Mitch’s dark eyes flicked toward me. “I’m fine with water,” he told her and I felt warm from the inside out.
He never drank in front of me. Not since I had gone to rehab. He didn’t make a big deal about it, which I appreciated. His unconditional support had sustained me more than I had ever really realized.
And he was still offering it. Even after everything.
“This place is pretty lame,” Mitch commented, looking around. I wanted to laugh at how we still thought so much a like.
“Yeah, G was just saying the same thing,” Garrett said, grinning. “It’s like you share a brain or something. It’s always been a little on the creepy side.”
Mitch’s lips twitched and mine responded likewise.
“Great minds think alike,” we both said at the same time. Mitch chuckled and raised his glass of water and inclined his head in my direction. I laughed, wishing I could hold on to this incredible feeling of connection between us.
“Mitch, can we go now? I’m really tired,” Sophie complained, pulling on his arm. Our eye contact was instantly severed and the connection dwindled into nothing. I wondered if I had imagined the whole thing.
“You want to leave already? We just got here,” Mitch said, sounding annoyed.
“Please, Mitch. I have a headache. You know I’m not feeling that great. We can go back to the hotel room and—” Sophie looked toward me and I swear I saw her smirk. “You know,” she giggled and I had to look away.
“I think I’m going to go see if it’s safe to enter the bathroom yet,” I told Riley. I didn’t wait for her to respond before I started pushing my way through the crowd. There was a line for the restroom when I got there, but I was glad to see that the porn show was over.
I took my time and when I finally emerged I felt a little better. I didn’t want to spend my weekend mooning over Mitch. I wanted to hang out with my friends. I wanted to dance. I wanted to remember what it was like to not give a shit about anything.
Mitch was leaning against the wall as I left and I hoped I could pass him without being noticed.
He looked up as I moved down the small corridor and I lifted my hand in an awkward wave.
Should I stop? Should I keep going? Should I say hey and leave it at that?
“Is this the place to hang out then?” I asked him, figuring humor could alleviate some of the tension.
Mitch barely looked at me. “I’m waiting for Sophie. She wanted to wash her hands again,” he replied shortly.
“So you’re heading out?” I asked him and he nodded curtly. Why was I bothering? It was obvious he didn’t want to speak to me. And that pissed me off. I was trying to be civil and he wasn’t making it easy.
“Well god forbid you stay and have a good time,” I snipped.
Mitch’s eyes flashed in the darkened hallway and he finally looked at me. “Yeah, because you seem to be having a great time,” he shot back.
I let out an angry sigh and crossed my arms over my chest. “Is this how it’s always going to be?” I demanded, finally at the end of my rope.
Mitch’s face contorted as though he were in pain before it smoothed out into a neutral expression. “Looks like it,” he muttered, looking purposefully past me.
“You don’t think you’ve punished me enough?” I asked, wishing my voice didn’t sound so small. Mitch’s eyes widened slightly, but he still wouldn’t look at me. But damn it, he was going to listen. There were a lot of things I needed to say and I was finally going to say them. I didn’t care if we were standing in a crowded hallway at a shitty nightclub. It was now or never.
“I get that I hurt you. I know I acted like a total bitch.” Mitch snorted but continued to stare over my shoulder. I kept going. “But the silent treatment has gone on long enough, don’t you think?”
Mitch frowned and glanced at me, his eyes narrowed. “I’m not giving you the silent treatment,” he argued.