Free Lost to You by A. L. Jackson Page A

see what little tramp you end up ditching me for tonight. Do you prefer blondes or brunettes?”
    Laughter rang out and ricocheted on the brick walls, a thunder that pounded in my chest.
    He reached out and tugged on a strand of my hair. “Blondes, of course, Elizabeth. And did you just say tramp?”
    “Yep, sure did.”
    “Oh, you’re going to make all kinds of new friends tonight.”
     
    Fifteen minutes later, we were walking side by side toward Sam’s apartment, a guy I’d never met, but was legendary in the stories Christian told. Knowing them only managed to make me more nervous than before. I’d changed into my best jeans, a cute, wide-necked sweatshirt, and boots, hoping not to embarrass Christian since he was dragging me along.
    I was never one for parties. Maybe because to me it symbolized what I’d given up to make it here, but really, it just wasn’t my scene. The few I’d been to had been uncomfortable, the predatory feel in the air, guys assessing whether a girl was as easy as she looked, and girls competing to win that attention.
    No thanks.
    I glanced back down at what I’d changed into, pretty sure I was going to be completely out of place. With longing, I glanced behind me. Maybe I could come up with an excuse, turn around and go home so I could crawl in my little bed and hide.
    “I’m really glad you decided to come with me.”
    I jerked my head back to Christian. He flashed me an all-knowing grin, as if he knew exactly what I’d been thinking.
    “Yeah, me, too,” I blatantly lied.
    Christian chuckled, lifted his face to the night sky with a satisfied breath pushed out into the air. He appeared so relaxed, so casual as he ambled along and I followed.
    We turned right at the intersection, and Christian grabbed my hand. I sucked in a sharp breath and tried to hide the way the simple gesture made me feel. His hand was warm, perfect, felt too right. He tugged me to his side. “This is it.”
    My eyes traveled the height of the building. It was much nicer than mine, but not nearly as nice as Christian’s. Ten stories of lit windows lined the building. Energy radiated from its walls. Nerves hit me again as Christian swung the door open, and they eased just as quickly when he squeezed my hand.
    What was he doing to me tonight? He had my emotions all over the place. I’d come to feel so comfortable in his presence, the want inside subdued to a peaceful glow, something that felt like a stronger connection, something I could control.
    Tonight...I wasn’t sure. Something had shifted, tilted the axis where I thought I’d found a perfect balance.
    He led me down a narrow hall and pressed the button to the elevator. An encouraging smile lifted his mouth when he looked down at me. “Don’t be nervous. Everyone’s really nice.” A slight chuckle echoed in the confines of the old elevator when we stepped inside, and still he held my hand, a gentle encouragement, maybe a thank you for coming. “I mean, they’re idiots, but nice.”
    I nodded subtly.
    Great.
    The elevator door slid open on the fifth floor. Music pumped into the hall from behind what seemed like every door.
    Several doors down the hall, Christian rapped twice and swung it open without an invitation.
    He towed me in behind him. My feet faltered, and I shrank back when I met the scene inside. People littered the room, packed together, the space so full and overbearing that my throat tightened and I found it hard to breathe.
    “Christian!” a guy shouted from across the din of the room. He wore his hat backward and a wrinkled button-up, his tongued slurred.
    “Hey, man.”
    Christian inclined his head my direction, whisper-shouted in my ear. “That’s Tom.”
    I nodded. Christian had mentioned him before, always in a you won’t believe what my dumbass friend did sort of way.
    “And who do we have here?”
    “This is my friend, Elizabeth.”
    “Elizabeth.” The tilt of Tom’s head told me he’d heard my name before. He