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leave the club this
early. She wasn’t surprised when Camey appeared alone, huffing
from trying to keep up in her mile-high fuck me heels. If Talia had
been wearing those shoes, she wouldn’t have made it out of the
car, much less lasted in a club for any considerable amount of time.
She was relieved to see her burst through the door and join her on
the sidewalk as a cab pulled to the curb. Talia didn’t say a
word. She fell into the cab, the heater blasting hard against her
face, and waited for Camey to climb in to give directions. Her voice,
as well as her anger, were caught somewhere in her throat.
    When
the cab was on its way to Camey’s apartment, Camey turned her
attention to Talia, who couldn’t bring herself to speak. “So
who was the hottie? He looked like he was really interested in you.”
Camey nudged Talia’s elbow with her own, waiting for a
response.
    Talia
forced the words to the surface and spoke, “He wasn’t of
consequence.”
    “Really?
He seemed like he was totally into you. Are you sure you don’t
want to go back and get his number?”
    Talia
could see Camey’s anxious grin out of the corner of her eye
before she turned to rebuke her. “Why would I want his number?
I have no time for him or any other man. Now can we please drop it?
I’m tired and I’d love nothing more than peace and quiet
right now.”
    “Humph.”
Camey fell back into her seat, chewing her bottom lip.
    Talia
was grateful she’d let it go. She couldn’t stand another
minute of thinking about Landon and his sparkling sapphire eyes or
the way his dirty-blonde hair complimented them as the lights of the
club changed those thick locks from blue to purple to red. “Damn
it.” Talia leaned forward in her seat and called to the driver,
“Can you pull over?”
    “You
gonna be sick, lady?” He pulled to the curb and Talia jumped
out of the car.
    It
was nearly midnight; the streets were growing quieter as the night
dragged on and Talia just needed the fresh air. She couldn’t
sit another minute in the back of the stifling cab.
    “Talia,
what are you doing?” Camey had rolled down the window to call
after her.
    “I
just need to walk a while. I’ll be fine.”
    “I’m
not leaving you out here. Are you nuts?” Camey opened her door
and began to step out of the cab when the driver called after her.
    “Lady,
are we going or not?”
    “Hold
your damn horses.” Camey held the door open as she analyzed
Talia’s face. “Come on, Talia. It’s freezing. You
don’t even have a jacket. Whatever’s bothering you, you
can work it out at home. Please, just get back in the cab.”
    Talia
looked up and down the dark street. Some of the street lights in the
distance were out and the shadows looked more frightening than
before, reminding her that she would be completely alone if the cab
left. Hesitantly, she fell back into her seat.
    “Onward
Jeeves,” Camey called to the driver.
    The
remainder of the drive was quiet. Camey’s apartment was just up
the block from Talia’s, so Talia walked the last bit alone. She
knew the neighborhood well; she’d be safe.
    Before
she was out of Camey’s sight, Camey yelled after her, “Text
me when you get home.”
    Talia
waved back at her and continued on. She saw the glow of her living
room light as she grew closer. She focused on that light and scolded
herself for neglecting to turn it off once again, but she was
thankful for the beacon that led her. Her scolding emptied her mind
of thoughts of Landon briefly and she was grateful. She didn’t
understand why he had to disturb her evening. He should have left
well enough alone. And, while she hoped she’d never see him
again, deep down his face was still emblazoned in her mind.
    She
reached her apartment and climbed the stairs in the alleyway behind
the flower shop to her meager home above, anxious to sleep off this
night, hoping desperately that his face didn’t haunt her
dreams.
    When
she was inside the door she texted Camey before