JJ shrugs and holds out a hand, like this is an everyday thing. Likethe last time we danced to this song doesn’t even register to him. Like it didn’t mean a thing.
Of course it didn’t. Why would it have? I was one of many girls that he’s danced with. It’s not his fault that I’ve only ever danced with him.
Still, it’d be weird if I said no. And I can feel eyes on me. If I refuse, everyone will think I care or something, which I totally don’t.
So I take his hand. When he pulls me flush to his body, I can’t hide my surprised intake of breath. And when he presses one hand to my back and holds the other to his heart, it takes effort to keep my knees from wobbling.
Head bowed, focused on me, he murmurs in French, “Right back where you belong.”
My heart flutters in my chest. Does he mean it? Is it possible he feels this? The pull that’s always existed between us? That even after all this time, just like me, he realizes we just somehow fit?
He’s got a wife, Adeline. A wife.
Reminder in place, I smirk and in French, I reply, “Sweeping up the floor with you? Yeah, I’d agree.”
His mouth falls open. “You speak French?”
With apfft, I say, “Oh, I wasn’t taking a chance on not knowing what you were saying ever again.”
I only wish I could remember what he said all those years ago so I could translate it properly. Because I’m starting to believe that I had things all wrong back then.
JJ smiles down at me while Chris Martin sings about the stars.
Mouth at my ear, he murmurs, again in French. “Oh what a thing to do…You’re never not taking me by surprise, Adeline.”
Hours later, while I’m lying in bed still thinking about tonight, a knock sounds on my door, then a tiny voice calls, “Addie.”
I jump out of bed and throw the door open, finding Averystanding in the hall in her pink pjs, carrying her teddy bear, her face stained with tears. “I c-can’t sleep,” she hiccups. “I h-had a bad dream.”
I scoop her up, squeezing her tight. “I’m sorry, Avey girl. Do you want to tell me about it?”
She shakes her head. “N-no. I want my daddy.”
I frown. She knows where her dad’s room is, so why did she come here?
Now is not the time to ask, so I head for the door to the bathroom. “Okay, want me to take you to him?”
She nods, sniffling against my chest.
I knock on the door connecting the bathroom to JJ’s room, quietly calling out, “It’s Avery. She’s upset.”
The door swings open seconds later, and he appears, blinking rapidly, his face scrunched in confusion and concern.
And he’s in nothing but a pair of shorts.
There’s ink covering his chest. So much ink. And muscles. And the shorts hang so low, I can see the divots in his abdomen and where a trail of dark hair follows the deep V.
When I come dangerously close to choking on my own saliva, I decide to avert my eyes. Quickly.Shit.
“What’s wrong, Avey girl?” he asks as he reaches for her.
She digs her fingers into my pajamas and buries her face again. “No, I want Addie.”
My heart thumps off beat, and JJ steps back. “Okay.”
“Can you lay with us?” Avery asks me, voice pleading.
“Lay with you and your dad?” I croak. No. She can’t mean that.
