”
The men start exiting the stalls, some still zipping up their pants. Some look at me amused, but I just glare at them, and they realize just how serious I am. They all leave .
When I’ve ensured that we are alone, I lock the door to the entrance of the restroom .
Eden raises an eyebrow. “Why have you brought me to the men’s restroom? Do you really need to pee that bad ?”
I shake my head and take a deep breath. “I need to talk to you .”
Eden blinks a couple of times as I try to figure out where to start, but I have no idea .