An unusual stillness now blanketed the once-bustling venue.
Hadley slumped in a chair, the evening’s champagne leaving her world slightly tilted and her thoughts hazy.
“Hadley.” Eric crouched down in front of her, his warm fingers enveloping her hand. “Feeling any better?”
“Yeah.” Hadley nodded, blinking slowly as she surveyed the empty room. “Did everyone leave?”
“They did. Everyone’s headed back to rest.” He squeezed her hand gently. “We should make our way back, too.”
“Okay.”
She gripped his hand for support and pulled herself unsteadily to her feet. As soon as she attempted a step forward, her knees betrayed her, buckling beneath her weight as she teetered dangerously.
“Careful!” Eric caught her against his chest, steadying her with a surprised chuckle. “Legs staging a rebellion on you?”
“Yeah.” Hadley furrowed her brow, frustration evident in her voice. “I can’t seem to walk properly. How am I supposed to get back?”
A tender smile played across Eric’s face as he gazed at her. In her tipsy state, Hadley radiated a childlike innocence that melted his heart.
“How about this?” He turned his back to her and dropped into a crouch. “Come on, I’ll carry you—piggyback style.”
“Huh?” Hadley blinked at his broad shoulders for a moment before her lips curved into a delighted smile. “Alright.”
She flung her arms wide and collapsed against his back with childish abandon, then drummed her fingertips playfully on his shoulder. “Let’s go!”
Eric hesitated, and then erupted in laughter that rumbled through his chest. “What, have I been demoted to your personal chauffeur for the evening?”
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“What’s wrong?”
With that, Hadley tilted her head against his neck, her voice laced with playful challenge. “Am I not allowed? Or perhaps you don’t want to?” She instantly feigned outrage, wriggling dramatically against his back. “Fine then, put me down this instant! I’ll walk back!”
“Hey!” Eric teetered precariously as she squirmed, his laughter mingling with genuine concern. “Alright, alright! I’m at your service! Please stop moving before you tumble off and hurt yourself!”
“Oh, okay…”
The mention of potential injury sobered her instantly, and Hadley stilled against his back.
Eric murmured with affectionate mischief, “You enjoy riding on my back so much? Just wait until we’re back in our room—I’ll let you ride to your heart’s content.”
He couldn’t tell whether his words had reached her or if she was too tipsy to comprehend them, but she remained curiously quiet against him.
“Fallen asleep on me already?”
Eric tilted his face toward the heavens, his question drifting into the silence. The evening breeze caressed his skin, while above them the moon shone brilliantly against a canvas of scattered stars. It was, by all measures, a perfect night.
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. Chapters first released on FιndＮovel.net
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