4. Chapter 4
My arms cross over myself as I look over the crowded room.
We won’t dock in Florence for another day, so it’s Melody and Elijah insisted we try out some of the on board activities throughout the day.
After mini golf, an escape room, and a hilariously unfunny comedy show, they decide that their final act of torture would take the form of a ballroom dance class.
Carmin stalks over to me, a wide grin spread across her face as I busy myself with some stretches.
I groan as she pulls me toward the back of the room, and my stomach turns with the anticipation that’s been brewing all day. Mini golf was already a bust with me being interrupted by some other bridesmaid every time I tried to speak to Justin. Story of my life.
“Okay, so I really think that this is our chance,” Carmin whispers. Her eyes dart to Justin where he’s talking to one of the dance instructors.
“You mean like dance with him?” My voice ticks up. “But—”
“No, but’s,” she shames. “I know mini golf didn’t go well, but you barely spoke at lunch. You said you’d try today.”
My gaze drifts back over to Justin as his hands run through his hair like silk. Taking a deep breath, I shake my head. Honestly, there’s nothing to be afraid of; it’s Justin. We grew up together. We’re adults. The only thing holding me back now is myself.
“Okay.”
“Okay!” Carmin exclaims before shooing me away. “Now be a moth, and soar.”
My heels click against the hardwood floor, trying to pace the beating of my heart with the rhythm in my step.
I can almost feel Carmin’s eyes on me the closer I get.
When I’m close enough, Justin’s finally looks my way and a grin spreads across his face that heats my own.
I find myself putting more sway in my hips as I move in and allow myself a little more freedom.
The knots in my stomach slowly untangle as his eyes flow down the length of my body, and that fluttering feeling begins to consume me again.
Should I say something clever? No, I didn’t have time to rehearse something like that. Just keep it simple.
“You look excited to dance,” I say as my hands come together to massage my palm.
Justin’s grin widens as he chuckles to himself, and an arrow strikes through my heart. “Dancing definitely isn’t my strong suit, but I can admit I do love doing it.”
I nod sheepishly. “That’s good. Not the strong suit part, I mean, but the loving to dance part. It’s great exercise too—dancing. Who doesn’t love that, right?”
Pressing my thumb into my palm, I take a breath as my heart rate kicks into overdrive. Pace yourself.
He chuckles again before his eyes find mine. “True, but the best part is getting to dance with someone else, you know?”
“Oh, yeah. That’s important too.” It’s almost as if I can feel Carmin breathing down my neck, telling me to take the leap before it’s too late and I’ll be a pathetic loner forever.
Although I’m pretty sure the latter is my own insecurities peeking through.
Pursing my lips, I press on. “Speaking of dance partners, I—”
Justin’s gaze slips from mine as an obnoxious “Jay” pops the little safety bubble I’d created. The worst thing about personal bubbles is that while you might find them safe, people like Leo are always around to remind you of how fragile they really are.
“What’s up?” Leo chimes as he moves in like a gray cloud. “Am I missing out on anything good over here?”
“Not really,” Justin says, looking over to me. “Gina and I were just talking about the dance lesson.”
“Right, and I was actually about to ask if—” Whatever confidence I have left is crushed as Leo interrupts me.
“Ah, yeah. It’s not my first choice, but it’ll be good practice for the wedding.”
“Easy for you to say. Didn’t you take ballroom?” Justin asks, mischief dancing on his lips.
Leo shrugs it off. “Hey, my mom did say it might come in handy one day. Speaking of which…” He finally seems to acknowledge my existence as he looks toward me. I know that look on his face too well. “Would you mind being my partner, Gina? As I recall, you’re a pretty good dancer.”
Images of leotards and tight buns flash in my mind right next to the goofy faces of Elijah and Leo, who mocked me.
I hated jazz, but my mom insisted that I needed a more physical extracurricular, and it didn’t help that all of her friends’ daughters were doing it too.
Every time I thought about quitting, I remembered how proud she looked when she saw me dance.
She rarely looked at me that way. Still, that never stopped the relentless teasing from Elijah and Leo, and now he expects me to dance with him? Fat chance.
“Absolutely not.” Shutting the notion down, I shake my head.
“Come on, Gina. Can you really turn this face down?” Leo does what looks like a smolder, but looks more like the face of bad constipation.
“Yes.” My lack of hesitation surprises me more than it does him. Quickly glancing at Justin, I let out a small laugh, hoping to cool things down. “I mean, I’m a little rusty, is all.”
“An even better reason that Leo be your partner.” As attractive as Justin is, he’s not very bright. The last thing I need is for him to cosign Leo. “Better him than me, trust me.”
“I agree. Plus, according to Melody, we’re partnered for the ceremony anyway.”
“Wonderful.” I swallow hard as I steady my breathing and curse Melody under my breath.
Leo extends his hand, open and waiting for mine.
Ignoring the winning smirk that shapes his lips, I reluctantly take it.
From across the room, Carmin signals to me, mouthing a “what the fuck?” as we take a spot on the floor.
I shrug as a large pit opens in my stomach and threatens to suck up whatever remains of my dignity.
All of me wants to recoil as I brainstorm what I hope will be a good enough excuse to get back to my suite.
But I’m not in the mood for an argument with Elijah, no matter how tempting.
Ballroom dancing is harder than I remember, but it probably doesn’t help that I’m so stiff and keeping my distance from Leo.
He can hardly get a good grasp on my waist, but I like seeing how frustrated it makes him.
A little payback for how irritating he is, despite the trouble it’s causing me, is worth it.
When it’s not, I find myself glaring over his shoulder at Justin, who’s dancing happily with one of the other bridesmaids.
The regret burrowing a hole in my chest doesn’t make it any easier to ignore them every time I hear their laughter echoing in my ear.
Leo clears his throat, demanding my attention. “You know, this would be easier if you loosened up and let me take the lead.”
“This is as loose as I get,” I reply, trying to focus on my steps. “If you’d minded your business, you might have had an easier time. Why did you have to interrupt us anyway?”
Eyebrows softly furrowed, he tilts his head back with a smile.
“Was I interrupting? I couldn’t tell.” I have the mind to hike my knee up into him, and I would if Melody weren’t watching us all like a hawk.
Maybe I can find a way to incorporate it into this routine and make it look like an accident when he peels over in pain.
“And I chose you because you’re a good dancer. ”
“Oh, really? Because, as I recall, you and Eli had more than enough fun mocking my dancing. In fact—”
“That’s not what I’m talking about.” The sly grin on his face takes me back in time to that night, and regret circles me as I try to suppress it.
Lowering my voice, I refuse to let it get to me. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Eclipse?” He raises his brows. Shaking my head, he pushes on. “Your best friend’s 21st birthday party.”
My breath catches, and I feel every muscle in my back tense as I can no longer keep the memories of that night at bay.
I hardly remember that night and for good reason.
The music that bumped through the speakers, the wave of people with no choice but to dance on each other, the crowd that gathered around me as I danced on top of a table after what seemed like an endless amount of shots I’d taken, and the humiliation that burned through me after falling off said table and nearly busting my ass if not for Leo catching me.
And the kiss that followed later that night before I threw up on his shoes.
“Why are you even bringing that up here? We’ve spent the last five years not talking about it. Let’s keep it that way,” I say firmly in a
His arm wraps around me, a strong and familiar feeling. “I always thought it was kinda funny and cute.”
“I was drunk; I was humiliated, and it should never have happened.”
“That explains why you ran off the way you did.” He laughs, but I freeze. His face softens as he watches my expression. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
Why did he have to bring it up at all? It’s bad enough that there are photos of that night, but to know he thinks it’s some cute, funny moment rips open the fleshy wound of insecurity.
I shake my head. “Are you trying to hang this over my head or something?”
“What, no?” Leo sighs as he tries to focus back on the steps. “I didn’t know you were embarrassed by it. I apologize, and I won’t bring it up again.”
“Good, then stay out of my way.”
Leo shrugs. “You’re the boss.”
His sarcasm doesn’t sit right with me, and neither does that smirk on his face. Ignoring it, I focus back on the steps, trying to figure out how the hell I’m going to get Justin’s attention in the next six days.