The door clicked shut behind him.
Nicky was gone.
He left without looking at her. Without saying anything. Just slipped away from the chaos of the bathroom with something wild and dangerous in his eyes—like he'd seen a ghost, or worse, become one.
And Eliana stood there, shaking. Her panties still damp. Her thighs still trembling.
Alone.
What the fuck just happened?
The party was still alive outside—music pounding, bodies grinding, someone screaming about shots in the distance. But Eliana couldn't hear any of it. Not really. Not with her pulse still echoing in her ears and her breath caught somewhere behind her ribs.
She stared at her reflection in the mirror above the sink.
Lip gloss smudged. Eyes wide. Hair tousled from hands that weren't hers.
And that look in her own eyes?
Not confusion.
Not even shame.
Just need.
God, she needed him.
And he ran.
She didn't even know when he woke up—if he was ever really asleep. Maybe he never was. Maybe he heard her in the van that night, came to the same sick conclusion she had. Maybe he knew she was unraveling. And maybe now… he was disgusted.
Her stomach flipped.
No. Don't do this. Don't spiral.
She splashed water on her face and told herself she was drunk.
It wasn't true, but it was easier.
Easier than admitting she was stone-cold sober. That she felt every brush of his cock, every silent thrust, every pant of his breath as he dry-humped her like something feral in the dark.
And God help her—she liked it.
She pressed the back of her hand to her lips, trying to slow her breathing. Her body was still thrumming. Still vibrating from the rush of it. The heat. The tension. The him of it all.
She wasn't drunk enough for this.
She straightened up, wiped under her eyes, and fixed her skirt. Then she stepped out into the noise.
The party swallowed her whole—flashing lights, moving bodies, spilled drinks on glossy floors. Luca was across the room arguing with someone about avant-garde footwear. Elias was dancing shirtless again, twirling a sparkler like a baton. Valeria was taking blurry selfies with a drag queen in a leather corset.
Renee saw her first.
"Hey," she called, striding over in low heels and a short champagne dress that caught the light like magic. "You okay? Where's Nicky?"
Eliana blinked. "He, uh... he left."
"Left?" Renee's brows lifted. "Why?"
Eliana shrugged, too fast. "Said he was tired or something."
Renee stared at her for a beat too long. "You're going too?"
"I think I've had enough for the night," Eliana said with a weak smile, grabbing her purse from the couch. "I'm drunk."
"You don't look drunk."
Eliana laughed, the sound a little cracked. "I'm good at hiding it."
Renee walked with her toward the exit, heels clicking lightly on the marble. "Want me to call a car?"
"I parked in the garage," Eliana said. "I'm okay."
"Not really asking if you're okay," Renee said softly. "More like... checking."
Eliana swallowed.
The elevator doors opened. They stepped inside. The lights inside were too harsh, too clean. Renee leaned against the wall, watching her.
"You're quiet," she said.
"I'm tired."
"Mmm."
Eliana glanced at her. "What?"
Renee's tone was light. "Just wondering why you and Nicky disappeared. You came out alone. He looked... wrecked."
Eliana scoffed. "Nothing happened."
"I didn't say anything did."
"Well, don't."
Silence.
Then Renee smiled. "Touchy."
Eliana gritted her teeth. "Can we not do this right now?"
"Sure." Renee turned to face the mirrored wall. "But you should be careful, babe."
"Why?"
"Because you're not drunk," she said calmly. "And you're definitely not okay."
Eliana said nothing.
The elevator dinged.
They walked to the parking garage in silence.
Eliana felt like her insides were made of glass. Thin. Cracking. One wrong move and she'd shatter all over the floor.
As she unlocked her car, Renee leaned against the passenger side and said, "I know how easy it is to want him. I do."
Eliana looked at her sharply.
"I'm not judging," Renee said. "I'm just telling you. It'll hurt."
Eliana looked away. "You don't know that."
Renee smiled sadly. "I've been alive a long time, sweet girl. I know a lot of things."
"I can handle it," Eliana whispered.
"I hope so," Renee replied. "Because whatever that was between you and Nicky... it didn't look like nothing."
Eliana's chest twisted.
Renee kissed her cheek, soft and sweet. "Text me when you get home."
Then she walked away.
Leaving Eliana alone in the car.
Still trembling.
Still burning.
Still wondering why the boy who said nothing had managed to say so much with his silence.