Page 52 (1/2)

PROLOGUE

Before

The lights flashed, yrated on the dance floor in front of her Josie felt both taken over by the sensory input and still oddly removed Some innate other-ness in the mix of these carefree partyers, beautiful and exultant under the shifting strobes Snap out of it, Josie, she de her shoulders a small shake Have some damn fun

What rong with her anyway?

“Cheers,” Reagan said as she ca her fro our best life” Josie took a breath, rallied, forcing a grin as she took the gin and tonic and clinked Reagan’s glass She sucked in a drink “This place is packed tonight Oh! There he is” Reagan raised her hand and began waving wildly in the direction of the door where a tall, good-looking blond guy spotted her and waved back, h the crowd to where they stood He leaned forward and kissed Reagan’s lips Josie looked away, giving thereeted each other, her knee bouncing to the beat

Reagan pulled on Josie’s sleeve “Evan, this is an practically purred as she said his naan had been crushing on the guy froy class for months, and he had finally asked her out teeks before They were already an ite he’d last Her best friend’s relationships with men were initially intense, but ultimately temporary

Evan saze sharp as he took her hand His stare unnerved her slightly, and she wasn’t sure how to account for the strange feeling He said so softly

“I’ forward

He leaned toward her too, and his mouth came close to her ear “I said, we’ve met before”

She leaned back “Oh, I’m sorry”

He shook his head “House party on Stratford a couple o”

“Oh” She feigned sudden recognition, though she had absolutely no ht Nice to see you”

He gave her a wry s and leaned away

Reagan pulled hiave an annoyed look “Let’s dance,” she singsonged loudly “Come on, Jos”

Josie held up her already-e to be the third wheel in soet another drink first Want one?” she called as she an shook her head and disappeared into the revolving fray

Ten minutes later, fresh cocktail in hand, Josie returned to the edge of the dance floor She spotted Reagan and Evan dancing near the htly out in front of her Josie sipped at her drink She hadn’t eatena pleasant buzz through her body Her rabbed her hand and she lurched forward, alhed, the sound swept under the loud pulse of the bass He struck a posetocrowd She downed the rest of her gin and tonic, closing her eyes as they danced, spinning, whirling, finally feeling a part of the people there rather than reirl She just needed to act like it She needed to let go