“It’s a shot, Lila. Don’t savor it. Just down it.”
Not wanting to disappoint him or me, so I did as Eli said.
When I was done, I thought it tasted yummy like strawberry Jell-O.
“What did you think?”
“I liked it.”
He handed me the shot glass he was holding. “I never was one to think a guy looked right doing a Jell-O shot. Take this one.”
And I did.
I wasn’t sure what liquor was in them, but my head felt lighter, and I felt happy. Eli took both cups, held his hand up again and placed them on the tray the waitress was carried over to us.
“Ready for another dance?” he asked.
I stepped back into his arms and we danced. This time I wasn’t aware of anyone around us, and I wasn’t concerned. I enjoyed myself. Moved by the music, I let go of my inhibitions. I laughed. I heard my own laughter and it felt right.
It wasn’t until three dances later when Eli took a drink off a tray and drank it that I wondered what time it was. I should call my mom. I should call Nate.
Then I realized that was the old Lila Kate. This was the new one.
Our dancing continued. Our movements got sexier. The touching became more intense and my heart rate sped up a bit. I enjoyed being near Eli. I liked the way his hands slid over my hips and cupped my bottom. When my breasts brushed against his chest, the contact felt like electricity had pulsed through me. These feelings were all new things for me. I’d tried to feel this before. It had never happened. I was always so tense and unsure. But Eli was easy to trust, and the way he smiled could attract a nun.
His head lowered, and his breath was hot on my neck. I shivered as it tickled my ear. “Go somewhere with me.”
I slowed our dance to a halt. This was it. My chance to do something truly wild. To break free of the old me. To become someone else. I needed this. I wanted this. I wanted Eli, and it had been awhile since there was a guy that attracted me. It wasn’t just the shots either. I’d liked him before I started drinking.
“Okay,” I answered loud enough that he could hear.
He bit softly on my earlobe. “I’ll get your purse from Larissa.”
I nodded and walked off the dance floor with him.
He got my purse from his aunt who he’d handed it to when we left the bar for the dance floor. Then he came straight to me. “Your car here?” he asked.
“Yes.”