“Is that what I’m doing?”He opens his arms, and I practically collapse into them, wrapping my arms around his torso and resting my head over his heart.
“Definitely.”I sigh.“Sorry I’m so sweaty.”I didn’t realize how much until I feel my dress sticking where his arms press against my back.Strands of damp hair cling to my cheeks.I should be embarrassed.I usually would be.But I’m too happy to care.“You missed most of it.Or was that on purpose?”
“What do you think?”
I look up at him.He grins at me.
“Why are you here then?”
“I missed you.”He leans down and kisses me gently.
“Oh,” I breathe out.My heart’s fluttering faster than it has all night.
I spend the rest of the song in a gentle sway of movement, cocooned in his arms.The beat of his heart holding rhythm against my ear.The dreamy smile re-emerges.I’m not convinced he told me the real reason he decided to come, but I’m not sorry he did.
The DJ announces the last dance.A pop song everyone knows blasts through the speakers.Collin rushes out to join us.
Jonathan doesn’t dance.But he doesn’t leave us either.He watches Collin jerk his body, twirl me around, and scream the words to the chorus in his face.We both laugh at the absurdity that is Collin Humphreys.
When it’s over, the lights come on, and everyone groans, including me.I can’t imagine what I look like.But right now, I don’t care.I had fun.And that’s because of my best friend.I love Jonathan Reeves, but I came here with the right guy.And maybe that’s why Jonathan is looking at us with that odd, kinda sad smile.
“I think you should take her home,” Collin tells him.“My mom needs the car for work.She has to go in for the overnight shift, and, well… I’ll probably get lost if I have to drive across town in the dark.”
He’s not wrong.His sense of direction, even in a town he’s been in his entire life, is awful.
“Do you mind?”Jonathan asks me.I look at him funny.“Just wanted to be sure.”
Collin hands me my jacket after retrieving it from the table we didn’t sit at once.I give him a tight hug and say into his ear, “Thank you for tonight.You made it perfect.”
“You weren’t too bad of a dance partner.Although I’m questioning the moves they’re teaching you at that fancy dance academy.”
I shake my head at him.“Goodnight, Collin.”
“See you both for breakfast.”He walks off in a sort of skip toward the door.
“He’s—”
“The best,” Jonathan answers instead.
“Yes.He’s that,” I agree, taking hold of Jonathan’s hand.“But ridiculous.”
“Yep, that too.”Jonathan smiles.“What time do you have to be home?”
“No time really.”I grin sheepishly.“Why?Where are you taking me?”
“Didn’t she show up with Collin?”
Laurel and Bridget walk behind Jonathan, Bridget way too focused on us.
I brace myself for the snide comments.I really hoped I’d put an end to this that day in the bathroom.
Laurel shrugs.“Whatever.I give up trying to figure them out.”She rushes over to a group of girls huddled by the exit.
Jonathan shoots me a quizzical side-eye, probably anticipating the same thing.
I shrug.“Guess we’re not that interesting.”
“Finally.”
