"What?"Sage looks up at me, green eyes wide.
"The band is starting.Dance with me."I'm already guiding her past Derek and his disco ball girlfriend."Excuse us.The waltz waits for no one."
"But—" Derek starts.
"Fascinating talking with you, Dennis," I call over my shoulder.
"It's Derek!"
"If you say so."
I sweep Sage onto the dance floor just as the band launches into a classic waltz.
She's still frozen, so I take the lead, pulling her into position.
"I don't really know how to waltz," she whispers.
“Follow my lead.And breathe.”
“I am breathing.”
“No, you’re hyperventilating.”
I guide her into a basic waltz hold, keeping it simple, firm.Grounding.Her hand tightens on mine like she needs the anchor, and I give it to her.
“Eyes on me.”
She lifts her gaze, and there it is—that spark.Still there, even under the hurt.
"Luke—"
"Did you know that Derek has a receding hairline?It's quite dramatic.Like watching time-lapse photography of coastal erosion."
"Luke…”
"I'm just making observations.Very efficient observations."I spin her gently, pleased when she follows without stumbling."Also, his date's dress is literally blinding other guests.I think the mayor's wife just walked into a column."
"Stop."But she's fighting a smile now.
"I'm serious.We might need to hand out protective eyewear."I dip her slightly, and her hand tightens on my shoulder."You, on the other hand, look absolutely stunning."
"In my three-year-old dress?"
"Especially in your three-year-old dress."I pull her closer as we move across the floor."It's elegant.Timeless.Like Grace Kelly, but with better taste in men."
"Grace Kelly married a prince."
"Who probably never dated someone named FootPrincess2000."I tighten my hand on Sage’s waist.“And did I mention that Derek Manning once tried to pitch a data mining product to one of my clients using our security language?”
Her brows lift.
“It didn’t go well,” I add.“He tried to bluff his way through the tech.Someone asked him to define encryption layers, and he panicked and quoted The Matrix.”
A breathless laugh escapes her.
I spin her gently.“He also once claimed CoreSyte’s API could ‘intuitively evolve on instinct,’ which I’m pretty sure is how werewolves work.”
“Oh my god.”
