10. A Night to Forget
A NIGHT TO FORGET
I stride out of the bathroom, returning to the spot where I left Hazel.
There she is, standing still like a statue, two drinks in her hands.
I approach her, swipe one drink with no hesitation, and in a single fluid motion, down the entire thing.
Hazel’s eyebrows shoot up, a look of surprise plastered all over her face as she watches me chug the drink.
“Hazel, something’s wrong,” I confess, my voice shaking a little. Hazel’s eyes go wide with concern. “I called Reid.”
“You did... what?” Hazel asks, her voice barely a whisper.
“Yeah, and Jada answered the phone,” I say, forcing the words out. “We argued... I ended up just wishing him a Happy New Year and hanging up.”
Hazel pulls me into a hug, her arms strong and comforting. “Fuck Reid and Jada,” she says sharply, her voice filled with conviction. “Tonight, we’re going to forget them and have a great time.”
She tugs on my hand, pulling me towards the bar. “C’mon Amelia, let’s go get more drinks. Jamie’s already told the bartender to hook us up.”
We make our way to the bar, and the bartender greets us with a knowing smile. He swiftly presents two shots in front of us, filled to the brim with a concoction that promises a swift kick of oblivion. Hazel grabs one and hands me the other, our glasses clinking together in a toast to forget.
We dip our heads back simultaneously, and the liquid fire slides down my throat, its burn searing away the painful conversation with Jada. Hazel grins at me, her eyes sparkling with mischief, and I can’t help but mirror her infectious excitement.
She grabs my hand, and we weave our way toward the pulsating energy of the dance floor.
The music throbs through me, matching the rhythm of my heart, and for the first time tonight, I allow myself to forget.
The music pulsates through my veins, a rhythmic heartbeat that lights up every nerve in my body.
Hazel, all high energy and wild grace, pulls me deeper into the dance floor. We move to the rhythm, losing ourselves in the pulsating bass and the swirl of colored lights. I find my worries dissolving, replaced by the intoxicating rush of laughter and freedom.
Hazel’s hands are warm where she holds mine, swinging our linked arms to the beat of the music. She twirls under my arm, her laughter ringing sweetly above the chaos of sound, her auburn curls flying around her face. I can’t help but laugh, too. Her happiness is infectious.
We are a whirl of motion and energy, lost in our world, where Reid and Jada don’t exist. Each beat of the music fuels our dance, our bodies weaving in and out of the crowd. Hazel throws her head back, her laughter echoing around us, and I’m swept up in her joy.
The rest of the world fades away until there’s only the music, the dance, and Hazel’s bright smile. For tonight, we are invincible, dancing our troubles away under the strobe lights. And for the first time in a long time, I truly forget.
Leaving Hazel behind in the thick of the dance floor, I weave my way back towards the bar.
The previous drinks make my head spin slightly, dancing lights in my vision, but I keep my steps steady, my senses intact.
The bar is crowded, bodies pressing against each other, clamoring for the bartender’s attention.
I find a small open space and snake my way in, waiting for the bartender to notice me.
Suddenly, I feel a distinct tap on my shoulder.
Twisting around, I come face-to-face with Eric.
His eyes twinkle with mischief, a wide grin on his face.
Standing just behind him is a woman - stunning, with a beautiful smile that matches Eric’s.
“Amelia, it’s funny to see you here,” Eric says, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
The corners of his mouth curl upward into a grin, and I can’t help but blush at his friendly greeting. I meet his amused look, my own lips curving into a small, sheepish smile.
“I won’t tell if you won’t tell,” I respond, my voice lighter than it’s been all night.
Our shared laughter fills the small space between us, a secret just for the two of us amidst the bustling crowd. After a moment, Eric turns and gestures to the woman standing just behind him.
“And this,” he says, reaching out to gently pull the woman forward by her hand, “is Gwendolyn.”
“Hi Gwendolyn,” I greet her, forcing a smile.
“Hello Amelia! How do you and Eric know each other?” Gwendolyn asks, her eyes flicking between me and Eric.
“Oh, Eric’s my boss,” I reply, my tone casual.
Gwendolyn raises her eyebrows at that, her gaze flicking over my face. “You look a bit young to be here, don’t you think?”
I laugh, a little surprised at her candor. “That’s not really your concern, is it, Gwendolyn?” I retort, my voice edging into playful territory.
Eric looks at me, an intense stare that I can’t quite read, trying to figure out what’s going on. I’m usually more quiet, more demure.
Gwendolyn seems to pick up on the tension, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Eric, let’s dance. I think we’ve spent enough time with the jailbait that’s snuck into the club,” she says in a low voice, grabbing his arm and pulling him away.
“Alright, Gwen,” Eric says, finally tearing his gaze away from me. Before he leaves, he turns to me. “Have a good time tonight, Amelia. And tell Reid I said hello.”
The moment Reid’s name leaves Eric’s lips, a flicker of something - frustration, sadness, a hint of betrayal - crosses my face.
Eric doesn’t miss it; his eyes narrow slightly, a knowing look in his gaze.
“Reid’s not here, Eric,” I say, a finality in my voice that brooks no argument.
Eric, ever the persistent one, raises an eyebrow at me.
“So, who are you here with then, Amelia?” he asks, his gaze intense.
I take a moment before answering, “Hazel, my friend.”
Suddenly, a soft knocking sound interrupts our conversation. The bartender places two drinks in front of me, a smile playing on his lips.
“Here you go,” he says, his voice barely above the music.
I flash him a grateful smile. “Thank you.”
Turning back to Eric and Gwendolyn, I raise a glass in their direction.
“You two have a good night,” I tell them, a hint of defiance in my voice.
With one last look at Eric, I turn around, carrying the drinks with me as I make my way back to the dance floor, to Hazel.
As the clock nears midnight, Hazel and I are back on the dance floor, lost in the world of music and light.
Despite the intoxicating atmosphere, my mind can’t help drifting back to Reid.
Just as I’m about to get lost in my thoughts, a hand wraps around my arm, turning me around.
Hazel’s voice rings out, clear. “Well hello, handsome,” she purrs, and my eyes land on Eric.
He nods curtly, his eyes focused on me. “May I have a word, Amelia?” he asks.
Hazel’s demeanor changes in an instant, her arm snaking around mine protectively. “Hell no. She’s not going anywhere with you. Who the hell are you anyway?” she demands.
I can’t help but laugh, my hand coming up to pat Hazel’s. “Relax, Haze. He’s my boss,” I reassure her.
Hazel’s eyes widen, her grip on my arm relaxing slightly. “So, you’re going to fire her for underage drinking?” she asks, her voice teetering on the edge of panic.
The sound of Eric’s laughter fills the air. “I’m not going to fire her. We all did things like that at her age,” he replies, his gaze still on me.
Hazel, never one to back down, retorts. “And how old are you, exactly?”
“I’m 29,” he replies smoothly, and Hazel scoffs.
“So if you’re not mad about the underage thing, then why do you want to talk to her?” she asks, her gaze shifting between Eric and me.
Eric’s gaze softens, the corners of his mouth turning down slightly. “I just wanted to make sure she’s okay. She looked like something was bothering her.”
Before Hazel can reply, I assure her, “It’s okay, Haze. I’ll talk to him and be right back.”
Hazel seems mollified but levels a serious gaze at Eric. “If you try any funny business, boss or not, I’ll cut off your balls and feed them to you,” she threatens, her tone deadly serious.
Eric guides me away from the pulsating noise of the dance floor, into a quieter, more secluded corner of the club. The music here is muffled, the lights less blinding, providing a temporary respite from the chaos.
“Amelia,” Eric begins, his tone friendly but filled with an undercurrent of concern. “Are you okay? You seem a bit off tonight.”
I meet his intense gaze, my expression composed. “I’m fine, Eric. Just enjoying the night in my way.”
His gaze softens, a slight frown creasing his forehead. “I saw that look you had when I mentioned Reid.”
There it is - Reid’s name again. I force a smile onto my face, my tone steady. “Reid and I... it’s complicated. But it’s something I need to handle on my own.”
Eric nods, his eyes reflecting understanding. “Alright, Amelia. Just remember, if you need someone to talk to, I’m here.”
I take a moment to appreciate his concern. Then, with a nod of my own, I thank him, “I appreciate that, Eric. You’re a good boss and a good friend.”
After a moment of silence, Eric speaks up, his tone gentle yet firm. “Amelia, as your friend, maybe I can provide a perspective you haven’t considered before.”
I hesitate for a moment, my mind reeling.
But then again, maybe it wouldn’t hurt to talk to Eric.
After all, I usually only talk about these sorts of things with Hazel, Destiny, or my mom, and they’re always team Amelia.
I could use a fresh perspective, one that’s not biased in my favor. And it is Eric.
We’ve become closer since we started working together on the project. When I first joined, I was worried that he might hit on me. I remember the look on his face when I voiced my concern; he just laughed it off.