Most of the guests had posed in front of the decoration, sending the photos to their Facebook pages, Instagram accounts, or creating funny TikToks. Some of the posts Jackie had seen were so sweet that she’d been tempted to ask Aidan to take her photo, too.
“Attention, everyone!” Mr. Smith’s voice boomed across the room. “While you’re enjoying dessert, the bride and groom will move to the dance floor for the first waltz of the night!”
Jackie looked closely at Andrea. After being worried about stepping on David’s toes, she’d insisted they practice dancing each night after work. No one looking at the confident way she walked toward the dance floor would know just how worried she’d been.
As David twirled his bride into his arms, Jackie’s heart began to race. She’d be next on the dance floor with Aidan, a fact that filled her with excitement and dread. Her fingers fidgeted in her lap, betraying her nervousness.
“Hey,” Aidan said softly, his piercing blue eyes catching hers. “Don’t worry. It’s only a dance.”
“What if I trip over my feet and fall flat on my face?”
Aidan grinned. “Unless you think I’ll fall over, too, it won’t happen. I’ll hold you so close that you won’t be going anywhere except with me.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t. Have you heard the saying, ‘we’ll fake it till we make it’?’”
“That’s easy for you to say,” Jackie replied, attempting a weak smile. “How can we do that with a hundred pairs of eyes watching us?”
“Trust me,” he said, his confidence unwavering. “I’m the master of the slow shuffle. If you follow my lead, we’ll be fine.”
Jackie sighed, remembering the dancing lessons she’d tried years ago. “That’s my biggest problem. I can’t follow someone else.”
“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Aidan asked with a smile.
Jackie sighed. “I’ll admit I can be a little too assertive sometimes, but dancing’s different. I feel so out of my depth it isn’t funny.”
Aidan nodded toward the dance floor. “Look at David and Andrea. No one cares if they miss a beat or step in the wrong direction. They’re in love and enjoying their time together.”
Jackie frowned. “There’s a problem with your theory. We aren’t in love and dancing isn’t enjoyable.”
Aidan leaned closer and whispered in her ear, “Maybe it isn’t enjoyable because you haven’t danced with the right person.”
A blush warmed her face, and she nudged Aidan away. “You’re teasing me.”
When David and Andrea separated and gestured for the rest of the bridal party to join them, Andrea panicked. “Have I told you I don’t like being the center of attention, either?”
Aidan pulled her to her feet. “Don’t worry, I’ll look after you. Just lean into me and close your eyes.”
Taking a deep breath, Jackie placed her hand in Aidan’s and walked onto the dance floor.
As he pulled her into his arms, she felt a sense of calm wash over her. Pressed against his body, and with her eyes closed, they shuffled slowly around the dance floor, their movements in sync despite her earlier concerns.
“See?” Aidan whispered in her ear. “You can do this.”
“Not without you.”
She felt his chest rise as he laughed. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me. It’s okay to open your eyes. Everyone’s watching Charlie and Andy.”
Jackie looked over his shoulder, scanning the dance floor. Aidan moved so she could see Andrea’s two sons. They were dancing disco style with two of their friends from The Welcome Center. Their infectious laughter filled the air, drawing everyone’s attention.
“They’re so cute. I wish I could’ve had that much fun when I was their age.”
Aidan steered them away from a collision with Paris and Bryce. “What were you like when you were younger?”
“Much too serious,” Jackie murmured.
“In what way?”
