At once he was bending down and picking up the ice like a dummy. An inner voice was screaming at him for missing out on the moment. But it was already done.
“Here,” Ty said as she patted the floor beside him to collect any cubes he’d missed. She handed a few over, then gave his arm a pat. “I guess I better go get Lucas now.”
Memphis bit back a curse. “Sure, yes. That’s…okay.”
“Alright.”
“Wait,” he said, hurrying over to drop the cloth and the ice in the sink. “I’ll walk you up there, if that’s okay.”
“Sure,” Ty said. “That’d be great, thanks.” Her acceptance lessened the awkwardness a bit, but they remained quiet as they made their way through the inn’s back entrance and to the lobby. “Man,” Ty said as they waited for the elevator to ding. “I had no idea that square dancing could be so much fun.”
“Me neither,” Memphis agreed, glad the odd tension was easing further still. The doors glided open. Memphis performed a near-invisible fist pump as he saw that it was empty.
Ty followed him inside. There, she leaned against the wall the way she had in the kitchen, and he’d be danged if it didn’t make him want to move in and pick up where he’d left off.
“I’m glad they’re doing it again tomorrow night,” he said. “Don’t want to turn around and forget all of those moves, do we?” But then he thought of something. “Wait, are you planning to come tomorrow night too?”
“Probably not,” she said through a sigh. “My mother wants to check out the outlets clear outside of town. I’m pretty sure she’ll insist on eating at some fancy place out there afterward.”
His shoulders drooped, but he tried to lift them back into place. “Sounds fun.”
“Not really,” she said. “I hopeyou’llgo tomorrow night though. If I partner with you each time, we’ll make a great team, as long as one of us remembers the steps.” She shot him a playful smile.
“True,” he said, inching a little closer to her.
The elevator dinged. Seconds later, the doors glided open.
“Well,” Ty said, turning to face him. For a moment, it felt like they were at the doorstep after a date, where you contemplate a kiss. “Thanks again for the fun evening. I’ll…see you around?”
Memphis followed her into the hallway, recalling the roundtable rule about not asking her out. But boy, did he want to. He also wanted very badly to get that kiss he’d missed out on. He took a step closer and searched her face.
“Is your cheek going to be okay?”
She gave him a soft smile. “I think so.”
Kiss her, you idiot.“Good,” he said.
Ty pinned her bottom lip with her teeth. “Thanks again.”
“You’re welcome. Goodnight, Ty.”
“Goodnight.”
And with that, she stepped out around the corner and out of sight. Memphis pressed thedownbutton, and the doors slid open once more. He stepped back inside, wishing he could have a replay of those last thirty minutes.Real smooth, Memphis. Real smooth.
