An echo of happiness crossed his face as he whispered, “Did I mention you look beautiful tonight?”
Her heart lurched, as she tried to steady her thoughts against his honey tone. Avoiding his statement, she went for a safer route. “How did you get the music playing?”
The familiar soft serenades swam around her, and Memphis simply said, “Look in my right ear.”
She realized one of the earbuds was in his ear. Her shock was evident as she murmured, “It’s you?”
“It’s a new trick I learned for tonight. Being a telekinetic, usually I communicate to an individual. This was the next level.”
Smiling, awe blossomed within her at their world. The first song ended with a round of applause, and in a second, a faster upbeat song replaced it seamlessly. Arching her body to spin away from Memphis, she was brought back—hand to chest, eye to eye. Their feet moved without thought, and her blood pounded throughout her veins. She grasped at something to say, anything.
Mouth running dry, she tried not to get lost in him once again. A guy had never had this effect on her before, and she felt electrified on this high. Between her anger at Memphis and the intoxication of the music, she didn’t want it to stop. So, she didn’t think about the consequences and, her body betraying her, gravitated even closer to Memphis, their hands still clasped.
Warmth spread through her core as Emory’s senses were overwhelmed. He even smelled enticing. He dipped his mouth to the side of her ear, his breath tickling her skin. He swallowed nervously and rested his forehead against hers, stopping.
That’s when a sharp poke stung her back, and she practically jumped out of her skin.
“Can I cut in?”
Emory spun around to take in Nyx, purple hair curled seductively and falling loosely around her. She still wore the same clothes she had arrived in. Nyx’s hand shook as she held it out toward Memphis, assessing his clouded expression.
Emory took tentative steps back and then turned as Nyx stepped into Memphis’s embrace. The image of them burned in her mind, as her anxiety clawed through her. Taking a shaky breath, Emory tried not to think about how close she had been to kissing Memphis.
Weaving through the throng of swaying bodies, the music swelled and crashed in her mind. Making it to the edge of the dining hall, she promised herself she wouldn’t stare. But naturally, she couldn’t help herself. She spotted the duo, Nyx dipping dramatically, their bodies creating their own dance. They were lithe and beautiful. Even from here, she could sense the tension.
Sighing, she swept the room with her eyes, seeing Jaxson and Wyatt bobbing in an awkward dance in front of her, and she couldn’t help but smile. Both burly men caught her gaze, and Wyatt made a vulgar gesture at her. Chuckling, she moved on, the messaged received. The ambiance of the room soaked into her, as she tried to still her beating heart, her mind trailed to Brokk. Where was he? Was he okay?
Bitter tears pricked the corners of her eyes as the tiniest of wobbles trembled on her lips.
No. You can get through this.
She had to.
Aimlessly, she wandered, gulping deep breaths and searching for Bryd. She wanted to talk to the younger girl, finding comfort in their friendship. She circled the hall twice, not spotting her electric blue hair. Maybe she had stepped out for a minute.
The music changed to a song filled with beautiful harmonious violins, and Emory stopped to listen to the serenade. It was heartbreakingly expressive, the notes climbing and falling in a whirlwind. There was no greater comfort to her than music. Feeling better, she turned around and stopped immediately.
Memphis stood there, hands in his pockets, his hair tousled. He looked even more handsome than at the beginning of the night, which is exactly why she straightened and crossed her arms defensively in front of her.
“Emory.” His voice was soft and unsure as he stepped closer.
Jutting her chin out and in a voice like ice said, “Yes? What do you want, Memphis?”
His crooked lips lit up his face as he reached out. “You, Em. I want you.”
A deep flush heated her cheeks, and her anger led her tongue. “No, you don’t, Memphis. Do you even realize that you are playing with people’s emotions? Just leave me alone.”
Trying to turn away, he clasped her hand. “You’re telling me that I was the only one who felt what we had out there? Emory, Nyx and I are done. I loved her once, and she is one of my best friends. But...” He stepped closer, and she was frozen.
“There wasn’t a day that passed that I didn’t regret sending you away, making you forget. It was wrong of me to manipulate you like I did, wrong of me to not let go of you. But ever since I first met you, I was in love with you, and there was a time where you felt the same. We were worlds away for years, but the heart doesn’t forget even if our mind does.”
He was so, so close to her. She looked up to meet his gaze, her body trembling. Butterflies soared in her stomach. She should walk away and leave him with his silver tongue.
“You can just forget about Nyx just like that?”
He shook his head. “We have been over for a long time, and she knows you have always had my heart. Always.”
Throwing away her judgements, her worries, she caved into the recklessness of the moment. His gaze roamed her face, searching her for a response.
Wickedly smirking, she dragged him on the dance floor, and they were swept away by the music. She shouldn’t feel like this, but her heart was ignited. Every nerve in her body was on fire as he brought his hand underneath her chin, tipping her face gently toward his. Her eyes fluttered to a close, her breath
