“Thank you for coming.” The yelling is getting hard to handle with some many people around. “Do you want to check out what else they have in the other rooms?”
“What?” He leans down until his ear is close to my mouth, and I wish he’d turn. I’m still mad Kelly interrupted what would have been our first kiss before we came in. A small part of me wonders if she did it on purpose. Most likely. She’s the queen of building suspense, and her butting in would do just that.
“I said, do you want to check out the rest of the event? I’m sure they have other things happening besides dancing.”
“Sure.” He releases my hand, and slides it to the small of my back. The gesture is possessive and sweet at the same time. “Lead the way.”
My eyes bounce around the area until I find an opening. Even though I wish my hand was still in his, I’m glad he’s still touching me. I move forward and other guests of the party close in around us. He moves his hand from my back to around my waist. His fingers softly gripping my side to ensure we don’t get separated. I can’t help but wonder what that would feel like without the fabric between us.
11
Patrick
Apparently,everyone else found the same opening Jaylen did because the crowd around us swells as they try to get to the dance floor. My grip on her tightens and she pauses until her back is against my chest. She reaches back with her free hand, feeling her way around my waist until she slides a finger through the loop on my jeans.
Right now, I wish we were anywhere but here. Somewhere we could be alone. We could talk and figure out where exactly we stand. I can’t leave this town without knowing what is happening between us. I’m also not moving back home. I love living in Asheville, and my job. Could we make long distance work? If we figure out what we are, we can make decisions regarding our future.
I knew the second I saw her I would be pulled back into her orbit. Pulled back into her being my everything, just like she was all those years ago.
We move through the crowd, working our way around the dance floor until we find a staircase. It’s not roped off, and there isn’t a bouncer around. Jaylen takes the steps slowly and I follow behind her in case she loses her balance. After the fall the other night at the reunion, I’m surprised she chose heels again. Though, if I had to guess, her friends forced her into it. One of these days she’ll stand up to them. But I have a feeling she’ll yank them off as soon as we leave.
“I think up here will be better.” She yells. There isn’t a need since it’s less crowded up here. The perfect spot to catch your breath and take a break from the crowd. I glance around the layout, checking out the space. There’s even a bar up here. Maybe we don’t have to go back down at all.
She releases my belt loop and walks in front of me, using the glow from her skirt to light the way. “There’s a free table over there.” I point to the end of the walkway we’re currently on. We definitely weren’t the only ones with the same idea.
Jaylen picks up her pace and I follow behind her. Another couple is making their way to the same table, and she’s determined we get to it first. The only thing we have on our side is our proximity. She reaches the table before I do, and leans on it, claiming it.
I catch up and pull a chair out for her. She collapses into it. Considering she’s dressed like an angel, grace is not her strong suit. “We’ve barely been here an hour and these shoes are already killing me.”
It’s easier to hear her, and I don’t feel the need to yell as I sit opposite of her. “You could have worn regular shoes.”
“I know.” She waves my comment away. “But apparently these make my legs look amazing.”
They absolutely do. She’s always had curves, and muscular legs. All the years we played chicken in the pool as teens can attest to that. I don’t think there was a worse form of torture than having the girl I loved legs wrapped around my shoulders. Hudson used to think I had the patience of a saint.
“They look great no matter what you’re wearing.” My mouth closes shut as soon as the words are out of my mouth. Way to sound creepy, Patrick.
“Thanks.” She’s looking at the table as she spins her drink in her hands, but I can see the way her lips tilt up at the compliment.
Glancing over the railing, I take in the view. We can see everything happening on the first floor. People grinding on each other. From this vantage point it doesn’t look as crowded as it felt being in the midst of it. “I think I see Kelly and Hannah.”
I point to the dance floor, and what I think they were wearing when we saw them before we came in. They aren’t alone. Both of them have gentlemen grinding against them to the music. It’s always amazed me how Jaylen is friends with them. They like to be the center of attention while Jaylen watches from the sidelines. Though, I guess the same could be said of me and my friends. It’s probably why I loved spending so much time with the woman in front of me. She was my safe space. Where I felt comfortable being myself and not putting on a facade when we went out.
“That didn’t take them long.” She laughs and shakes her head.
“What do you mean?”
“For them to find guys.” She waves in their direction. “It’s always been easy for them to find someone.”
“If I remember correctly, it wasn’t that difficult for you when we were in high school.” I remember back to all the times she would animatedly tell me about the dates she went on. Not that I stayed single in hopes of her dating me. But I kept most girls at arm's length, and it was something they always commented on. They knew I wasn’t really into relationships.
“It’s not like they were great boyfriends.” She sighs and takes a drink. “You’ll also remember I used to call you crying when one of them inevitably broke my heart, or did something stupid.”
She’s not wrong. I did come to her defense on more than one occasion. Most of the guys she dated were also jealous of our friendship. They didn’t want her to have anything to do with me when they were together, and both of us were too stubborn to care. Nothing was going to come between our friendship. Until I did it myself.
“Speaking of, I’m surprised you haven’t found your happily ever after. Guys would be stupid not to hang onto you when they get the chance.”
She takes a long sip of her drink, buying herself time to respond. I can’t blame her since I put her on the spot. Not by accident, either. I need to know if I stand a chance with her. Being with her tonight should be enough of an answer, but it isn’t. Unlike fifteen years ago, I need to hear the words from her lips.
