Eliana's POV
It's been days—no, a week since that night. A week since Asa. And still, his face flashed into my mind when I closed my eyes. I hated how easily he had slipped under my skin.
He gave me his card, he told me to call and I did but he didn't pick up and neither has he called back. And truthfully, I haven't tried the number since then.
And every time I picked up the damn card, I wondered if he was waiting or if he had already forgotten about me.
With a sigh I grabbed my phone. Enough moping. If Asa wasn't going to haunt my dreams, then maybe the club would.
I dialed Sophia first.
"Please don't tell me you're about to cancel on our movie night again." She said, the moment she answered the phone.
"Forget the movie," I replied quickly. "Let's go to the club. Tonight. Same place."
"Oh, I see. Someone's hoping to run into mystery man again." She said, laughing.
"Shut up," I muttered.
"Fine. Give me an hour. I'll drag Juliette along. God knows she needs the distraction."
The bass hit me first when we stepped inside the club. That deep, pulsing beat that shook through the floor and right into your ribs.
"I already regret this." Juliette said. "My boss is going to kill me when I show up hungover tomorrow. We have an arranged meeting for the weekend."
"Relax," Sophia said, grabbing her arm. "One drink won't ruin your life."
"One drink is never one drink with you," Juliette shot back, rolling her eyes.
"She's right, Jules." I smiled faintly, sliding into the booth by the wall.
Juliette huffed, but a small smile betrayed her.
Sophia waved down a waiter, ordered a round of shots, and leaned back.
"Alright. Rules for tonight. No talk about work, no talk about deadlines, no crying about Alex," Sophia said, pointing a finger at Juliette, "Got it?"
"You're cruel." Juliette said, making a face.
"I'm realistic." Sophia shot back.
The shots arrived and Sophia passed them around like ammunition.
"To Eliana finally leaving her cave."
Clink.
"God, I needed that." Juliette coughed, pressing her fingers to her temples. "But seriously, can we talk about Alex for just five minutes?"
"You lasted twenty seconds." Sophia groaned.
"Go on then. Get it out." I laughed, shaking my head.
"He texted me again this morning." Juliette began, "Something about how he misses me. How he's changed. As if."
"Changed into what? A bigger asshole?" Sophia snorted
"Exactly," Juliette muttered. "And the worst part? I actually answered."
"You answered?" I asked, feigning my surprise.
"I know, I know. Don't look at me like that. It's pathetic."
"It's human," I said softly. "You loved him once."
"No. She lusted after him. Let's call it what it was."
"You weren't there, Soph. You didn't feel what I felt."
"You mean how every time you saw him, it ended in bed?"
Juliette's mouth opened and then shuts immediately. She didn't answer right away, and then finally, she spoke up.
"At least he wanted me."
"Wanting and loving aren't the same." I said, touching her hand.
"And he never loved you, Jules. He used you. You know this." Sophia added
"Fine. Maybe he did. But when he holds me, it feels real. Even yesterday—"
"Yesterday?" I stiffened.
"Wait. You saw him again?" Sophia blinked
"He came over. I didn't invite him, but… it happened." Juliette looked away, guilty.
"What happened?" Sophia pressed.
"Not sex exactly. He..." Juliette swallowed. "He gave me head. He knows exactly what buttons to press, and I let him. Though i pushed him out before it got too far."
There was a silence between us, filled only by the thumping bass and shouts of strangers around us.
"You need to cut him off." Sophia finally said. "Block his number. Hell, move cities if you have to."
Juliette's laugh was hollow. "And go where? Start over? I'm tired, Soph. I'm so damn tired."
"You don't need him, Jules." I said, squeezing her hand. "You've got us. Me. Sophia. We're not going anywhere."
Her eyes flicked between us, and for the first time all night, she smiled faintly.
As the drinks kept coming, Juliette talked more, venting about Alex, about the way he always knew how to crawl back into her life just when she was healing. Sophia teased her mercilessly, making jokes that had us laughing until our sides ached.
But me? Half my attention was somewhere else. My gaze kept drifting toward the door, the bar and the crowd on the dance floor. I told myself it was habit, but the truth is I was looking for him. Asa.
"You're not subtle, you know." Sophia said with a smirk, catching me ones, eyes scanning the room.
"Just people watching." I forced a smile
"Sure," she drawled, turning back to Juliette.
Suddenly, Juliette slammed her empty glass on the table, startling me.
"That's it. I'm done talking about him. No more Alex. Ever."
"Thank God," Sophia muttered, raising her glass in mock prayer.
"We'll hold you to it, Jules." I chuckled.
"No, really. I mean it this time. If I even think about answering his texts again, slap me." Juliette said, wagging her finger at me.
"Oh, I will. Happily." Sophia grinned wickedly
That made Juliette laugh for real.
We kept drinking, talking over the music. Sophia told a story about a disastrous date that had Juliette choking on her cocktail. I teased them both about their dancing skills as the three of us leaned into each other being loud and tipsy.
And yet, beneath it all, I still found myself looking around like a bird seeking prey, searching for Asa.
He could be here.