“Thank you.” I pull my small wallet out of my pocket, grab a few dollars, and tuck it into her tip jar.
“No problem. You just have to decide what is going to lead you to true happiness.”
Again cryptic. Nodding, I get off my chair and notice Patrick cleaning up the spill I made. He truly is one of the kindest men I know. He cleaned it up to make sure nobody slips in it. I could have done it, but he knew how much I wanted to do this. This can’t be the end of us seeing each other.
Within a few steps, I’m by his side. “How did it go?”
Unsure of how to answer that, I shrug. “It went okay. It was fun.” It’s the most generic answer I can think of to give him without freaking him out. But it seems to satisfy him.
He grabs my hand and leads me down the stairs of the platform. The DJ shifts gears and plays a slow song. “Would you like to dance?”
“I thought you didn't dance. That’s what you told me all throughout high school. At prom and any parties we went to.”
He winks at me and pulls me toward the dance floor. “Tonight, I’m making an exception.”
My hand moves to his shoulder and his grabs my waist, pulling me close. Screw what the cards said. There’s no way I’m letting this end. Because this, right now, feels perfect and exactly how we’re meant to be.
15
Patrick
Jaylenin my arms like this is the only thing I’ve dreamed of since I was a teenager. Tonight, has shown what could have been between us for the past fifteen years. We sway back and forth to the music. Everyone else fades away and it’s me and her.
“This has been fun. Thank you for thinking of me.”
“Thank you for taking the ticket last minute.” She’s still going with that story. I’ll let her have it even though I know she’s full of shit.
The song comes to a close, and I twirl her before dipping her. She wobbles a fraction because of the heels, but I won’t let her fall. “Want to get out of here?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” She laughs as I pull her back to standing. “I can’t wait to get out of these shoes.”
Moving us off the dance floor, I find a space without anyone around. “Take them off.”
“What? I can’t walk through here barefoot.”
“You won’t be.” She gives me a look like I’ve lost my mind, but slips off her heels. “Hop on my back.”
Bending down, I wait for her to grab onto my neck. “We’ll look ridiculous.”
“Who cares? We’re leaving.” Finally, she puts her arms around my neck and her legs wrap around my waist as I stand. “There’s no point in your feet hurting even more when I’m perfectly capable of carrying you.”
“I guess you’re making good on your promise.”
“You’re damn right.” I chuckle. At least she remembered that.
I weave my way around people, trying to give enough space so her wings don’t knock anyone out. Hannah and Kelly are with the guys they were dancing with in the corner of the room. They wave at us, and I nod my head toward them. Jaylen lifts one hand, and I assume she waves goodbye.
A few more minutes and we’re outside. Valet is only a few more steps, and I grab hold of Jaylen’s legs with one hand so I can dig in my pocket for the ticket. While waiting, I take her to a ledge nearby and set her down.
“We should probably get these wings off you before they get back with the truck.”
“Good idea.” I stand behind her and slide the wings off her shoulders. This would be so much better if we could do this in the room. But her wings won’t fit in the cab while I’m trying to drive. As soon as they are off, she fumbles in her skirt to turn the lights off. It does nothing to dull her shine.
The valet pulls around with the truck, and I lift her off her feet, cradling her close to me. The attendant opens the passenger side door, and I slide her in before setting the wings in the backseat. By the time I get to the driver’s side, she has the GPS pulled up for the hotel.
“Looks like we should be there in about five minutes.”
“Good.” I tip the valet and put the truck in drive. I can’t wait for us to get to the hotel.
