He slides the shot glass across the bar, and I shake my head as I catch it. "Should he really be drinking this much?" I ask, yelling over the loud music.
Buddy shrugs. "You gotta live sometimes, Penny," he remarks.
With a shrug, I carry the shot out on the dance floor where Colton is currently the center of attention. Surrounding by a huge crowd and dancing to Florida Georgia Line'sCruise, Colton moves his legs and hips in rhythm to the music. I never knew he was such a good dancer, but maybe he just picked up the moves within the past few years. I stare at him, mesmerized as he dances.
Colton's face turns up towards me, and he brushes his hair away from his forehead. Our eyes lock, and that cocky grin he always seems to be wearing shows up in record time. His eyes dart to the liquor in my hand, and he hollers out, "Shot! Shot! Shot!"
That gets the crowd chanting around us as I approach him, stop within a few inches and allow him to take the shot from my hand. He chugs it back and sets the glass down on a table a few feet away. Before I can turn away, he moves in front of me, blocking my exit.
"Dance with me!" he yells over the thumping bass.
I shake my head and point my thumb towards the bar. "Work!" I call back.
"Good thing I'm the boss," he says with a smile as he sidles up next to me. His body moves fluidly as he belts out the lyrics and dances around me, and I stand there staring at him. When I realize I'm the only one not dancing and I'm sticking out like a sore thumb, I reluctantly begin to dance.
Colton's eyes blatantly skim over my body as I dance with him. We gravitate towards each other, and I don't know whether it's on purpose or by accident. Pretty soon his knee is between my legs, and we're doing this sort of bump and grind action that makes me feel hot and sweaty…and completely turned on. His arm snakes around my back and pulls me closer to him. My breasts are rubbing against his chest as he smiles down at me with an expression I haven't seen in a long time. I know that look.
He wants me.
Now.
Before I can combust from all the grinding action, the song comes to an end. The DJ decides to play a slower song, and everyone around us quickly couples up. I pull away from Colton, but he doesn't let me get far.
Carrie Underwood'sHeartbeatpumps through the speakers as Colton grasps my hand and pulls me into his arms. We don't move at first. He just holds me and stares down at me, his eyes darting from my eyes to my lips.
I want to say something to break the tension, so I tell him, "Happy Birthday, Colt."
I can tell he's almost completely wasted by the glassy glaze over his eyes, but he seems to sober up quick when I'm in his arms. Instead of answering me or telling me thanks, he pulls me closer and rests his chin on top of my head as we dance slowly to the music. I tentatively wrap my hands around his waist, sighing contentedly and relishing in the feeling of him being this close to me. It seems like all we ever do is fight and argue, so it's nice to have him like this. It feels like what used to be our normal.
His mouth is by my ear as he whispers, "This seems so familiar. It's like you're meant to be in my arms."
My breath hitches at his words. If only he could remember what it was like. I'm hoping that the birthday present I spent the past few weeks working on takes our friendship to the next level. Maybe he'll start to remember. I pull back and stare up at him. "I have a birthday present I want to give you after everyone leaves."
His eyes never leave mine as he says, "Can't wait."
We dance the rest of the song in a comfortable silence, staring into each other's eyes as if the answers of the universe are contained there. When the DJ starts playing another fast song, I break apart from Colt. "Enjoy the rest of your night," I tell him before heading back to the bar.
Once I duck under the pass-through and pop up behind the bar, Buddy looks at me with a cocked brow. "What was that ---?" he starts, but I don't let him finish.
"Nothing. Don't jinx it," I warn him. I finally feel as if Colton and I have a chance of reconnecting. I just pray that I'm not getting my hopes up.
An hour later, Buddy helps me carry the huge cake out into the middle of the dance floor. We carefully set it on a big table that I had stocked with plates and napkins ahead of time. It takes a bit of maneuvering, but I manage to light all of the candles on the four tiers in record time. The DJ cuts the music off as the whole crowd begins to singHappy Birthdayto Colton.
I can't help but grin at the big smile on Colt's face. He looks happy, and it's been way too long since I've seen him like that. He puts his arm around me and Buddy, swaying us back and forth as everyone sings. He's clearly wasted, but I'm just glad he's having fun. I'd much rather see him like this than so damn broody and melancholy all the time.
The singing ends, and Buddy says, "Make a wish, Colt, and blow out the candles."
Colton leans towards the cake, pulling me close to him. "Help me out?" he asks with a whispered question in my ear.
I nod before we both lean in, take deep breaths and blow as hard as we can. We get all the candles blown out in one try, and then Colton scoops me into his arms, holding me tight as he plants a big kiss right on my lips. "Thank you for my cake, Penny," he says with a big grin.
Shocked, I stagger back a few paces when he releases me from his arms. I'm almost too stunned to speak. "You're welcome," I manage to say. I feel like all eyes are on me, and a shiver runs through me at the unwelcome attention. As a distraction, I quickly start to cut the cake as the music resumes. After passing out what fills like the hundredth piece, I head back to the bar to help Buddy with drinks.
Buddy just smirks at me when I join him, but this time he's smart enough to know not to say anything. I wouldn't even know what to tell him if he asked anyway. I don't know what the hell is happening between Colton and me, but I hope it keeps going and leads to somewhere good.
* * * * *
AFTER BUDDY HAS ushered the last patron out of the bar, I venture into Colton's office. He's reclining in his office chair with a big grin on his face. "Best birthday. Ever," he says as I enter the room. His words are slow and slurred, so I don't know how much of this night he'll actually remember.
