Their eyes met from across the room. Once they locked in, it was hard to look away.
He smiled at her, the way he always did. He felt hot and bothered. Like he needed a release. Like he needed her. He wondered if anyone else could tell.
She smirked back. Losing her place in the small talk she didn't even want to be a part of, and finding herself willfully lost in him. Every time their eyes met she felt like she was somewhere else.
It was getting harder and harder to pretend they didn't want to be together.
She turned back to her conversation. The three other women were discussing something she couldn't begin to care about. She needed a minute to breathe.
"Excuse me, I'm just going to run to the washroom. Thanks! So sorry!" she said with a smile and snuck away.
Her quick movement caught his eye again and he watched her leave.
Feeling an inexplicable pull, he fumbled his way out of his own conversation.
He followed her down the stairs to the basement, just barely far enough behind her not to make it obvious.
As he got to the bottom he opened the door quickly.
Her back facing him, she gasped, jumped, and quickly turned around.
"Jesus you scared me!" she half shrieked, half whispered.
"Sorry!" he laughed. "I didn't mean to".
They looked at each other, then looked away. The tension had been building and it was starting to become unbearable for both of them.
"I just needed a breath. I'm dying up there." she said.
"Me too. I saw you leave and figured you knew where to hide." he replied.
"Well, happy to be hiding out together I guess" she laughed, "I'm glad it was you that came down and not someone else I had to make small talk with."
"Me too", he replied.
Silence. They both took a deep breath. Staring at one another.
He glanced at the door. No lock.
Being together in the basement of a church, though neither of them were religious, still seemed risky.
There were people upstairs celebrating. The event was the last thing on their minds now.
They looked at each other again. Neither could deny there was something going on.