"I don't think Sean is coming. He's at a birthday party in Wisconsin."
I frown, put my phone back in my jeans, and continue up the steps. We'd been invited to a housewarming party, and I was trying to push my social anxiety far down hoping I could drown it in alcohol. Nick trudges up the stairs with me, as he grabs my hand.
"We can always stay, drink a single beer, and dip. Drew won't hate you for leaving out early."
Nick and I have known each other for years now. In our last semesters of college, we spent some friendly time together in the sheets, but once graduation came and went, so did we. A few years later, Nick ended up back home and showed up at one of these parties we'd been invited to by our long-time friend, Drew. Nick and I rekindled our old flame and we'd been trying out dating. Though being our third or fourth time out together, Nick was finding it hard to make us official, which I think is what I want.
He kisses my knuckles and I sigh, "No, it'll be fine. I'll be fine." He smiles and knocks on the door.
It was not fine. Nick, my charming beau, instantly and easily surfed the crowd to find the right people to sip and chat with. Something I admired in him as the shy one in our group. Not that I didn't have my own stories to tell, but smaller groups were more my thing. So I stood by him worried of getting lost and forgotten.
He does this routine so well. Finds his groove, gives me a wink, and heads over with his new friends to play a game or smoke. I usually give some excuse not to join and find myself on a couch pretending to enjoy whatever music the host is vibing to that night.
I sip my drink and feign interest in whatever the group we're with now thinks is funny. I think it's about lab grown meat and how all life is a simulation.
I try not to grimace as I scan the crowd and wonder how many beers Drew is in in order to make our escape without him pushing another drink toward us. A few new people have arrived to this already large party. Friends of Drew's sister's boyfriend, like most everyone here. So no one Drew would have to introduce me to, but then I see Drew going up to one of them for one of his trademarked hugs.
The person standing with Drew is easily a foot taller than him and he leans to hug. His chestnut curls flop down slightly and his grin is brilliant as he embraces Drew, his arms filling in his grey long sleeve. I watch his lips begin to greet Drew, possibly expressing how long it's been since he's seen him. Whoever he is, he has great lips.
Maybe I'd be interested in meeting this guy
. I finish off my drink to cool myself, when I'm being nudged slightly at my hip.
"Hey sorry, you're in the way," explains a girl with a handful of bottles. She points to the garbage can, waves her hand over it, and the lid rises. "Oh gosh, I'm sorry!" I chuckle and move out of the way. She laughs, brushes it off, and thanks me for moving.
I quickly look back to where Drew and his friend stood to find them no longer there. I inwardly groan and instantly chastise myself. Nick is literally right next to me and even if he can't hear my thoughts, I can't daydream about another party goer. Even if Nick is barely paying me any attention. I turn to look where Nick is to see if he wants something else to drink, and find him also not there. This time I groan outwardly and place my empty cup down.
Time to play Find the Boy.
I'm walking through the kitchen toward the living room. Nick's face nor his boisterous laughter are present in the kitchen, so he has to have relocated there.
As I cross into the hallway, I trip. Not enough that I fall, but enough that I kick whatever was in my way into the wall with a thud. I quickly look around to be sure that no one saw me and rearrange the speaker flush with the wall. The music is so loud I don't know how I missed it walking up to it.
But who puts a speaker in the hall?
As I begin to walk away, a door to my left opens and out comes Drew's mystery friend.
We lock eyes and words fail me now that we're toe to toe.
"Were you waiting long?" He chuckles out almost apologetically.
I raise my eyebrow and tilt my head gently, "...What do you mean?"
His eyelashes are thick and full, not nearly as full as his lips as he begins to smile. I think I stare a little too long because he steps to the side and gestures at the obvious bathroom behind him.
"Ohh.. No, I wasn't waiting. I kicked the speaker."
He chuckles again and now looks quizzical himself. I'm enjoying his ease of laughter. I point down to the speaker against the wall and look back up at him.
"Who puts a speaker in the hall?" He laughs and I feel my face flush with the heat of his hilarity.
"That's what I said!" I say a little too fast and chuckle, raising my hand to place a curl behind my ear. He raises his own hand.
"I'm Eric. What's your name?"
I smile and place my hand in his. His long, warm hand enclosing mine.
"It's Sofie. I'm Sofie."
He shakes my hand and I swear I feel his thumb brush my wrist when our hands come apart. I shiver deep inside, and it looks like he does too. His shoulders stretch back, his hand comes back to his side, and his face looks beyond me.
Before I can say another word, I feel hands on my shoulders. Nick.
"Hey I've been looking for you! I'm about to play darts, wanna play?"
Nick steps to my side and waits for my reply. I stammer a bit, never having played darts before and finding it very hard to believe Nick was ever looking for me since I've been in this hallway which seems for far too long now.
"Oh you're playing darts! Me too. Are you any good?" Eric cuts in with that all too beautiful smile on his face.
Nick looks up at Eric, forgetting I'm there for a split second, introducing himself and his all game skills.
