Being in the back row makes it hard to see faces in the crowd, thank God. But occasionally I catch a glimpse of Ant, grinning like a loon, his phone up, recording the whole humiliating experience.
Despite my one-on-one training, my hips won’t move the way they should in hula. But at least I mostly keep up with the foot movements. And I only trip once, which is an improvement on the last practice we did.
Emily is beaming as though she’s the sexiest hula dancer on the planet by the time we finish—to thunderous applause—and the professionals take to the stage to show everyone how it’s really done. Hopefully, that will erase the mental images we’ve just left behind.
I fall into my seat with a relieved sigh.
“Wow. That was … I’m actually speechless.” Ant is struggling to hold back laughter. Not that I can blame him.
“Cultural appropriation on a massive scale is what it was,” I respond, taking a healthy slug of the wine I’d left behind before my five minutes of mortification.
“No argument from me.”
“Tell me, honestly, on that scale of root canal to the blanket, where was it?”
“There were a few individual performances that weren’t bad, but overall, I’d say maybe a crown filling? Possibly a wisdom tooth removal?”
“That’s what I thought. At least I wasn’t alone in sucking.” I look up at Ant’s face. Which confirms what I already knew. “I was the worst, wasn’t I?”
Ant squirms in his seat, then levels me with those gorgeous blue eyes.
“Not gonna lie, Sparky. Yes, you were, but I wouldn’t lose any sleep. There are plenty of far more important things you excel at.” I love how he manages to let me have the bad news without making me feel terrible about myself. His hand snakes out and wraps behind my head, pulling my ear to his lips. “Would you like me to list some of them?”
I don’t know whether it’s his tone or the flutter of his lips over the shell of my ear, but shivers run down my spine and settle between my legs, creating a delicious vibration.
“Maybe later. I could practice. Just to make sure.”
We grin at each other in silent promise of pleasure to come.
Chapter Thirty-One
Ant
Ididn’t have the heart to tell Lilavati exactly how badly she sucked at hula when she flopped down into her seat at our table. But she’s a smart woman so I’m pretty sure she knew.
She does, however, look so hot in her grass skirt that I ask her not to change when all the other women involved in the dance disappear to put their own clothes back on.
“You’re not going to ask me for a private performance later, are you?” She looks horrified.
“No. Not of hula dancing at least.” I slip my hand between the layers of grass and leaves and find her smooth thigh underneath.
“I do like how this skirt gives me hips for once.” Lil rustles the grass in her lap.
“Your hips are perfect just as they are.” I lean in and press a kiss to the delicate bump at the end of her collarbone. Keeping my lips off her skin is getting harder and harder. “I’ll get you another drink.”
I wander over to the bar, thinking more about what Lilavati and I will be doing in less than thirty minutes, if I have any say init, than what’s going on around me. Which is my excuse for why I find myself accidentally standing next to Warren, waiting to be served.
I’ve managed to avoid him so far this evening, but he’s been shooting daggers at me all night.
“This is a family event, Anthony,” he says, mispronouncing my name yet again. “Might I request that you keep your unseemly displays to yourself? Lili’s grandmother doesn’t need to be subjected to that kind of behaviour.”
Based on my conversations with Grandie, she’s more than happy to see PDAs if it leads to Lil partnering up. Which is where this is going. At least from my point of view. I’m aware it might take Sparky a little time to catch up, but I’m a patient man.
I’d like to tell Warren to go fuck himself, but not only am I patient, I’m polite. Mostly.
“I’ll take that under advisement, thank you, Warren.” I’m hoping that’s enough to put an end to the conversation. I start to turn my back on him, but he continues.
“It would also be wise to keep yourself under control at the wedding tomorrow. Unlike last night. We don’t need another outburst ruining what should be a joyous event.”
