Leah stood, a look of wonder on her face.
It might be that she’d been so consumed with providing for herself and her brother that there hadn’t been much room in her life for things as impractical as disco balls. There hadn’t been much room in his life for them, either.
He opened his playlist, hit Air Supply’s “All Out of Love,” and quickly added four more slow songs to the queue before setting his phone to the side.
When he drew her body against his, satisfaction slid through him, fast and sure, like a knife through a strawberry. Their chemistry was strong enough to bulldoze trees and houses. Strong enough to bulldozehim.
They swayed together. When the final strains drifted away, their motion continued as they waited for the next song to begin.
“This is what I imagine the very best high school prom would be like,” she said.
“I wouldn’t know. I never went to any dances in middle school or high school.”
“Neither did I.” The next song started. “Last night and tonight .. . they almost feel like too much.”
“What do you mean?”
“Embarrassingly self-indulgent.”
He grunted. “I bought dinner ingredients at a grocery store, dessert at a bakery, and an inexpensive disco ball at a drugstore. Expect more indulgence than this in the future.”
“What future? This is a non-date.”
“Right. But I plan to take you on more of these.”
“Non-dates, by nature, do not merit the assumption of more.”
“It’s not nice to joke about non-dates.”
She looked into his eyes to show him that she was not joking.
“Leah,” he growled. “Why don’t you want to go on another non-date with me?”
“I’m genuinely concerned about Ben.”
“That’s valid,” he said. “Will you talk to him? I think that might help.”
She pushed her lips to the side, clearly thinking it through.
“What else is the matter?” he asked. He could see there was more.
“Honestly, my singleness is part of my identity. I like being unattached. My job and my brother are challenging, so it’s wonderful to have one aspect of my life that’s simple.”
“I’m not asking you to become attached to me. I’m only asking for a few more non-dates. Simple.”
The music continued, but he stopped their motion.
With the lightest pressure possible, he drifted the fingertips of one hand from her chin along her jaw. His touch circled her earlobe and skimmed down the side of her neck. His heart began to pound. “I have a confession,” he said.
“Do tell.”
“Running into you at the football game was not a coincidence. I volunteered that night because I knew you’d be there.”
“We only talked for five minutes,” she whispered breathlessly.
“It was worth it.”
“Running into you outside your house the day I went walking wasn’t a coincidence, either.”
