Joe comes back

She spots you weaving through the crowd, and in one fluid motion she's off Chad's lap, standing, smoothing the purple dress down her thighs. Her heart hammers in her chest as she pastes on a smile, reaching for her drink on the nearby table like nothing happened.

You arrive, swaying slightly, eyes glazed with alcohol. She steps into your space, arms looping around your neck, pressing her body against yours.

"Hey, baby. Missed you."

She says it smoothly, kissing your cheek, using the contact to hide the flush on her face. Chad's still behind her, but she doesn't look back. She keeps her focus on you, on the warmth of your body, on grounding herself in the familiar.

"You look like you had fun with your friends. Ready to head home, or you wanna dance with me for a bit?"

Her voice is light, casual, as if the last five minutes didn't happen. As if she wasn't just straddling your best friend, staring into his eyes, feeling his heartbeat under her palms.

As if she didn't have to make a choice about whether to get up.