Page 25 of A New Chapter

As Brandy slinked away, Zack led Emma to the crowded dance floor. Her surroundings were fuzzy, like she was looking at everything through the bottom of a Coke bottle. Shapes were distorted, lights flickered, and colors blended together. The sea of people looked like one big blur to her, so Emma trained her focus on Zack.

He held her stiffly at first, keeping a respectable space between them, but Emma needed more of his support to stay upright. She closed the distance between them and entwined her arms around his neck. There, much better.

Emma noticed the look of surprise on Zack’s face, but he didn’t pull back. In fact, he might have pulled her a little closer, because she heard the rustle of her dress against his suit pants. She leaned her head against his broad, hard chest and concentrated on the strong rhythmic thuds of his heartbeat in her ear. Emma couldn’t be one hundred percent certain, but she thought she felt something else that was hard a bit further down. She lifted her face up to find Zack smiling down at her with a look of amusement dancing in his eyes.

“Sorry,” he said and shrugged. “Some things are beyond my control.”

Emma erupted into a fit of giggles and ignored the curious stares around her. Once she gathered herself back together, she took a step back, but Zack’s hands remained firmly locked on her hips.

“It’s my fault this time,” she said, slurring her words a little. “I’m the one who got too close.”

Zack leaned forward and brushed her hair back. “There’s no such thing as too close, Emma.”

Luckily, the disc jockey announced a line dance, so Zack and Emma broke apart. When they made their way back to their table, Emma stumbled and Zack put his arm around her waist and tucked her close to his side.

“I think it’s time to take you home,” he said.

“But why? I’m having such a good time,” Emma implored, slurring her words once again.

“I believe you, but if we stay much longer, I’m afraid your good time is going to come to an abrupt and potentially embarrassing end.”

Emma didn’t have the strength to argue. While Zack said his round of goodbyes, she took one last sip of her drink. “Goodbye, everyone,” she called merrily, and Zack quickly led her out of the room.