The second chorus of “La Vie En Rose” begins, and the old French lady shouts something I don’t understand, obviously not impressed with my dance moves, and Rex stifles a laugh. He pulls me closer as I roll my eyes and huff a little, tripping over my feet. Yet Rex glides around the floor like he’s slick as butter.
“Please. Enlighten me. How are you good at this?”
He shrugs. “I’ve had my practice, but I’m not telling you all my secrets, sweetheart.”
“Is that so?” I ask boldly. “There was a time we didn’t have secrets from one another, Roberts.”
His jaw ticks. His grip tightens. Bitterness fills his gaze because, yes, there once was a time we told each other everything until secrets were the building blocks of what’s kept us apart for over a decade.
After a moment, Rex begins humming along with the music. “Do you know what they’re saying?” he asks.
I shake my head no. “Why don’t you sing it for me?” I tease, poking at an old joke.
“Uh, no,” Rex laughs. “Nice try, Sweetheart. But you know I never sing.”
“A promise is a promise, Roberts,” I insist. “And you are way overdue on making good on this one.”
“A stupid promise we made as kids is the only promise I am never keeping to you. One too many beers and a teenage boy’s vulnerability to get your fiery ass naked and stop fighting with me ten years ago makes that one promise null and void.”
I attempt to pout and get my way, only he isn’t budging. “Fine. I guess you never really cared about me, then. Just like your parents. Huh, Rex? Always leaving when shit gets too real…”
He stops dancing abruptly. Anger fills his gaze. I’ve hit a nerve. That was a low blow, even for me, and I wish I could take it back the second it is out of my mouth.
Luckily, the instructor budges between us. Rex takes a moment to calm down as she says a few more things in French, then moves us around the floor, trying to make us learn a dance I’m now positive even Rex does not know.
It takes a moment for Rex’s head to cool. I sheepishly avert my eyes as he dances me around the ballroom. I know the pain he harbors from his parents, but my pain is real, too. The pain of loving a man that always left. The pain of not knowing if he would call or if he was off with someone else.
Sure, boys play games before they grow up to be men. But will Rex ever grow out of all the bullshit his parents put him through and be there for me, for us?
I love him. I’ve secretly never stopped. He stole my heart a long time ago. I gave myself over to him willingly. And that goes for more than the night we both gave each other our innocence. It’s the unspoken knowledge that we belong together. It’s kismet, fate, hearts written in the stars, whatever you want to call it. But, even with all that, how do I know I can trust him not to hurt me like he did before?
A few moments pass, and Rex trips, which earns him a scolding from our fiery French instructor. Next, it’s my turn to trip. Rex catches me before I face plant on the floor. We both laugh as the tension between us eases. He winks then helps to balance me. Twirling me out of his embrace, he grabs my hand and flings me back towards him, making me burst out laughing. Our instructor yells at us, trying to keep us on track, but Rex has other plans as he holds me against him and smiles. Kissing the tip of my nose, he flings me out again, and I laugh harder than before.
The lady is now yelling and throwing her hands in the air, trying to make us listen. But Rex doesn’t and playfully dances us to our own beat.
As I stare up into his eyes, it hits me. There will never be anyone else for me but Rex Roberts.
Dancing in his arms, French music playing in the background, with a crazy French lady yelling at us in a language we both don’t understand, I feel complete, and all at once, my heart breaks. The tiny bit of hope I had left of holding out on Rex Roberts shatters into a million pieces as he realizes my tears, pulls me close, and his look deepens.
I may have tried to fight it for the last decade, but I was always meant to be his.
The predestined way our paths crossed and gave us one more chance to make everything right is serendipitous.
“I got one more surprise for you, Gwen,” Rex whispers as he holds my eyes captive.
A growing need to have him, to be with him, completely suddenly takes over. If I’m giving in, I’m going all the way.
“Where?” I ask breathlessly. He grins, having to know what I’m thinking. I shake my head as a chuckle escapes his lips. “I mean, what?”
“Well,” he says, tightening his grip around my waist. “What kind of surprise would it be if I told you?”
He leans in, and just when I think he will kiss me, he moves to my neck and nibbles the sweet spot under my ear.
I melt into his embrace, needing him to build me up and release me only the way he knows how. “Besides,” he growls, “What fun would it be if I couldn’t see the surprise on your face when I show you? You know I love to watch you, sweetheart. You always did put on my favorite show.”
I release a soft moan as his teeth graze across my neck, nibbling their way to my shoulder.
“Is that so?” I purr. “Well, unlucky for you, I’m not in the performing mood tonight,” I tease.
