He was wearing neat trousers and a button-up shirt, and he looked so handsome I was starting to get uncomfortably hot. Or maybe the hotness was caused by the jealousy burning in my chest.
I had thought Xaden didn’t care about Lisa, but there he was, dancing with her.
Maybe he did like her after all?
Just then, he happened to look up. Caught me staring.
I turned my head, embarrassed. But the next thing I knew, he was walking straight toward me. It was the kind of slow, unbothered saunter that made my brain short-circuit.
He stopped in front of me. “Hey.” Casual. Effortless. Like I wasn’t already halfway to cardiac arrest.
“You, um, left your… Lisa?” I managed.
Xaden just smiled. “You looked like you wanted to step in,” he said.
He was teasing. I deserved it.
“Step on your toes, maybe,” I muttered, blushing.
He laughed, low and quiet, just for me. I felt dizzy.
“Shall we?” he asked, holding out his hand.
“I… are you serious?” I glanced around.
Justin Clancy, grade-A brick, was standing nearby, talking loudly about how slow dancing was for “losers” while stealing glances at Lisa.
Caspian was watching from theedge of the crowd, eyes flicking between us. He caught my eye for a second, then quickly looked away.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Xaden asked so softly I had trouble catching my breath.
He didn’t sound like he was teasing. Maybe he was serious.
About us dancing.In front of people.Together.
Suddenly I wanted that more than anything.
Xaden was still holding out his hand, and I didn’t know if he actually expected me to take it but eventually… I did.
Barely breathing, I slid my fingers into his, letting him tug me gently onto the edge of the floor. The feel of his hand at the small of my back was warm and sure and thrilling.
Our fingers stayed loosely clasped, and the world narrowed to the space between us.
I could feel the heat from his body, see the faint stubble on his jaw that made him look almost grownup.
The song changed into Perfect by Ed Sheeran. I’d never felt more alive or more exposed.
“You’d sing this better,” Xaden murmured, making me squirm.
Then, even softer, almost like he didn’t mean for me to hear it: “You look beautiful.”
I felt that everywhere.
***
Gossip consumed school after that. I still don’t know exactly what Xaden told Lisa after our dance, but it was enough for Lisa to out him.
For Justin to bully him.
