“Uh, yeah.” I slip my hand into his, feeling a twinge of embarrassment at how moist my palm is.It’s fucking hot in here.“How do you know that?”
Atticus cocks his head slightly, his eyebrows raised. “You’re all over social media. Who doesn’t know you?”
“Oh…”Duh.That’s much more logical than Caspian telling anybody about me.
“It’s fucking packed in here tonight.” Stepping closer, he murmurs in my ear, “Can I get you a drink?”
Atticus pulls back with a sultry grin on his face, his eyes a little bloodshot.He’s flirting with me.My cheeks heat as I glance around the room again, still not finding Caspian. Returning my attention to Atticus, I clear my throat. “Actually, uh, I’m looking for Caspian. Do you know where he’s at?”
“Caspian?” He says his best friend’s name like he’s flabbergasted anybody would be asking for him.
I nod.
A smile ghosts across his lips, the silver hoop glinting in the lights. He tips his head to the left. “C’mon, let’s go outside and smoke.”
He doesn’t give me a chance to say anything in response as he effortlessly weaves through the crowded space, people parting for him like the red sea. Before we make it to the door, he stops in front of Harlan Granger, the band’s lead vocalist, saying something in his ear. Harlan’s gaze lands on mine as he listens to whatever Atticus is telling him—most likely about me—before throwing me a cheeky grin.
Outside, he pulls out a pack of Marlboros from his pocket, grabbing one and tucking it between his teeth before offering me one. We take a few drags, neither of us saying anything for a few moments.
How fucking awkward.
Finally, blowing out a cloud of off-white smoke, his gaze lands on me. “So, why you looking for Cas?”
“Uh, because I want to talk to him?” I don’t mean to phrase it as a question, but his takes me off guard.
The gruff sound of his laughter meets my ears, a shiver going down my spine. “No shit. Why, though?”
“Is he here?”
Atticus takes another long drag from the cigarette, watching me as he does, his eyes squinting from the smoke trailing up. After what seems like a fucking eternity, he shakes his head. “Nah, he ain’t here.”
My heart sinks.
“Did he leave with someone?” The question leaves my lips in a hurry before I’m able to even try to stop it.
His eyes widen a fraction, the smile growing a little brighter. “How do you know Cas?” he asks, completely ignoring my question, only making me more anxious.
Thinking for a moment on how to answer that without giving away too much of Caspian’s personal information, I settle on, “We were at Black Diamond together.”
Atticus watches me while he takes another drag, really keeping me on the edge. What I wouldn’t give to know what was rolling through his mind right now. My fist clenches at my side as my heart races in my chest, blood roaring loudly in my ears. The silence and the staring are unnerving.
“He’s not here,” he finally says.
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, you already said that, buddy.”
He chuckles. “You’re feisty.”
“So, I’ve been told already tonight,” I grumble, dropping the nearly dead cigarette on the ground and putting it out with the sole of my shoe.
“He didn’t leave with anybody,” he mutters. “He never came.”
That surprises me.“Why not?”
Atticus shrugs. “Beats me. He’s been in a weird mood since coming home from Black Diamond.”
There’s so much more I want to ask right now, but I have a feeling I’m pushing my luck as it is, so I don’t. Instead, I ask, “Can you give him my number, please? Have him text or call me?”
Again with the unnerving stare. Finally, he nods. “I can do that.”
