She smiled at him, and it landed harder than it had any right to. Then she shifted closer, a subtle scoot that closed the gap between them like a decision made on instinct. Before he could catch up, before he could overthink it, she leaned in and kissed him.
It was slow and soft, warm in a way that sank straight under his skin. Not demanding. Not heated. Just a careful press of her mouth to his, like she was testing the weight of it. Nate went very still, afraid to ruin it, heart pounding so loud he was sure she could feel it. When she pulled back, her eyes were wide and a little surprised, like the kiss had happenedtoher as much as because of her.
“Don’t make it weird,” she said, quiet but firm, like she needed him to promise her that this could stay uncomplicated for just a little while longer.
He blinked once. Twice. Then nodded. “Okay,” he murmured, and meant it. Even though he sat there absolutely gone for her, already knowing there was nothing simple about her choosing him like that.
And just like that, she stood, dusted off her hands, and tossed the empty containers into the almost overflowing trash can nearby. “C’mon. We’re getting an Uber before I lose my beer buzz and remember why I don’t do shit like this. You can drop me home.”
He stood and followed behind her, grinning like a man who’d just survived something devastating and couldn’t wait to tempt fate again.
Strictly Scandal Online:
SPOTTED : Take the Floor’s hottest maybe-couple getting cozy off-camera?
An anonymous tipster slid into our inbox last night with a grainy but very interesting photo: Holly Martinez and Nate Eriksson spotted in East Hollywood sharing takeout, beers, and what definitely looks like amoment.
The sighting allegedly took place in a small neighbourhood park not far from where Martinez grew up. According to our source, the pair looked “very comfortable,” sharing food and laughing before what appears to be a quick kiss was caught on camera.
Production insiders continue to insist their relationship is strictly professional. The internet? Less convinced.
Is this dedication to a showmance arc… or is something real developing behind the scenes? You know we’ll be watching to see if…READ MORE →
@ttfdetective on TikTok:
so we’re just ignoring the blurry pic of holly and nate kissing in some random LA park???
because that did NOT look staged
also him carrying her food like a boyfriend??? sir???
#takethefloor #ttf12 #nateandholly #hefallsfirstenergy
@dancefanatic88 on Instagram:
okay but if this is fake dating they deserve an emmy because that body language is LOUD
also someone said he was carrying her pasta and beer like a husband
looks like love is in the air at take the floor
#ttf12 #nateandholly #showmance #bedchemrehearsal
17
THIS ISN’T A CRUSH, IT’S A CRUSADE
Nate
“You ever look at someone and know you'd kill the lighting guy if he made her cry? No? Just me?”
Nate got up early the next day, feeling restless. After eating a fast and easy breakfast on his balcony watching LA’s pre-rush-hour traffic, he decided to get a jump on the contemporary number and head to the set early. The corridor outside the studio was deserted, and when he pushed the door open, he didn’t expect to hear a voice. Older, heavily accented?Holly’s mom’s. Filtered through speakerphone. Clipped, tired, and trying to sound brave.
“—got the results back, but they’re… inconclusive. I know, Mija,I know.They just want me to come in for another scan. The fancy one. I’ll—don’t worry, I’ll figure something out.”
Nate stopped just inside the doorway.
Holly was standing at the far end of the room, head bowed over her phone like she could physically will the message to bear different news. Her spine had turned to jelly. Every line of her body screamedexhaustion.But evenfrom here, he could see her knuckles were white where she gripped the phone like she didn’t know how to let it go. She ended the message before it could finish, stabbing the screen as if it had personally betrayed her.
