Dirty Beginning (Dirty 0.50)

She tries again .

I shrug and shake my head .

She frowns .

I smile as I take her hand and dance some more. I feel much better after having a couple of drinks. The only thing bringing me down is the fact that I keep thinking that I see Arlo. Everywhere .

I see him in the face of every man dancing around me. Every time they turn and look at me, I see him .

I see him in the face of every bartender .

I see him lurking on the side of the dance floor, holding a scotch .

He haunts me .

Eden grabs my arm and pulls me close to her so that my ear is just below her mouth. “Arlo is here !”

I pull back and rub my ear from the pain of her screaming into it. I’m going to be deaf by the end of the night if we keep this up .

I laugh as I shake my head and go back to dancing. Now, I’ve convinced Eden that Arlo is everywhere too .

Eden grabs my cheeks and turns my attention toward the far wall .

“What?”

“Arlo!”

I catch my breath when the crowd parts just enough for me to see a tall, dark man leaning against the wall with an amber-colored liquid in a glass. His eyes are fixated on me with a deep grimace on his face .

“He’s here,” I say slowly, looking at Eden .

She nods .

“Why is he here?” I ask .

She laughs. “Because he likes you .”

I bite my lip and then grab Eden’s arm. I head straight toward the restroom, weaving and pushing people aside. I have to talk to her. Now .

When I see the line outside the woman’s restroom, my heart sinks. Of course there is a line .

Instead, I pull her into the men’s room .

“Hey, ladies,” one of the men at the urinal says as we enter .

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“Get out!” I say. I walk over to the stalls. “Everyone, out. Now !”

The men start exiting the stalls, some still zipping up their pants. Some look at me amused, but I just glare at them, and they realize just how serious I am. They all leave .

When I’ve ensured that we are alone, I lock the door to the entrance of the restroom .

Eden raises an eyebrow. “Why have you brought me to the men’s restroom? Do you really need to pee that bad ?”

I shake my head and take a deep breath. “I need to talk to you .”

Eden blinks a couple of times as I try to figure out where to start, but I have no idea .