Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 128211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
My gaze drifted to the bar, to the far right where I knew he’d been, and sure enough… there Finn was.
Sitting with that same drink in his hand.
Watching.
His eyes weren’t half-lidded or distracted now. They were on me — locked in, challenging, burning. Like he knew exactly what I was doing. Like he was daring me to keep going.
Gisella was gone. Bernard, too. It was just Finn left at the bar. And without any threat of someone seeing, I found it impossible to tear my gaze away.
And for the first time all night, I ignited.
It was absolutely unhinged behavior, grinding against Eli with my eyes on Finn. I hadn’t felt an ounce of electricity from Eli alone, but now, I was molten. Sweat pricked the back of my neck, my skin flushing, heart racing out of my chest.
I should have dragged my gaze from his.
Instead, I gave him something to watch.
I turned back to Eli with new fire in my veins. My hands slid up his chest, slow and deliberate, curling around his neck. He grinned, surprised at the sudden shift, and before he could say a word— I kissed him.
It was an awkward clang of teeth at first, but then his mouth opened to mine instantly, like he’d been waiting for it, like he’d been dreaming of it. His hands roamed as our tongues tangled, the kiss deep and messy and hot. But I knew I didn’t feel that heat from the man kissing me.
It was the one watching us from across the bar who held the torch.
A sudden jerk of Eli’s shoulders had us breaking apart. Cameron practically climbed on his back like a monkey, ruffling his hair as Eli laughed and spun him around. Leah grabbed me by the arm, and I leaned into her in a fit of giggles before Eli dropped Cameron to the ground and snatched me by the waist, pulling me into him again.
“Damn,” he said, his tipsy eyes dragging the length of me. “Where’ve you been hiding that?”
I just smiled, pulling back, fingertips trailing down his chest as my heart continued to race.
“I need to hit the ladies’ room,” I said. “I’ll be back.”
He held onto my hand even as I walked away, and I laughed when he finally released me and then dropped to his knees and pretended like he was praying to God. Cameron played into his dramatics, and even Bernard joined in, the two of them fanning Eli as he faked passing out and they carried him off to the bar.
Leah looped her arm through mine to join me in the bathroom, but before we made it, I pulled to a stop.
“I actually think I just need some air,” I said over the music, squeezing her wrist. “I’ll catch you back out there?”
She nodded, a happy, drunk smile on her face, and then she made a beeline for the restrooms and I took the first exit outside.
The door was only shut for thirty seconds before it banged open behind me.
I didn’t have to look to know who it was.
POST-PRODUCTION CONFESSIONAL
CLOSE QUARTERS
SEASON 4
EMBER REED: CHIEF STEW
PRODUCER
We’d like to go back to the night of your date with Eli.
EMBER
I’m sure you would.
PRODUCER
As you can probably imagine, that episode was when everything really shifted for the crew. You weren’t very forthcoming with talking head footage on the boat, so we were hoping we could get some of your thoughts now.
EMBER
Any idea of why I wouldn’t have been keen to do interviews after that night?
PRODUCER
Because you felt guilty?
Ember laughs, shakes head.
EMBER
Of course I did, but even guilty people have their shot at a fair trial. That wasn’t the case for me. You all decided to make me the villain.
Ember shrugs.
EMBER
So, that’s who I became.
Now, I was buzzing.
Not a drop of alcohol in my system, and yet every nerve was alive as I casually walked around the corner of the building and into the small alley, gathering my hair in my hands and fanning my neck like I was innocent.
As if I didn’t know who was storming after me.
As if electricity wasn’t prickling my skin in anticipation of what he’d do once he reached his target.
It was sick. I was sick.
And yet I wouldn’t have taken the remedy even if there was one.
The fabric tie fastening around the waist of my dress pulled taut, yanking me to a stop just as I disappeared in the shadows of the dimly lit alleyway. I didn’t gasp as I turned. I didn’t even try to act surprised.
I was humming, ready for the fight.
And when I saw Finn’s tight jaw, everything inside me lit up like a firework show.
“You’re actually fecking kidding, right?”
“Sorry?” I pulled free of his grip on my dress, crossing my arms.
“What the hell was that back there?”
“A kiss. Where’s your girlfriend? I’m sure she’d be glad to show you what it’s like.”