Chapter Twenty-Seven #2
“My mom worked with a professional to create the perfect cake for you,” Dani tells me. “It’s double chocolate, your favorite.”
“Thanks, Vivian.” I hug her, and then Dani and Mom. “Thanks for everything.”
The band continues to sing happy birthday as I cut the cake.
Then Vivian takes over and cuts enough pieces for all the guests.
I dig into my slice and sigh in utter bliss.
Every single person in the room sighs in the exact manner.
I don’t think I’ve ever tasted anything more delicious on the planet.
“I think I’m interning for the wrong chef,” Liam jokes.
“You’re welcome to work for me any time you want,” Vivian tells him.
He grins. “Thanks. I’m totally going to take you up on your offer.”
By now, some more kids from school have arrived. Luckily, there’s enough cake for everyone. Once everyone has had their fill of cake, Easton puts on soft music and couples start dancing.
“Come on, Superman,” Ava says as she grabs Aidan’s hand and leads him to the dance floor. “I’ve been waiting for this moment all night!”
Xavier bows before Lily like she’s a noblewoman. “May I please have this dance, my lady?”
Lily squeals as she curtsies. “Of course, my good sir!” They hurry to the dance floor.
“Nerds!” I call after them with a laugh.
One by one, couples step onto the dance floor.
“Told you I should have asked Mark’s friend to be your date tonight,” Penny tells me with a frown.
“And I told you that I didn’t want a date. Don’t feel bad for me, guys. Go have fun with your dates.”
“You sure?” Hannah asks.
“Yes.”
They take their dates’ hands and join the other couples on the dance floor. Mom, Dad, and the rest of the Musketeers—Senior and Junior—are also dancing, each of them looking like they’re having an unbelievable time.
I mean, sure in this moment I wonder what it would be like if I had someone to share this special moment with. But I know it’s not the right time for me to meet someone special. Besides, I can enjoy my party while being single, right?
At least there’s still delicious food. I didn’t have a chance to sample them all.
I grab a plate and start piling food on it, my mouth watering at how scrumptious it all looks. After stabbing my fork into pasta, I’m about to bring it to my mouth, when someone says from behind me, “Why isn’t the birthday girl dancing with anyone?”
I spin around and come face-to-face with Noah.
“Noah! Hey.”
His brows dip as he glances at my plate of food, at my face, then around the room. “Why aren’t you dancing with anyone?”
I lift my shoulders. “No one asked me. Besides, I’d rather eat all this yummy food. Have you tried the pasta salad? It’s the best one I’ve ever—”
My lips snap shut when he takes the plate from my hands and places it on the table. I’m about to demand what the heck he thinks he’s doing stealing my food like that, when he holds out his hand to me.
“Dance with me, Evie?”
I just stare at his hand like I’ve never seen a hand before.
My eyes slowly raise to his. Am I imagining things, or did he ask me to dance with him?
I think I’m imagining things.
With a sweet smile, he gently shakes out his hand. “Come dance with me.”
“Oh, that’s okay,” I stammer. “You don’t have to try to make me feel better.
Because I’m fine. Totally cool with my single status.
Who wants to be tied down to someone on their birthday anyway?
Plenty of fish in the sea and all that. Not here, though, because I’m not interested in anyone—” I clear my throat.
“Thanks for the offer, but I’m sure there are lots of other girls you’d rather dance with. ”
He gazes into my eyes with an intensity I’ve never seen before. “The only person I want to dance with is you, Evie Hastings.”
I gape at him, not sure I heard him right. There are so many pretty girls here from school and he wants to dance with me? Has someone spiked the punch?
“Evie?” His voice is soft like velvet.
I blink, taking in the equally soft expression in his eyes, and I say, “Um, thanks.” I slide my hand into his. “I’d love to dance with you, Noah.”
With another sweet smile, he tightens his hold on my hand and leads me to an empty area on the dance floor.
My heart pounds as a tingly feeling travels from the area where our skins touch to every other part of my body.
The trek to the dance floor feels like it’s taking forever, but when we finally get there, Noah faces me with another smile that can melt any girl’s heart.
He takes a small step toward me and gently wraps his arm around my waist, tugging me closer to his body. His scent overwhelms me, causing butterflies to flap around in my stomach. His body heat warms me up as I slowly slide my hands up his shoulders and lock them behind his neck.
We stare into each other’s eyes as we sway to the beat of the slow song. Every part of me tingles, and my heart thumps so fast and hard, I wonder if it’ll shoot right out of my chest.
“You look really beautiful, Evie,” Noah murmurs. “I mean, you’re always beautiful, but you’re glowing tonight.”
“Glowing?” I laugh softly. “Yeah, right.”
“I’m serious.” He presses his cheek to mine. “Positively glowing.”
“Thanks. I think only you can get away with saying that.”
“Only you can pull off a fancy hairdo with paint in your hair.”
That has me laughing again as a new swarm of butterflies invades my stomach.
We continue to sway to the beat of the music, our cheeks still pressed together.
Noah and I have danced with each other at parties and celebrations in the past, but we’ve never been this close.
My body has never touched so many parts of his body before, and I’ve never been so engulfed by his heat and scent.
It feels so good to be held in his arms like this, like I’ve been transported to another world where it’s just the two of us and no one else. Our own special world.
I never thought dancing with Noah could feel this spectacular.
I lower my head on his chest and continue to enjoy this moment. Because I have a feeling I’ll never experience it again.