Ienjoyed dancing with Kat, but being on our feet all day was bound to catch up with us. My arches throbbed in protest. I needed to sit before I toppled over. Angel was still talking to that curly-haired woman, though. He flashed me an apologetic smile.
What was so important he couldn’t get away? Or did he prefer to keep his distance now that he knew I was a virgin? I was sure he had more experienced prospects, including that lady.
I frowned in their direction. “We should probably go soon.”
Kat twirled her cross. “Are you sure? Don’t you want to talk to your man again?”
“Maybe I should say goodbye?”
If he was genuinely interested, he’d make sure we exchanged numbers or send me a follow-up email.
“Okay. Oh, one second.” She checked her phone, Victor’s brooding face on the caller ID. “Can I get this?” she asked. At my nod, she swiped and turned, cradling her phone against her cheek. “Hey handsome. How’re you doing?”
She blushed at the purr of his hello.
How did they manage to stay perky despite all their responsibilities of managing? They burned with passion, but never burned out like me.
Angel sidled up to me, ice clinking in his glass. “Hey, pidge. I saw you had fun out there. It almost made me want to cut in. Could I have the next dance?”
“We’re actually heading out in a minute. How’s your friend?” I gestured to the curly-haired lady, who was busy texting.
“Ah, she’ll be fine. Never tell anyone you’re in med school unless you want to be pestered about stomach ailments,” he said.
The suggestion shot through my heart. Who’d ask a dropout for advice? I mustered a smile. “Well, I’m not in that field anymore, so I doubt I’d have that problem.”
He furrowed his brow. “Aren’t you going back?”
“Yeah, maybe. I’m just not sure I’m cut out for it,” I admitted. I hadn’t even told my parents that yet.
“Why? You care. You work hard. You always did well in class,” he said.
I sighed, defeat clinging to me like wet sheets. There was so much more to med school than hard work and the desire to do better. The nursing program had been hard. Med school was brutal.
Angel rubbed the tension out of my back, gently shifting in time to the music. “What’s wrong, pidge?”
I resisted the urge to melt into his touch, but couldn’t stop myself from swaying with him. “I don’t know if I can get into it again. We learn so much, so fast.”
“It’s an adjustment.” He hugged me, his cologne sweet and light. “But there’s no harm trying something new for a bit.”
“Something new…”
Something fun. Like him.
I dragged my gaze across his foxlike face, my heart racing at the subtle suggestion of his darkened eyes and soft lips.
What kind of fun could we have?
An experience, an affair, or an adventure that’d change how I viewed bodies forever?
“Hi.” Kat’s cheerful voice snapped me out of a hazy reverie. “Are you ready to go, or did you want to finish the song?”
I startled, not realizing how close I’d gotten to Angel in our little dance. “I-I’m good,” I said, my face hot.
It wasn’t like he was overly interested in me. Flirting was just his hobby. And he was great at it. Expert status. He’d almost tempted me into a random kiss in some seedy bar with my sister in attendance.
“See you later, pidge.” He stroked my spine, a pleasant, shiver-inducing farewell.
What else could he do with his hands? Would he teach me how to put someone at ease with just a touch?
