LA'S

ugh to make the champagne glasses clink against ea

s just the way the chandeliers drip from the ceiling like

d

his collar perfectly sharp like every detail was placed with intention, his smile soft in a way that feels practiced but impossible to read, and then the

e was

e right, so I turn my gaze away because looking at him feels like standing too

adow fading at sunset, should let the tray in my hand guide me back to the rhythm of se

I never saw him, never met him, never touched him, or

ened, like it was someone else's story I overheard and not

ning into each other at a grocery store. Like I

acket. "Didn't peg you as a guy who

using. "I don't. But my mother throws

lks through gold-plated doors like it's air.

my chest doesn't show. "Well, you're in luck. Tonight'

t something in my gut that I don't want to name.

ne's gotta keep

a little. "Is this

rary,"

eeling something back. "Y

a

are you.

ke everyone's pretending something. Like I'm the only one here who

f. "Bills piled up, my rent has expired, and I got an ev

g sharp flickers behind his eyes. I h

mumble, eyes darting to the tray.

owly, "but I was

way in silence, the reason my fingers ache with phantom t

e name," I blurt b

"You rememb

name was-what w

st slightly. " Dani

ot your

hink I'd se

ing we're not saying is pressing against the

them against the sides of m

l this way," I whisper.

the only real thing in the room. It was my fingers in his hair and hi

say any

champagne and sip it like it m

k, eyes on the crowd. "Pick u

says. "

ike someone with time

: "You look like someone who

can still feel the bed sheets, the d

out you," he

nk. "

ting, maybe calling, but I di

didn'

idn't

t was the point-no

real

ent the party blurs around us. Lik

ck to him. "You don't look like those guys who sh

e said there'd be investo

isten to y

f my company. That tends

that's not his. Rich men

world either," I say,

me and says

nversation. He touches me and brings out something like a stray hair fro

kay?" he a

ay. "But

maybe he does, and maybe we'r

new tray. It feels like armor.

get back

aside. "O

don'

er do

of music you'll sway to when you're tipsy and

" when I told you I a

e a lot of things on my ches

hat's the only time he sounds unsure. "I just-

"Thanks for

to the sea of people and noise, pretending I'm

's watching m

I don't want to forge