Vail blinked at me. “If that’s what the shoes you wear to Irish dance are, then yes. I went to a dance studio. They showed me what to buy, and then I had to figure out your size, and then—”
I kissed him hard on the mouth, effectively shutting him up and showing my gratitude all at once. My heart thumped harder and faster than it had in a long time. “Thank ye.”
“I....” His cheeks flushed and he gave me a silly smile. “Do you like them? If they don’t fit you can take them back and exchange them.”
“They’re perfect.” I grinned at him, not sure what else to say or do. I was a mixture of shocked and appreciative. “It’s been a long time since I’ve danced, though.”
“So? Dance for me.” Vail raised his eyebrows expectantly. “I want to see you do it.”
I shook my head. “I’m not sure if I could.”
He touched my knee. “For me? You said you missed it.”
“I do. I wasgoodat it. I won championships until I moved away with Cillian.” That was the one thing I’d missed the most about Ireland. Dancing. I couldn’t even bring myself to watch videos with it when I’d arrived in America.
“Then dance. For me? Please.” He gave me those puppy-dog eyes. I’d lost this battle. All Vail had to do was add that “please” and I knew I wouldn’t win.
I shook my head. “I’d have to wear-in the shoes.”
“Oh.” His shoulders slumped in disappointment.
“But I guess five minutes wouldn’t hurt, would it?” I kicked off the slippers I wore and stood. “Give me a sec to go get some socks.”
I didn’t wait to see his reaction. I raced up the stairs and past Aspen, who frowned at me as I swept by him and to my bedroom. After I grabbed a pair of ankle socks, I ran back down to the sitting room where Vail had settled more comfortably on the couch.
“Are ye ready to see this? It’s been a long feckin’ time.” I fell into the spot beside him and yanked on the socks before the shoes. They weren’t a perfect fit but weren’t far off the money, either. He’d done a good job figuring out the size.
“I have faith in you. Did you want me to find some music?”
I shook my head and grabbed my phone I’d left on the couch. “I need a specific song. Hang on.” It took me a few minutes to rifle through Spotify to find the music I’d danced to when I was a kid. By the time I’d found it, the other three guys had entered the sitting room.
Cillian smirked. “Ye gonna dance, then?”
“Houl yer whisht, Cillian.” I rolled my eyes, and he laughed. He, Aspen, and Fallon sat on the couch, with Fallon and Cillian taking either side of Vail.
Fallon’s bruises were all gone and he was out of the plaster, looking more like his old self. His blond hair was tied behind his head in a lazy bun and he grinned at me. “I’ve always wanted to see you dance. Come on, show us what you got.”
“Fallon.” Aspen gave him a sharp glance and there was more to it than I could decipher. His deep brown eyes were kinder than usual, though, and the small smile on his lips said he wasn’t entirely serious. But Fallon took notice because he straightened and gave Aspen an apologetic grin.
“You two are so cute,” Vail said with a chuckle, snuggling into Fallon’s arms.
“For once, the kid’s right. Dance.” Cillian waved his hand at me and smirked.
I flipped him the bird, and he laughed. I likedthis, the way all four of us were getting along a lot better than we ever did before Vail came into our lives. Even Cillian and I had made amends in ways I’d never expected.
I got the feel of the reel shoes on my feet and took a deep breath, then passed Vail my phone. “Hit Play on this song when I tell ye to.”
He nodded enthusiastically and bounced in his seat.
Shaking my head, I got into the starting position. A few of my limbs ached in ways I hadn’t felt before, but I couldn’t remember the last time I’d danced. Bloody hell, I was getting old. Thirty-one. “It’s been a while. Don’t laugh.”
“We wouldn’t.” Vail glared around at the other three, warning them to not do it now that he’d promised. I would’ve laughed myself if I wasn’t so nervous.
I gave Vail a nod, and he started the music. It took me a few seconds and some deep breaths before I focused on the tune and thought back to my dance as a kid. With my arms at my side, I began to move in time with the beat. I closed my eyes so I couldn’t see Cillian smirking or Fallon’s wide grin. Instead I went through my paces. The shoes didn’t sound as great as they would’ve on the proper flooring, but the tapping was there when it needed to be.
It came to me like second nature, and even though my knees hurt after only a few minutes of dancing, I was back in the rhythm of it. I moved with the beat, and by the time the music came to an end I was mighty proud of myself for it, too.
Clapping filled my ears and I opened my eyes, surprised to even see Cillian applauding lazily. Vail was on his feet hooting, while Fallon laughed and slapped his palms together enthusiastically. Aspen nodded at me with a modest clap.
