“I could be completely off base, and by all means you’re welcome to go wallow about losing somewhere else, but if I were you, I’d go get the girl.” I nod back in the directionof the festival.
He nods and looks behind me. “I want to talk more about this move, but?—”
“Go get her,” I say. He takes off jogging to find her, and I turn to find Claire standing a few feet away from me.
“Was all that true?” she asks.
“How much did you hear?”
“Just the part where apparently we’re moving.” Her face breaks into a grin. “Have you really considered not going back?”
“Not really. I don’t know,” I say, walking toward her. “I mean, I don’t really want to face the reality about my shoulder and what it means for my career, and not being in pain everyday has been nice, but I’m not going to let my fear get in the way of your dreams.”
“I don’t want you to be in pain though,” she says.
I shake my head. “No. I told you I’d get you home, and that’s what I plan to do. Whatever is waiting for me back in New York, I’ll be able to handle it if you’re next to me.”
She pops up on her toes and kisses me.
“Ready to go share our final dance?” she asks.
We turn, walking back to the party and onto the make-shift dance floor. The crowd seems to part as I take Claire’s hand and begin to spin her around as the music plays.
“You know how to dance?” she asks.
“What, like it’s hard,” I tease, spinning her out and then back into me.
“Seems like your pep talk worked,” Claire says as Chip and Lolly join us.
She smiles towards her friend, and Lolly grins as Chip spins her into his chest.
One by one, the rest of the town begins to join us. Cami and Joe and then Ginger and Rusty. Their kids grab Aster by the hand, pulling her on to the dance floor, and the little girls giggle as she spins them in circles over and over.
Stella floats by us, heading straight for a very uncomfortable looking Reid.
“Oh no!” Claire laughs. “He’s not going to like this.”
“Now, come on,” Stella sing-songs as she moves. “Everyone must dance, and that includes you, Reid.” She takes his hands, and a blush covers his face as she begins to drag him around to the music.
“I’m surprised Lolly won,” Claire says as we sway to the music. “She was my third highest score. I voted for Ginger.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. You voted for her?” she asks.
“No, she was like fourth on my scorecard.”
We both turn to find Stella and begin to laugh.
“She rigged it,” Claire says.
“Sounds about right.”
Pulling her close to me, I breathe her in. “You know,” I whisper. “There’s a real chance that tomorrow we’ll wake up here.”
“I know,” she says, laying her head against my chest.
“How does that make you feel?”
