i just want to check the fire . '' and all the while , that lost reality slipped farther and farther from their grasp . i smiled at him , hoping he 'd smile back and i 'd know that everything was going to be all right between us . she was right to do so . i reached for him but he moved away , pressing my legs together . a few others sat with them , and though glasses of wine littered their table , they all had lowered brows and tight-lipped expressions . 