Esme and I danced together, shouting the lyrics to the song that was playing, and being goofballs. It was just what she needed. Even with her fear of connection and her grief, I hadn’t seen her smile like this in a long time.
I grabbed her hand, spun her under my arm, and froze. Bennett was on the dance floor, eyes only on Esme. She realized and moved aside as if he wanted to speak to me.
Someday when this was behind us, I would tell her how obvious it was that he was there for her. He touched her arm and said something only she could hear.
“What’s going on there?” Dante whispered, dancing close.
“I don’t want to say yet, because she’s already freaking out about it, but something good, I hope.”
“Got it. So keep an eye but don’t interfere?”
“Perfect.”
Bennett’s mouth moved, and I read the words, “Dance with me?”
Esme looked back at me. I plastered on a smile that was borderline psychopathic and gave her a thumbs up. She was not getting out of dancing with Bennett because she felt like she was abandoning me.
The music slowed to something more sensual. Good call, DJ. I still danced, but I would be lying if I said I was focusing on that and not spying on Esme.
She spun under his arm the way she’d done with me. They were in their own little world together. He whispered, and she answered, and I barely stopped myself from squealing. Bennett pulled her back against his chest, cradling her in his arms. They swayed more than danced now, but it was clear neither of them cared.
“Look at her,” I whisper-screamed. “She’s so fuckinghappy.”
Dante chuckled softly. “If I was dancing with an Alpha who looked like that I’d be happy too.”
“Don’t you have a boyfriend?” I looked at him sideways.
“I have three. Doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a work of masculine art when I see one.”
I rolled my eyes and went back to spying.
Esme was so relaxed while Bennett held her, it was like seeing a whole new side of her. Or a side that I hadn’t seen in a damn long time.
She turned and wrapped her arms around his neck. I wasn’t even sure how she managed to end up in his arms, knees perched on his hips and her nose buried in his neck. But there she was.
Bennett held her still, shocked, before he inhaled her too. Thesmileon his face. He leaned into her. Held her like she was precious.
My eyes teared. It was somewhere between pure relief and joy so deep I couldn’t explain it. He didn’t care that she had vanished into her instincts, only that she was clinging to him.
I looked away and forced myself to go back to my own dancing. Esme was exactly where she needed to be. Fucking finally.
Dante and I danced for another song before a hand landed on my arm. “Eva.” Esme was at my side.
“Are you okay?” The words were a reflex from not expecting my twin to suddenly be so close.
“We need to go right now. Please? I need to go.”
Oh no. What happened? She looked… I would ask her later. I knew through that intangible sense twins had that she wasn’t lying. “Okay. Dante, can you take her over to the door? I need to find Jasmine.”
“Sure.”
Jasmine was in a cluster of other managers near one of the bars, but she separated when she saw me approaching. “Hey. Something happened. I’m not sure what, but Esme needs to leave. I need our clutches, and if you can smooth things over with the studio heads?—”
“Is she all right?”
“I think so. She just needs to leave now.”
Jasmine, ever her practical self, just nodded. “Let me know if you need anything. You’re fine with the studio heads. Look.” She nodded over her shoulder to a table where a bunch of old men were laughing far too hard over a scantily clad illusionist.
