“Absolutely not.”
He leans closer, voice dropping. “Give me one song.”
“No.”
“One minute.”
“No.”
“One look that says you’re not tempted.”
I hold his gaze too long.
He got what he wanted. Silent recognition. “Yeah. That’s what I thought.”
From across the room, I see Rich standing in the corner, staring at Zoe and Tony with hostility and resentment in his eyes. Like at any second, he’s going to march over there and start something he won’t be able to end.
“You know what, Wesley? I do want to dance.”
His face lights up. “Really?”
“Just not with you.”
Before he can react, I march away from him, heading straight to Rich in the corner.
“Dance with me, Rich.”
He looks up, staring deeply into my eyes, then briefly glances over my shoulder in Wesley’s direction. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely! Come dance with me.”
He follows so willingly, but I can also see his apprehension with the way he constantly glances toward Wesley, who’s watching us from somewhere behind me.
The next song is slower than the first. Romantic. The right kind of song for two people to slow dance to and fall in love.
But I’m not here to fall for anyone. I just need a distraction.
Rich keeps a gentleman’s distance between us, refusing to get close, but also keeping us tight enough so we move together with ease. We lock eyes, then his gaze drifts to Zoe, who’s laughing and giggling as Tony dips her, her tits almost popping out of her top.
“She’s not worth the hurt in your eyes, Rich.”
He blinks away a single tear and focuses back on my face. “I wish it were that easy, Poppy. The hurt’s still real.”
I glance toward Pippa. She’s busy dancing with Daniel, but her eyes are constantly tracking Eddie and Amber. She’s got the same look Rich does: a quiet hurt nobody can really see unless they’re really looking.
“You know, he’s really not that bad of a guy.”
“Who?”
Rich smiles. “Wesley. He really likes you.”
“Well, the feeling is not reciprocated.”
He chuckles. “Why do you hate him so much?”
“He’s been in jail.”
“So have I, but you still asked me to dance.”
