She looked up and Christian was beside her, hand extended. “Would you dance with me?”
She looked at Mia. Her face registered something. Something she hadn’t seen on her before. Mia was jealous and in that moment she knew it. But it was just a moment. Mia turned quickly to Riley, flashed her engaging smile, and said, “Go. Go dance.”
She turned back to Christian. She spoke, but it felt as if her words were slower. Slurred, even. “I’d love to.”
As they made their way to the dance floor, Riley stumbled slightly.
“You okay?” Christian asked.
“Yeah. Fine.” Even as she spoke, it felt as if she were exiting her body. She could see Winnie and Albert already on the dance floor; Tamyra was dancing with Christian’s friend Lance. Max and his wife were on the other side of them, and a few more of the guests and their spouses had taken to the dance floor as well. But Riley knew something was terribly wrong. With all of her might she wanted to pull Christian toward her and tell him something was seriously wrong, that she needed to get home. As they got to the dance floor and he took her in his arms, her body disconnected from her mind. Her hands began to slide their way up his neck and around his back. Every part of her being desired him.
She wanted to push away from him and run, but she didn’t. She couldn’t. Her mind was crazed, but her body was alive. She began to move seductively.
Christian took her arms from around his neck and let out an uncomfortable laugh. “Riley, what’s up with you?”
She pushed her body toward him again, her words now slurred as her hands moved up and down his back. “I just want to be close to you. I just want to dance with you. Can’t I dance with you?” Even as the words came out of her, she felt no ability to stop them.
He pulled her hands from his back. “Riley, come on. This isn’t like you. What are you doing?”
She felt a heat rise up inside of her, and this one wasn’t from passion. Her words came out loud. She could tell. Though they didn’t feel like hers. It was as if her mind and her body had been taken over and everything was happening outside of her control.
“What’s wrong with you?” She could tell by his expression he wasn’t sure what to do with her.
* * *
Laine was across the room when she saw Riley head out to the dance floor. She had watched her conversation with Mia at the bar and didn’t know how she had even been able to come in here. She knew Riley thought she had beaten this thing. But the woman she was watching on the dance floor wasn’t Riley. That woman was a drunk. She knew she should have pulled her away from the bar. And now Riley was about to make a fool of herself in front of everyone if Laine didn’t stop her and stop her quick.
She sidled up beside her and slipped an arm around her. “You know, Christian, my friend here has had a really long day. I think I just need to get her home and let her get some sleep.”
Riley jerked free from Laine’s hold. “I’m not going anywhere with you!” Her words were biting from her drawn lips. She turned back to Christian and wrapped her arms around him again, pressing her head against his chest. “I want to stay here with Christian.” She sounded like a child. A drunk child.
Laine grabbed her with a little more force. “I said, we’re going, Riley.”
Tamyra came up beside her. “You need some help?”
“Riley, are you drunk?” Christian asked.
Laine felt as if she herself had been slapped. If Riley had been coherent enough to know what was going on at this moment, Laine knew she would be sick. “Christian, she’s just had a long day. I promise, she is just exhausted.”
Max finally noticed the commotion and came over. Exactly what Laine had been trying to avoid. “Riley, is something wrong?”
Riley jerked free from Laine again. “Yes!” The word came out as if it had three syllables. “This woman has driven me crazy all week!” She swung her arm wildly at Laine. “She’s mean and angry and sad.” Riley all but spat her last words.
Laine tried to refrain from her desire to slap Riley. Slapping a drunk wouldn’t help them. Though she’d feel a lot better.
Max interrupted her. “Riley, have you been drinking?”
She let out an arrogant puff. “I don’t drink.” Her slurred words in no way confirmed her declaration.
Max shook his head. Laine could see the disappointment on his face. “I shouldn’t have let you come in here. This is my fault.” His last words were more of a whisper. “I’m sorry, Ms. Fulton.”
Riley’s head jerked toward Max. Laine hadn’t seen that much fire in her eyes since she had let her have it the other day. But that time Riley had seemed hurt. Tonight she was like a wild animal. “Don’t apologize to her!”
Laine watched Max’s face shift to stern and fatherly. “Riley, your behavior is unacceptable. Laine Fulton is our guest and you will give her your respect.”
Riley let out a drunken puff. “She doesn’t deserve anyone’s respect. She’s an adulterer, you know. Yeah, that’s right. She couldn’t keep her marriage together because she is an adulterer.” Laine felt a slap in her gut and hoped Riley’s words were slurred enough that the others couldn’t quite make out what she was saying.
“That’s right! Slept with a stranger. A stranger!” Riley stumbled slightly as the last words came out.
Laine was grateful that Frank’s song was over and the club was now pumped with the sounds of rap.
Winnie had walked over as Riley finished her last
