They got a bottle of wine to share when the waiter returned, and Emily sat back in her chair, admiring the dancers and the rich vocals of the lead singer, her sequins on her dress catching in the light.
Once they’d placed their orders, and Alex led her by the hand out onto the floor, Emily found herself wondering why this was such a bad idea. This was already nothing like what a one-night stand would look like.
They’d talked, they’d danced. They had each other’s numbers. They were having dinner together.
The only problem really was that Emily wasn’t staying after her year was up.
And their age difference. That wasn’t ideal.
Although that was her own issue, because Alex didn’t come across as immature. Not for a second. This was her issue. Because Melissa had cheated on her with a student who had been so much younger than her.
Emily already knew which way she leaning, because she’d kissed Alex last night. Something that still surprised her. But she’d let go. She stopped thinking for five minutes, and that’s what happened.
And what a kiss it had been.
Alex might have been caught off guard initially, but when she kissed her back, the feeling of Alex’s soft lips against her own still made Emily’s skin tingle just thinking about it.
Alex gave her a half-smile as she held out her hands, and Emily took them. “You okay? You look… Happy but thoughtful? I don’t know,” she said with a laugh.
“Yeah.” Emily nodded. “That’s exactly it.”
Emily had to stop thinking about anything else as Alex got them moving to the melodic brass tones, the lead singer delivering the lyrics with passion, and although Emily could understand only a few words, it didn’t stop her from enjoying the music, falling into step with Alex, picking up right where they left off the other night.
Out of the corner of her eye, as Alex spun her, Emily saw someone recording them with their phone. At first, she was kind of taken aback, but after a second, she realized that the woman videoing them must think they pretty good dancing together. The phone was gone the next time Emily glanced over, with the woman’s food arriving.
They stayed out for the next song, both of them a little out of breath, but Emily couldn’t keep the smile off her face as she shared a look with Alex.
“Is it like this with every woman you ask to dance?” Emily asked, stepping towards her so that Alex could hear her over the leader singer talking to the crowd. “People are watching, so I think we might look good together,” she said with a smile as she stood back, the music starting up again.
“Not even close,” Alex said, one arm sliding around Emily’s waist as they started to move to the music, and Emily ignored the swooping sensation low in her belly as Alex’s words sunk in, and they lost themselves in the music.
8
They strolled through the park, the palm trees rustling above their heads as a light breeze moved through the leaves.
“This is really nice,” Emily said as they followed the path. “Not many parks feel this safe at night.”
Instead of getting straight into a taxi back after dinner, Alex suggested they check out Bayfront Park. It was just a short walk from where they were, and Alex couldn’t say why exactly, but she felt like Emily might be having a change of heart, like she might give Alex a chance, despite everything she’d said last night about being newly divorced.
Not that Alex was looking to jump into anything, but she couldn’t deny that she found Emily extremely attractive, and the way they’d danced together? It was how she danced with Maria, someone who had been doing this for years and years. Emily had no right to be this good this soon.
“You know what you asked me before, when we were dancing?” Alex asked, glancing at Emily as they walked.
“About whether it was like this with other women?”
“Yeah.” Alex bit her lip, not even sure if she should be saying this. She didn’t want to scare Emily off. “I didn’t get a chance to explain. But just so you know… No. It’s not. You’ve improved so much since our first dance. I honestly can’t believe it.”
“Thank you for saying that, but it’s not me. If somebody else asked me to dance, I feel like I’d screw up in ten seconds. Without a doubt. So, that means it’s you. It’s the way you lead. The way you make me forget about everything else. I can just… Relax. Feel the music. Trust you.”
“And that’s not how it normally is,” Alex said, her stomach full of butterflies. That wasn’t normal either. She usually had so much confidence when it came to approaching women.
They walked along in silence for a few more minutes before turning back, and Alex was sure that she’d said too much, but when she pulled open the door to the taxi, Emily leaned in. “Do you want to come back to mine?”
Alex hadn’t been expecting that, but she managed to cover up her shock, and agree, letting Emily give the taxi driver her address, Alex’s heart beating a little faster with every minute that passed.
* * *
Tonight had gone betterthan Alex could have hoped for. She knew that restaurant would have live music, and she’d eaten there before, but maybe it was being there with Emily, because it was one of the best nights she’d had in a long time.
