Someone will remember us, I say, even in another time. It was one of my favorites, too.
As Delilah and Corey twirled their beautifully choreographed way around the dancefloor, I curled my fingers around Theo’s, giving him a gentle squeeze. He linked our fingers together, squeezing back.
I loved him so,somuch.
Applause erupted from the crowd as the song came to an end, with a few whoops and cheers thrown in—even a wolf whistle as Theo’s mom and Corey’s dad stepped onto the dancefloor, signaling that it was open now. A few other couples joined them as the opening bars of another song continuing the 80s New Wave theme played.
“Dance with me,” I said, giving Theo’s hand a gentle tug.
He turned to me wide-eyed. “I don’t?—”
“I know,” I murmured, squeezing his hand again then turning it over to look at his nail polish. “But if you’re being someone else...”
I didn’t intend to push—I knew Theo never danced. It would have been a lie to say that didn’t disappoint me, because I would havelovedto dance with him when we went out to places where that was a thing, but I would never have wanted to make him uncomfortable.
I still had no idea what was going on in his head, but I knew he’d tell me when he was ready for me to know. In the meantime, permission to do things he normally wouldn’t couldn’t possibly hurt, could it?
Theo’s throat worked as he swallowed. I offered him an encouraging smile.
“You’ve seen how I dance,” I said. “Youcan’tbe worse.”
He looked me in the eye for another handful of heartbeats, then nodded.
I broke into a grin, dragging him out onto the dance floor before he could change his mind.
“One song,” I promised. “Then you never have to do it again.”
Theo rolled his eyes, but the smile tugging at his lips gave away that he wasn’t serious.
I laughed as the song changed—Hold Me Nowby the Thompson Twins. I knew this one well. It was one of Theo’s favorites. I’d heard him singing along to it at the top of his lungs in the shower dozens of times.
Theo’s eyes widened again, but there was wonder in them this time.
“DJ saw you coming,” I said. The strings of lights overhead twinkled in Theo’s eyes.Magical.
“How do I...?” Theo looked at me, his feet, and then around at the other people dancing.
I laughed again, tightening my grip on his hand. “Follow me,” I said. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Theo nodded again, trust shining in his eyes. I grinned and twirled him around, ignoring the beat, focusing on making it feel good to move together.
He broke into laughter. It was a little nervous, but there was real joy in there too as I took both his hands and turned us around, pulling him in and then twirling him out again. His laughter got louder as he almost tripped over my feet, and when I almost tripped overhis, he broke down into helpless giggles, face flushed and eyes gleaming.
He was so gorgeous like this. Maybe it was a good thing hedidn’tdance, for my sake. Anyone who saw it couldn’t help but want to spend their entire life with him.
I swung him out again, both of us clumsy on our feet from laughing, then drew him back in so his back collided with my chest, putting a hand on his hip and rocking us both side-to-side, more or less to the beat.
“We’re awful at this,” Theo said, leaning back to talk into my ear so I could hear him.
“Does it matter?” I asked.
He paused a moment. Theo valued his competence. That was fine—he was a competent man—except that it meant he rarely did things he didn’t already feel competent at.
“No,” he said decisively, craning his neck to look at me. “No, it doesn’t.”
I laughed again, pressing a dramatic, smacking kiss to his temple before spinning him out once more, swinging our joined hands between us as the song faded out.
Something slower I didn’t immediately recognize came on next.
