“Austin didn’t like to dance. Some guys don’t.” She propped her elbow onto the table and rested her chin on her hand. “In fact, most guys don’t. Caden is special.”
Her smile was wide and beautiful as she rubbed my back. I wished I could tell her just how special she was, but I wouldn’t know where to begin.
“I can see that,” Sabrina’s mother said as she took a seat next to her. “In fact, I was sure you’d end up together back in high school.”
“We took the long way,” I teased, squeezing Sabrina’s shoulder and wishing we really were where we’d pretended to be tonight.
“That we did. See?” Sabrina patted her mother’s hand. “Nothing to worry about.”
Her mother’s smile faded as she leaned back.
“I wasn’t worried if you were with someone or not. I was alone for many years before I met your stepfather. I worried that Austin hurt you too much to try to love someone else. So tonight, I’m thrilled that I was wrong.”
Sabrina reached over to grab my hand, her watery smile making me feel like shit.
After the cake was cut, the DJ invited everyone onto the dance floor for a slow dance. I recognized the opening chords of U2’s “All I Want is You.”
“Come on,” I said, standing up and holding out my hand to Sabrina. “I think this is the end, right? Almost last dance?”
“Maybe,” she said, surveying the dance floor as she took my hand. “Went by faster than I thought.”
“Yes, it did,” I said, taking the opportunity to pull Sabrina flush to my body.
We swayed in comfortable silence, her head resting on my shoulder as she looped her arms around my neck as if we really were a couple that had danced like this a million times. She fitin my arms like she always had, but now I either had to tell the truth or let her go.
Her grip tightened around my neck as she brought us closer, barely leaving us enough room to move. I clutched her right back, running my nose along the delicate slope of her neck as I let my hand drift down her back, stopping right above the curve of her beautiful ass.
My hand cramped with the need to go lower, to both explore her and get reacquainted. Which I wouldn’t let it do on a dance floor with her family watching from all points of the room.
Or maybe ever.
“Thank you again for being here tonight,” she said, lifting her head off my shoulder. It was dark on the dance floor other than the shifting lights from the DJ, but my eyes locked on hers. I saw more than just gratitude in her gaze. I spied the same lust and longing I’d been fighting against since we’d arrived tonight—and, really, most of my life.
Or maybe that was just my own yearning reflected at me.
“You don’t have to thank me. I’m glad I came. But I don’t think you needed me. Your family loves you and doesn’t judge. Even your sister.”
“Maybe.” She shrugged. “I’m still glad you’re here.” She kissed my cheek and dropped her head back on my shoulder.
I shut my eyes, soaking in the song and the moment. All I’d wanted was her when we were young. I just hadn’t realized it until later, and it had scared the shit out of me.
I wanted her now too, but it scared me in a different way. Since we’d reconnected, my days were brighter and easier. She’d given me something to look forward to, just like in school when my day hadn’t been complete without seeing her, regardless of what side of friends with benefits we’d happened to be on.
I didn’t have the time or the luxury to be sad and show it. My best friend had lost his baby sister just when I’d begun to slowlylose my mother. But for his sake and my family’s sake, I’d had to be the guy with a joke and a smile.
I was that guy for Sabrina too, but it came a hell of a lot easier. Instead of an act, it felt like relief. Like the heavy mask I had to wear all the time had cracked enough for me to breathe.
Getting a taste of what it would be like to really be together had been a cruel tease. It was almost easy to forget since we were still in the throes of pretend. I could take a kiss if I wanted, hold her as close as I felt like, and stare at her long enough to take in all that beauty.
“Don’t forget about the bouquet toss.”
Sabrina’s aunt poked us as we danced.
“You qualify again!”
Sabrina cringed and shook her head.
“Nope. Marriage isn’t for me again. Ever. Let these girls have at it.”
