Chapter 8 #3
By the time the song ends, reality gently brings me back to the present where the entire crowd is on their feet and cheering for me.
I can feel my cheeks heat as I wave goodbye, thank the crowd, and make my way off the stage and back to Dilynne.
“Holy shit!” she shouts when I get close enough to hear her. “I feel really bad for the guy that has to go after you.”
Chuckling, I reach for the glass of water Dilynne must have ordered for me and drink down half of it. “Thanks.”
“No, seriously, Elodie. You are incredible. You have a rasp in your voice that is so unique. Your energy is amazing. I hate when you go to a concert and the person just stands there at the mic. But you were moving around and having fun! Your energy was contagious.”
“Being on a stage is like getting to be someone else,” I reply.
“It’s fun to be an alter ego of yourself.
You know how Beyonce says her stage presence is Sasha Fierce?
” Dilynne nods. “That’s how it feels. I don’t feel like Elodie Olsen.
I feel like this different person, someone that matters,” I whisper at the very end.
“Well, hell, girl. You need to come up with a stage name then because watching you perform was entertaining as hell. And you do matter, Elodie. I mean, you’re helping my brother through one of the hardest transitions of his life, you’re offering me your friendship when we barely know each other, and you just brought up the energy in a room full of people wanting to escape their lives for a bit.
I’d say those are all fucking important roles for someone to fill. ”
Dilynne’s words hit me square in the chest, making my heart ache. She has no idea how badly I needed to hear those words. Choking back my emotion, I reply, “Thank you. That means more than you know.”
As if she can sense that I’m on the verge of tears, we share a look before Dilynne lifts her drink to her mouth and drains it, slamming it down on the table. “All right, enough of this depressing talk. We need some more alcohol, and it’s time to dance.”
Chuckling, I slide off my chair as well, sucking down the final few drops of my drink. “Agreed. Let’s do this. And hey, thanks for inviting me out. I really feel like I needed this, you know?”
Dilynne wraps her arm around my shoulder as we head toward the bar, our height difference making it a tad difficult since she has to lean down to reach me. At only five-two, I’m shorter than almost everybody.
“Me too. Ever since Laney and Fletcher got together, we don’t go out as much anymore. I’m not mad at her, but it’s nice to have someone else who’s single that wants to have fun.”
I don’t have the heart to tell her that a night at home with Henley and Remy has become its own version of fun, and right now, I’m kind of missing them—even though I am having a good time.
“Being single is better than being with the wrong person though, that’s for sure.”
She nods. “So true.”
Once I get a refill and Dilynne switches to soda water with lime, we head to the dance floor and move until my feet are throbbing. I dance with a few guys, but none that make me feel anything close to what Henley makes me feel.
At one point, I spot Dilynne wrapped up with a guy, kissing him hard before slipping off the floor with him.
“Where are you going?” I call to her.
“I’ll be back. Give me fifteen.”
Watching her walk away, I turn back to the guy I’m dancing with. His hands tighten on my hips. “Where’s your friend going?” he asks, his mouth close to my ear so I can hear him.
“Probably to the bathroom,” I answer.
His grin widens. “We could go to the bathroom too.”
“No thanks.”
He pulls me closer. “Aw, come on. You seem interested, and I definitely am.”
I attempt to push him away, but his grip on me tightens. “I said no.”
“I can get you free drinks. I’m friends with the owner and know a spot that’s more private than the bathroom, if that’s what you want. It pays to know the people in charge.”
I shove him completely off of me now, my chest heaving from the exertion. “Don’t you understand that no means no?”
He holds his hands in the air as a security guard comes over to us. “Is everything okay here?”
My dance partner smirks as he begins to back away. “Yup. We’re good. I was just leaving this cocktease alone.”
Tears prick at the back of my eyes as I spin and make my way off the dance floor. When I find a corner to catch my breath in, I stare down at my shaking hands.
Memories flood my mind, overpowering me and making my chest grow tight. I close my eyes and try to fight off the panic attack I feel coming, but luckily, Dilynne finds me before I fully slide to the floor.
“Elodie. Hey, you okay?”
When her face registers in front of me, I shake my head. “No.”
“Shit. All right, let’s get you out of here.”
She holds me steady as we walk through the crowd, my eyes staying focused on the floor beneath me and just the simple task of putting one foot in front of the other. Once we get outside and I feel the cool breeze waft across my skin, I take in a shuddering breath. “I’m sorry.”
“No, I am. I shouldn’t have left you.”
“Where did you go?”
“I thought the guy I was with could help me relieve some tension, if you catch my drift, but he ended up getting into a fight because some other man was hitting on his ex.” Shaking her head, she continues, “I don’t need the drama.”
“Yeah.”
Rubbing my arm as we walk to her car, she asks, “What happened in there? You looked like you were about to have a panic attack.”
“I was.”
When we get settled in her car, she turns to face me. “Want to talk about it?”
“Not really.” I can feel my entire body shaking, but the last thing I want to do is relive what that man’s words just reminded me of—one of the biggest reasons I left LA.
“Okay.” Dilynne seems unaffected by my unwillingness to open up, and in this moment, I’m relieved.
“Thanks for not pushing me.”
“Girl, you’re talking to someone who understands not wanting to rehash shit. Trust me. Just know I’m here to talk if you need me.”
We ride in silence the entire drive back to town as I fight with my mind bringing up all of the events that have led me here.
By the time we pull into Henley’s driveway, I feel drained, like I just ran a marathon.
Fairly certain the surge of adrenaline I just had is the culprit, I slowly exit Dilynne’s car as she speaks.
“You want me to walk you in?”
“No. I’m good. Thanks, though.”
“You sure?”
I glance at her over my shoulder, flashing her the best smile I can muster. “Yeah, I’m good. Thanks again for a fun night…until it wasn’t.”
“Get some rest.” She waits until I’m inside before pulling away. It’s after one in the morning, so I’m surprised to find Henley on the couch scrolling on his phone.
“Hey,” I say, pulling my purse off my shoulder and setting it on the table by the door.
The icy glare he gives me makes my shoulders tense. “Glad to see you’re alive.”
I twist my head around the room before landing back on him. “Did I miss something?”
Grunting, he stands from the couch. “I just didn’t realize you planned on being out so late.”
Growing instantly defensive, I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I had a curfew. You knew I was going out, so where is this coming from?”
“It’s after one in the morning,” he replies.
“And?”
“I didn’t realize you could be so irresponsible.”
My blood starts to boil. I’ve witnessed snarky Henley before, but in this moment, he’s just being an ass.
With shaky hands, I inhale deeply before giving him a piece of my mind.
“You think I’m irresponsible? You trusted me with your daughter—without even knowing me.
So, if we’re comparing responsibility, let’s start there.
Not to mention, I’m old enough to drink, smoke, and stay out until any hour of the night that I want.
So if this is you being worried about my ability to do my job… ”
He holds up a hand, stopping me. “Look, it’s late.”
“Yes, I’m aware.”
His glare gets more intense. “I need some sleep.”
“You didn’t need to wait up for me.”
Our eyes remain locked for some time, almost as if he’s debating if he should say anything else.
Finally, he shakes his head. “I know I didn’t.
” And then he walks down the hall and shuts his door softly behind him, making me wonder how a night of fun turned into a night of me feeling more unsettled than before.