Like Gravity(25)

I sipped my cocktail and let myself appreciate the timbre of Finn’s voice as it flowed over me. It was seductive, deep and slightly rasping as he sang into the microphone. I remembered the first time I’d heard his voice, semi-conscious after my spill on the sidewalk. Even then, when I hadn’t known him, his words had resonated sultrily in my mind.

Lexi and I chatted idly and observed the frenzied crowd as we finished our first round, only breaking off when Lexi felt the need to comment on a particularly outrageous outfit or to cheer for the band between songs. We’d laughed ourselves through two rounds and nearly into tears when the band announced they were taking a half hour break. Despite Lexi’s earlier assurances that I had nothing to fear from Finn, when she went to find Tyler I excused myself and made my way to the bathroom in the back corner of the club. It was far from the bar and the stage – a perfect place to wait out the intermission and avoid awkward encounters.

To my surprise, the bathroom was nearly empty; like Lexi, the other female club-goers must’ve been enticed by thoughts of seeing the musicians on their break and opted to hold their bladders. I’d never seen a bar restroom so deserted, and I appreciated the quiet as I attempted to touch up my smudged makeup in the mirror.

I was drunk. I knew I shouldn't have let myself get to this level – I usually stayed in control – but tonight was an exception. I was far too sad to be responsible; too hurt to dwell in the memories. I’d needed an escape, and tequila had given me one.

An added benefit: the effects of the alcohol had fully numbed the pain I was sure would otherwise be crippling my feet from the skyscraper high heels Lexi had forced me into.

I giggled at the thought as I stumbled into a stall, hiking my micro-dress up over my hips and emptying my bladder. I hovered over the toilet as I peed, precariously balanced on my stilettos, and heard the door swing open as someone entered the bathroom. Flushing quickly, I readjusted my dress and walked to the line of sinks.

I’d just finished washing the soapy bubbles from my hands when I felt the tingling weight of someone’s gaze on my neck. Looking up abruptly in the mirror, I saw the reflection of a man standing a few feet behind me. I immediately screamed, spinning around too fast on my heels and grasping the edge of the sink to catch myself from falling.

“Jesus, could you have screamed any louder?” a voice drawled calmly.

I slowly righted myself and forced my gaze up to meet Finn’s eyes. They were twinkling with mirth, undoubtedly amused by my fright.

I was going to kill him.

“JESUS FUCKING CHRIST, FINN,” I yelled, striding forward and shoving his chest with all the strength in my arms. He didn’t even shift off balance, which only served to incite my anger further. “WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?” I demanded. He opened his mouth to reply, but I cut him off. “This is the LADIES room, Finn. Are you a lady?”

He was struggling to hold in his laughter now, shaking his head in answer to my question as a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. The dimple in his right cheek was out in full force and, despite how adorable it was, at the moment I had an urge to smack it right off his face.

“Then what the hell are you doing in here?” I demanded, narrowing my eyes at him and planting my hands on my hips. Finn took several steps toward me, following as I backed away from him into the bank of sinks. When I had nowhere else to go, he propped his arms on the wall around either side of my body, effectively caging me in. The laughter was fading from his eyes, his irises darkening as they filled with unnamed emotions.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” he stated, holding my gaze. “I want to know why.”

It was a statement, not a question – one that demanded an answer. I didn't have one to offer him, though, so he was shit-out-of-luck if he thought he could intimidate me into explaining.

“I’m not avoiding you, Finn. I just don’t like you,” I glared up at him, raising my chin haughtily and refusing to back down despite his proximity. “And gee, cornering a girl in an abandoned bathroom is definitely the way to get her to want to be around you.” I practically sneered at him. He just smiled.

“Brooklyn, we both know you’re lying,” he whispered, his mouth grazing my earlobe. “And neither of us is leaving until you tell me why you’ve been pretending I don’t exist.”

“I’m not lying!” I might have been lying. “And could your ego be any bigger? Seriously, how do you even live with yourself?” I was slurring a little bit. Damn. Of all the possible times that this conversation could’ve occurred, of course it had to happen while I was wasted.

“You’re deflecting,” he said, “Just tell me, ‘cause I’m missing my break for this.”

“Ah, yes, precious time with your groupies is going to waste. All the more reason to leave me alone!”

“You know, I thought you were cute when you were mad, but you’re even cuter when you’re jealous,” he grinned cockily.

“And you are delusional.” I decided I’d had enough, pushing at his chest to get him to back away from me. I was absently noting how firm his chest muscles were beneath my fingers, my drunken mind conjuring up images of him shirtless, when he suddenly snatched my hands firmly in his grasp. His large fingers fully encompassed mine, his grip steely as his dragged me up tighter against his chest. We were fully plastered together, every part of our bodies perfectly aligned. In my heels, the top of my head was nearly level with his mouth, and my emerald irises were mere inches from his blue ones.