Chapter 176

Elodie allowed Dashiell to help her up, her legs protesting the sudden movement. The smoky haze of the bar seemed to close in on her, and the din of conversation morphed into an unintelligible roar. The night breeze slapped her face as they stepped out onto the sidewalk. The air hung heavy with exhaust fumes and the distant wails of sirens, a fitting soundtrack to the disarray swirling inside Elodie. She stumbled against Dashiell, her head resting on his shoulder for a fleeting moment. ‘Whoa there.’ Dashiell caught her before she could topple headfirst into a potted palm. Elodie let out a weary sigh, feeling the tequila slosh uncomfortably in her stomach. She squinted up at him, the city lights behind him blurring into a kaleidoscope of colours. Dashiell released her, his gaze lingering a beat too long on her flushed face. His driver hovered nearby, but he waved him off with a dismissive gesture. ‘You know,’ Elodie mumbled to herself, her voice thick with emotion, ‘you are right. He’s