I crossed my arms and sat back. “MOMA? You said some of the exhibits gave you nightmares and I couldn’t drag you there ever again.”
She gave me a reductant nod. “They did, but when I wake up at three a.m. and text you freaked out, you’ll be here! In the same time zone!” she squealed.
I spotted Liam laughing behind her shoulder. The group we came with already scattered all over the dance floor, but I’d felt Liam’s eyes on me since we’d arrived. I was polite and friendly toward him but couldn’t give in to his attempts at flirting. But now, when his lips curved as my gaze slid to his, I didn’t have that itch to flee his presence. Maybe this was progress.
A salsa beat I recognized blasted through speakers, and my shoulders moved along with the music. I rose from my seat to pull Riley onto the dance floor.
When Liam extended his hand to me, I stilled for a moment.
“Come on, birthday girl. Dance with me.” He smiled wide, and I couldn’t help returning my own grin. Flying across the country wasn’t necessary to start a new life, I only needed to get out of the prison that was my own head.
Tonight would be the start of my escape.
“Is it like this?” Liam’s attempt to shift his hips and mimic a salsa move was so damn adorable, a giggle tumbled from my lips.
“Hey, you don’t have to laugh at me.” His mouth twitched as he tapped my chin with his knuckle. “Maybe we could just sway a little? That way, the huge disadvantage I’m at isn’t so obvious.”
“Disadvantage?” I crinkled my nose before taking a step back.
“Well,” he whispered into my ear as his arm slid around my waist, pulling my body flush to his, “I’m already dancing with the most beautiful girl in the place. She’s got all the right moves, and I have no prayer of keeping up. I wouldn’t want to embarrass her on her birthday.”
My cheeks heated under the sweet sincerity in his gaze. I actually liked him, maybe even felt the stirrings of a spark. I was determined to give this sweet guy a real chance. So what if his hair was blond instead of inky black? Who cared if his eyes were icy blue instead of the warm hazel that liquified my limbs with every glance they spared me?
Spared me…because I was just a little girl.
For fuck’s sake, PJ—get that asshole out of your head for a night.
I’d only just started this new empowerment journey, so I’d allow myself one mental slip. I was fed up with grieving the loss of something I’d never had to begin with, but old habits die hard.
“You aren’t embarrassing me.” I smiled at the relief ghosting across his face and pulled him closer. “We could sway.” I shrugged as I craned my neck to meet his eyes. Liam was a cute, nice guy, and I basked in his undivided attention.
“You are so beautiful. But I’m sure you hear that all the time.” We stopped dancing as Liam’s eyes locked with mine, the blue of his irises dark and full of want. His hand slid to the back of my neck as he inched closer…and closer. I spied Riley over his shoulder giving me a wide smile and an overenthusiastic thumbs up.
“Not really,” I finally breathed out, the ease of our clunky salsa forgotten. His lips missed brushing mine by half a centimeter when my head jerked back on reflex.
Liam’s face fell, and my stomach turned. He didn’t deserve this, to be a stand-in or someone’s second best.Everyonewould be exactly that unless I changed my damn perception.
I cupped his cheek and gave him a sad smile. “You’re very sweet. And I think you almost had a nice salsa on that last sway.” My attempt to change the subject was mistaken for a green light. My eyes bugged out when his lips landed on mine.
His lips were warm and sweet, nice. Not exactly Fourth of July fireworks, but I didn’t pull away. He cradled my face and gave me a shy, hopeful smile. So hopeful, my throat closed, and I sputtered for air.
“I’m thirsty,” I squeaked out, still struggling to find the oxygen to make words. “Can I get you something?”
His forehead creased as he studied me. It wasn’t a bad kiss, and it deserved a better response than, “I’m thirsty.” But just because my head was turned toward the right direction didn’t mean it was screwed on straight yet. Before I gave Liam a true chance tonight, I needed a minute.
“I’m good, PJ. I’ll wait for you at the table.” He kissed my cheek, and I managed not to flinch.
My heels clicked along the tile as I came over to the crowded bar, looking to chug some water and get back out there. The bartender noticed me right away, his dark eyes raking over my body. I could ignore the skin crawling on my neck if he would serve me quickly.
“And what can I get you to drink, pretty girl?”
“Just w—”
“She’s only eighteen. She can’t drink.”
A gruff, yet familiar voice answered for me.
Dylan fiddled with a beer bottle as he sat at the edge of the bar, glaring at me with a sour expression I couldn’t figure out.
