Trusting Stone Read Online Free PDF

hadn’t she been able to look away? She held her stomach, thinking back to the feeling his stare had invoked in her, a feeling she’d all but given up on having. Coming back to the task at hand, she ordered a rum and Coke for Susan and a straight Coke for herself. There was no reason Susan would think it was any different than her own drink and maybe that would get her off Eden’s back for the evening.
    Eden found Susan in a corner of the first room, leaning against the paneling with Trey at her side. They both were giggling at each other and, for a moment, Eden was jealous—jealous of their carefree attitude, jealous that Susan could stand Trey’s touch, his hand resting on her hip while he leaned in to flirt with her, jealous that they could drink and relax and enjoy their youth without always being afraid or suspicious of what might happen next. But then she shook her head. Eden had given up on trying to become the woman she once was.
    The next hour passed smoothly and Eden had fully stepped into her role as the happy American senior . A few of Trey’s friends had joined them, and Susan engaged Eden enough in the conversation that she felt compelled to stay with them instead of losing herself in the crowd, as she had intended to do. The music had been turned up and more people had joined the dance floor, crowding the group further together into the corner.
    Suddenly, Eden felt a shove from behind, causing her to spill her drink all over her hand. She turned around and saw a dancing couple, oblivious to their lack of personal space.
    “Let me take that,” Trey offered, grabbing her drink out of her hand and handing her a paper napkin from the small table that ran along the side of the paneled wall .
    “Thanks,” she mouthed, as she wiped up the spilled drink, pleased to see she had avoided her dress. She glanced at Trey as he handed her back the drink, doubting whether her first impressions of him were right. She was too hard on people. Dr. Shepherd had warned her. Not all men were like those frat boys, he told her time and time again. Perhaps she was wrong about Trey.
    She took a long sip of the drink and tried to relax. The sugary taste filled her mouth and she was already swallowing before she realized the bitter bite she detected was rum. She caught Susan’s eye and gasped.
    Trey burst into drunken giggles. “We did it, Susie, we finally got her to drink something!”
    Susan joined in, almost hysterical. “You should see your face, Eden. Priceless.”
    Eden looked down at the drink in her hand, realizing what had happened and that it hadn’t been a mistake. Trey had purposely given her the wrong drink, and suddenly Eden felt very out of control.
    She turned away as Susan and Trey continued to tease her, informing the rest of the group of their little trick. She had to get out of here. Trey was exactly the sort of man she expected him to be, just like those other boys, men who liked to tease, even when they were the only ones laughing. She had to get out, away from the music, away from Susan’s abrasive laugh, away from her peers, who for a moment, she had let herself think weren’t all that she had expected them to be.
    It wasn’t that Eden was averse to drinking, although she knew her reaction made her look hysterical. She could feel a panic attack just waiting to happen.
    She passed through the double doors, and instead of turning right to enter the main foyer, she turned left. She could see people milling under the crystal chandelier that illuminated the main foyer. Different functions were being held throughout the club, and there were too many people for her to have to get past before she lost her composure. And even if she held it together long enough to get out the front door, she would simply find herself outside, with no ride and nowhere to hide. There was no way she could sustain a panic attack and hail a cab at the same time.
    Eden walked quickly down the hall, looking for a sign for the