“Ali, maybe we should get you some water.”
“I don’t want water.” I stand up. “I want to dance. Dance with me.”
“Alice—”
“Come on please? Just one song.”
He looks like he wants to say no, but then the band starts playing something slow, and I reach for his hand. “Come on.”
I pull him toward where other couples are swaying to the music. It’s not really dancing, just holding each other and moving slowly, but it’s perfect. Sawyer’s hands are on my waist, and I can smell his cologne.
“This is nice,” I murmur, looking up at him.
“Alice—”
“You know what? You make me feel safe. Really safe. I haven’t felt like that in a long time.”
“Alice—”
"I really want to kiss you right now."
I rise up on my toes, my hands sliding up to his shoulders. But his hands on my waist gently stop me, holding me in place.
“Alicat, you’ve been drinking.”
“So? I still know what I want.”
“And tomorrow you might regret it.”
The rejection stings, even though part of me knows he’s right. “You don’t want to kiss me?”
"That's not what I said." His voice is gentle. "I don't think you understand how hard it is to say no to you right now."
For a moment, we just stand there. His hands on my waist. Mine on his shoulders. So close I can feel his breath.
Then reality crashes in.
I step back, embarrassment washing over me. "Right. Of course. I'm sorry.”
“Hey, it’s fine—”
“I should go find Madison.” I turn away before he can say anything else.
The ride home is quiet and mortifying. Sawyer insists on driving us, and I spend the entire time staring out the window. Madison tries to make conversation, but I can barely respond.
“Thank you,” I mumble when he pulls into my driveway.
“Alice, about earlier—”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it. Good night.”
I practically run into my house, leaving Madison to follow behind me.
"Ali, you're being ridiculous," she says once we're inside. "He was being a gentleman."
"He didn't want to kiss me."
"He didn't want to kiss you while you're drunk. That's different. That's actually... really sweet." She sits next to me. "He wants to kiss you when it counts."
