“It varies, depending on the system.”
“I was using figurative language.”
“I’m not astranger,” he said.
“But you’ve changed...”
“So have you, Shiloh.” Cary was looking very stern. “Show me how.”
Shiloh’s bottom lip was between her teeth. She slid her hands up his shoulders to his neck. She started swaying again.
Cary squeezed her waist and swayed a little closer.
You could slow-dance to anything, if you were motivated—and Cary was right, nobody would bother you. They would surelygossipabout you... but Shiloh didn’t care about gossip.
She pulled Cary even closer, too close for gazing. With her arms around his neck and her cheek right next to his. It was a trulyastonishingamount of intimacy. (Maybe worse than eye contact.) Shiloh couldn’t be this close to Cary and also talk, so she didn’t talk. She closed her eyes. She corralled her nervous system.
The deejay played more slow songs as the night went on. It felt like the whole room was slowing down to keep pace with Shiloh and Cary.
In the end, it was Mikey who interrupted them.
Shiloh felt a hand on her shoulder and lifted up her head to see Mike standing there. “I’m not cutting in,” he said. He put one arm around her shoulder and his other arm around Cary’s waist. “I’m dancingwithyou.”
Cary smiled at him. He had a special smile for Mikey. Amused. Delighted. Waiting to see what would happen next.
Shiloh looked at Mikey the same way.
“Congratulations,” she said.
“I thought you stood me up again, Shiloh. Where were you for the ceremony?”
“I can’t believe you even noticed!”
“Cary noticed.”
“I’m sorry I missed it, Mike. I had babysitter stuff.”
He hugged her waist. “I’m just giving you shit.”
“Well, you look handsome,” Shiloh said. “And your wife is beautiful. And I’m very happy for you.”
He grinned. “And I’m very happy toseeyou—it makes me feel young to see you two together. Like I’m seventeen, and we’re about to get gyros and go to Putt-Putt.”
“We could do that,” Cary said.
“All the Putt-Putts closed,” Shiloh said.
“We could still get gyros.”
“All right.” Mikey slapped Cary’s shoulder. “That’s Plan B. Don’t tell Janine that I have a Plan B.”
“I still haven’t met Janine...” Shiloh looked around. There was only one other couple still dancing. Some kids were chasing balloons across the floor. The lights had been turned up in the back of the room, and the waitstaff was packing up chairs. A few people were standing at the bar.
It must be so much later than she realized.
“What do you need help with?” Cary asked Mikey.
“Nothing. It’s all taken care of. I think Janine and I are going to take off in a few minutes. I’m wiped.”
