Sneak Peek of The Forbidden One
Here’s a sneak peek …
Eden - Before
Music was like a bestie. It didn’t matter where I heard it, it didn’t matter when, I just wanted us to have more time together.
My feet, the second the first beat hit, would start to move.
My hips would grind, my body, sway. A smile owned my lips while, simultaneously, the most carefree sounds fell from between them.
Tonight was no different.
I clutched a red Solo cup in my hand and, with the bass vibrating through me, I lifted the drink above my head, my arms pumping with the rhythm. My body was like a snake, slithering in the air. Of course, the two drinks I had before this one helped loosen me. Still, I had no desire to stop.
I felt so good.
“Do you have any idea if the football team is going to come tonight?” Norah asked. “Or did you hear if the basketball team is going to make a presence?”
My best friend had joined me behind the couch in some living room off campus.
A spot I had all to myself, which was why I had picked it, and I was using the hard, backside of the leather as if it were a wall, pushing against it during my dips, leaning into it as I arched.
“Don’t know.” I smiled harder. “Don’t care. ”
She laughed. “God, that’s so you.”
“And you eagle eyeing the party, noticing who’s here and who’s not, is so you.” I tapped my plastic cup against hers before I began to circle her.
“I can’t help myself.” She pulled at the wide neck of her sweater, angling the top to reveal her bare shoulder.
“You know I have a thing for athletes. But I have to say, there are already some good-looking dudes here. I mean, like beyond hot.” As I turned my head from side to side—all part of my dancing—she pulled some hair out of my lip gloss. “Even though no one is as hot as you.”
“Stop.”
“Come on, it’s so true. I’m sure every guy here, if they see you dancing, is dreaming about being with you.”
“Once again: don’t know, don’t care.” I’d never been to this house before, but it did seem more packed than an average Saturday night party. Which prompted me to ask, “Hey, how did you even find me over here?”
She couldn’t say it was my height; I was petite. Nor could she say it was my black hair; there were many raven-haired people in the sea of students around me, unlike Norah’s beautiful, wildly wavy ginger locks.
“I looked for your red Golden Goose’s.”
My toes were even dancing inside the sneakers. “That’s the last thing I thought you were going to say.”
“When you bought them last week, I thought the red was a bold choice.”
I took a sip and gyrated faster, the tempo picking up speed. “And now?”
“I’m going to beg you to borrow them next weekend. They’ll look perfect with the outfit I have planned.”
“No begging required. We live together. That gives you full access to my closet—always.” I blew her a kiss.
“Love you forever.” She grabbed my hand and twirled me. “Is it time for a refill?”
As I spun, my head fell back, and I laughed. “Yesss.”
Norah guided me toward the keg or kitchen or wherever she was taking me to get a drink, and all I could think about was something Walker, my older brother, had said the night before I left LA for college. He told me the next four years would be the best time of my life.
So far, he was right.
But after tonight, something else would unfortunately come true.
I would quickly learn … that I would never dance again.