Escaping Eden Read Online Free Page A

over the pounding dance music.
    “Video game emergency!” I shouted back. “Come on!”
    I gripped his hand firmly and made my way to the bar. I wasn’t going to let him go anytime soon until I could tell he was completely comfortable with being here.
    Maybe this isn’t the best place to do this. I feel like I’ve shell-shocked him.
    The bartender came over with a big smile, “Hey Eden! What are you having?”
    I smiled at Jake, “The usual for me. Simon?”
    “Um, what’s the usual?” he asked me.
    “Screwdriver!”
    “Yeah, that definitely sounds good,” he replied with a big smile.
    I held up two fingers to Jake who nodded and took off down the bar to make our drinks.
    As I stood there holding Simon’s hand, I started to shimmy a bit to the beat which made him laugh.
    I felt a tug on my arm and turned. Jake slid our drinks toward me and I smiled. I reached for one and handed it to Simon, then went into my wallet to pay for them, but he already had his arm behind me handing Jake cash and waving to let him know that he didn’t need change.
    Jake waved the bill to say thank you and I squinted trying to catch a glimpse of what he handed him but, it was already in the register with the tip being tossed into the silver bucket that sat in the middle of the bottles.
    I tugged Simon’s hand and led him one of the tables near the dance floor that I liked to hang out at until the drinks hit me and the “fun Eden”, as Liora once said, came out to play.
    I pulled myself up onto one of the high stools and turned to face him. He was standing there looking around a bit uncomfortable.
    That’s problem number one.
    “Stop looking like a scared child,” I leaned over and yelled to him.
    He nodded and took a deep breath, trying to relax. I tilted my head for a moment and scanned the group of people around us. There was a petite brunette who was standing there dancing with her friends and was stealing glances at Simon already. I looked up at him and saw that he was completely oblivious to it.
    With a wicked idea, I set my drink down on the table top, hopped down, and made my way over to them.
    I tapped the girl on her shoulder and she turned to face me with a raised eyebrow.
    “Hi! I’m Eden! Have you met my friend Simon over there?” I asked leaning in and shouting.
    “I’m Eliza, no I haven’t. He sure looks hot though,” she yelled back.
    “Come on, I’ll introduce you to him!”
    I smiled when I saw Simon looking around in confusion; he hadn’t even realized what I was doing until he saw me walking back toward him with Eliza on my heels.
    “Hey, this is Eliza and she wanted to meet you,” I shouted over the music.
    Simon looked down at her and gave her a curt nod.
    “Hi. Simon right?” I heard her ask with a wide smile.
    “Yes.”
    “Um do you want to dance?” she asked pointing to the dance floor.
    “Well - -”
    “Yes, he does,” I replied grabbing his drink and giving him a shove.
    Simon turned and gave me a dirty look, “Actually, I don’t dance,” he said to Eliza as politely as he could.
    “Come on, I can teach you!” she said with a big grin.
    I looked at him.
    I saw the Simon Smile trying to fight it’s way to the surface, but he just kindly shook his head, grabbed his drink, and turned his attention back to watching the people in the club.
    Are you kidding me?
    I looked at Eliza and mouthed “I’m sorry”. She shrugged looking stung, and retreated to her group of friends. I felt terrible when I watched them all leave so early. I knew it was because she felt humiliated.
    I looked up and smacked Simon on his arm.
    “What’s the matter with you? You know she was into you, right?”
    He nodded.
    “Well, if you would’ve put just the tiniest bit of effort into that, you would’ve gotten laid tonight!” I yelled in frustration.
    Simon scoffed and looked down before he leaned over. I felt a little weird with his arms on either side of me.
    “I didn’t come to a club to get