“Well, I demolished a box of cupcakes someone gave me, so I’m trying to watch my weight.”
I looked him up and down, making him shift in his seat.Two could play that game. “You look just fine to me.”
“You really think so?” There was nothing sarcastic about the way he asked. He seemed genuinely unsure of how good he looked in his suit.
“Absolutely. Now eat some of your cake,” I told him. “Didn’t you say cream cheese is your favorite?”
He picked up his fork, shoveled a big bite into his mouth, and nodded.
The lights dimmed and the DJ’s voice filled the reception hall. “Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together and welcome the newlyweds, Jessica and Todd, to the dance floor to share their first dance as husband and wife.”
They shuffled onto the dance floor, the groom’s hooves tapping against the floor as they slow-danced to some popular yet cliché Ed Sheeran song about falling in love.
“They look happy,” I said, with only a teeny tiny bit of jealousy. Someday it would be my chance.
“Yeah.” Atlas sighed. “They do.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask if he’d ever given any thought to marriage, but I decided against it because wow, what an insane question to ask someone you’d just met.
The song faded out, the newlyweds ending their dance number with a romantic kiss that made the hall erupt with applause and wolf whistles.
“What a beautiful first dance,” the DJ said over the loudspeaker. “Now Mr. and Mrs. Costas would like to invite you onto the dance floor to celebrate with them.”
A horn sounded three times, followed by a remix of a song I used to dance around my room to in high school. It had to be one of Jessica’s picks.
I leaned against Atlas’s shoulder to whisper in his ear, “I used to love this song.”
“Same. It was the intro song for my high school football team.”
“How old are you?” I asked. We had to be around the same age.
“Thirty-two,” he said, scrunching up his muzzle. “I’m getting old.”
“I just turned thirty.” In my eyes, a two-year age gap was perfect. “Do you want to dance?” I asked.
Would it even be possible for him to dance with how his suit was straining at the seams?
His ears drooped. “I, uh, I’m not much of a dancer.”
Oh my gods, he was so cute. My heart was going to burst just by looking at him.
“Come on,” I said, scooting out of my chair and holding my hand out to him. “It’ll be fun. And I’ll give you all the details about everyone in town.”
Seven
Atlas
I didn’t even think twice.I just grabbed Tegan’s hand and let her lead me to the dance floor. A pop song with a catchy beat pulsed through the speakers, and I swear half the town of Briar Glenn was out there dancing.
“I have no idea what I’m doing,” I shouted over the music. I swayed on my feet awkwardly, trying to find my rhythm. I didn’t dance, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell her no.
“Just start moving your body to the beat,” Tegan said, rolling her shoulders and shimmying her hips. On anyone else it would have looked innocent enough, but with her soft curves and rhythmic movements, it was seductive.
I stood there rooted to the spot, the only one on the dance floor who wasn’t dancing, because I was absolutely mesmerized by her.
“Here,” she said, gently pulling me closer.
There was still a respectable amount of space between us—enough for that whole “pretend there’s a balloon between you” thing they enforced at prom—but I still wasn’t getting the motions right.
