Designed for his Heart

l, her gaze fixed on the fluorescently lit entrance of Cobalt Lounge. S

ychee martini. "Some friends. I rearrange my whole design timeline to squeeze

he nearly hip-checked the hostess stand with her curvaceous figure. Trailing in her wake was a slightly flustered Noah, attempting to smooth over the disruption. Lean,

ing the room a dazzling smile and ignoring the hostess's side-eye.Though her energ

he barstool beside her, nearly toppling over. Composed Noah took

al casual birthday hang," Eva said. "Bu

Hurricane Gia. We were on time but she barged into the middle of an Academic

girl's thirtieth go uncelebrated!" Gia said, mock

mic after so many years together. She loved her small but mighty friend group-though they made an eclectic trio. Gia

True to form, Gia ordered them a round of birthday shots along with a flamboyant cocktail for herself. Though Eva insisted on en

involving a student falling asleep and toppling right out of their seat. Eva grinned, happy

tudious nature making him less inclined to day drinking shenanigans. "I have earl

ah, lighten up!

od example..." She trailed off with a dramatic

now faculty life, they were long past the point of peer pressure with Noah. But th

d her own

e when Noah was on the grad school track, Gia was hustling her catering side business, and Eva burned c

's throat but she embraced the burn, letting out a satisfied hiss, feeling it kindle a

estones, goals and love lives-or lack thereof in Noah's case-Eva felt a glow

it so far already...She just needed one crucial career bre

ic schedule for this tradition. Moments like these were all too rare, though the st

ucket "for proper birthday bubbles," Eva caught sight

obscured by dark rimmed glasses, she swore he stared ri

de, the mysterious stranger was scanning the rest of the room with his

his leather shoes shiny enough to reflect the

of Veuve. "Now let's get this party started!" she crowe

rything into a spectacle. Caught up in the moment, she di

mbrace, Eva collided forcefully with the poor woman. With a tremendous crash that silenced the lounge,

oused her, grasping fruitlessly to ca