I look up.
His eyes are dark and intense and completely focused on me. Like I'm the only person in this crowd. Like I'm the only person in the world.
"I do not know what I am going to decide," he says quietly. "But I know that when I make that decision, you will be part of it."
I start shaking my head, but this only makes him pull me closer, just enough that there's less than an inch between us now, just enough that I have to tilt my head back to keep looking at his face. “I need you to believe me, Thea.”
His breath stirs my hair, and my cheek touches his chest.
I can hear his heartbeat, and it’s...fast. Surprisingly so. Maybe even faster than mine.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
I close my eyes as our bodies continue to sway.
Barely.
Just the smallest movement back and forth.
His hand is spread across my waist now, fingers splayed, covering what feels like my entire ribcage. His other hand holds mine against his chest, and I can feel his heartbeat there too.
Two heartbeats. His and mine. And I'm not sure where one ends and the other begins.
The song is ending. I can hear it fading. But he doesn't let go.
Doesn't step back.
Just holds me there for one more second. Two. Three.
Like he's memorizing this. Like he's counting too.
Then the song ends completely.
Silence.
And in that silence, I hear him say, so quietly I almost miss it: "Two weeks."
"Two weeks," I whisper back.
"And then?"
"And then I decide." He pulls back just enough to look at me. Just enough that I have to tilt my head back again. "But Thea. I need you to know—whatever I decide—"
Someone bumps into us.
A couple dancing too enthusiastically to the next song that's starting.
They laugh, apologize, move away.
And the moment shatters.
He steps back. Lets go of my waist. But his hand lingers in mine for one beat longer than necessary. Two beats. Three.
Then he releases me.
The professional mask is sliding back into place. I can see it happening in real-time—the warmth dimming, the walls going back up, the distance returning like a tide.
"Thank you for the dance.”
