70: Possessive grope

Elaine’s POV

Riley's laughter and persistent pleas to join her on the dance floor finally broke through the fog of my thoughts. I watched her from the booth, her energy infectious as she moved to the beat, clearly having the time of her life.

She waved at me, her eyes shining with excitement, and mouthed, "Come on, it's more fun out here!"

Taking a deep breath, I set my drink down and stood up, feeling the world tilt slightly from the alcohol. I steadied myself, glancing at Killian one last time. He was still engrossed in his drink, ignoring me completely, which was a relief.

Pushing my way through the throngs of partygoers, I made my way to the dance floor. The music grew louder, the bass thumping through my chest, and the lights flashed in dizzying patterns. Riley spotted me and her face lit up even more, if that was possible.

"Finally!" she exclaimed, grabbing my hand and pulling me into the crowd. "I knew you’d come. It's so much better out here!"

Her enthusiasm was contagious,