The Attraction Theorem #3
Well, yeah! She might have seen him sneak out of my bedroom just this morning, even though that wasn’t exactly what it seemed like. But, I mean, I wasn’t going to deny something she thought was true. Wise or not, it felt like a good comeback at the time.
***
“Let’s put on some music,” my father offered, his hands fumbling over the new vinyl as he quickly unwrapped it. “Time to shake off some calories after that absolutely exquisite dinner, wouldn’t you say?” He winked at my mother.
My mother beamed with newfound appreciation in her eyes. “Well, thank you!”
“Can’t imagine anything that could top this, but I’m already looking forward to tomorrow.” He put the record on and with a few rhythmic strides, he gallantly offered my mother his hand. “Let us show them how we do it.”
“Oh my God, Dominic,” she chortled, shoulders shaking to the beat of the one and only Sarah Vaughan. As my father twirled her around the room, I caught myself thinking that my parents actually were truly happy together. Wow! Since that very day at the beach.
“May I have this dance?” Blake asked, reaching for my hand.
“Oh! I really don’t…” The words caught in my throat as he pulled me onto the dance floor before I could finish my protest. “Um, well, fine then,” I conceded with a chuckle.
His palm pressed gently against the small of my back, his fingers interlaced with mine as we moved to the slow rhythm of ‘Broken Hearted Melody.’ And I was pleasantly surprised by how smoothly he led, following his confident steps with ease.
“Someone certainly knows how to move,” I complimented him with a smile.
Blake laughed. “Well, you’re looking at the product of five years of professional lessons.”
“Oh, wow! A man of Renaissance!” I teased, raising an eyebrow playfully. “I wonder what you can’t do?”
He paused, a slow smirk spreading across his lips as he considered my question. “Hmm, let me think…”
“What?” I giggled, eager to hear his answer. “What is it?”
Blake leaned in closer, his breath tickling my ear. “But you must promise you won’t tell a soul?”
I grinned, enjoying his playful theatricality. “You like to keep the intrigue going, don’t you?” I said with a chuckle. “Well, you have my word, I will take your secret to the grave.”
He gave me a dramatic flourish of a bow. “In that case, prepare yourself for the shocking truth!” With a sudden, graceful twirl, he spun me around before pulling me back into his arms.
“Oh, God!” I giggled, swatting his shoulder playfully. “Enough with the suspense!”
Blake leaned in again, his gaze narrowing at me with a crease. Then, he confessed. “It hurts me to admit it, but I really, really suck at parallel parking.”
I let out a choked snort of laughter, nearly doubling over in surprise. “Sorry, you what?”
“Sadly, it’s the truth.” Blake let out a sigh, playfully.
“Well,” I said with a thrill in my words, “then it’s a good thing a professional racer is visiting this very house.
” My eyes scanned the room, searching for Miles, who seemed to have vanished into thin air.
“Uh…” I trailed off with a flicker of disappointment, glancing towards the diner.
Where did he go? Forcing a smile, I quickly added, “I’m sure he wouldn’t mind giving you a masterclass in parking! ”
Blake looked at me with another generous beam, saying something, but disoriented by the wine, perhaps just dazed from the entire night, or simply distracted by Miles’ mysterious disappearance, my mind drifted.
I watched him speak, his words a blur as I focused on the details of his face.
His eyes were round, framed by ridiculously long lashes any girl would kill for.
His beard was short and neatly trimmed, his smile wide.
I watched his Adam’s apple bob with each swallow, his perfectly ironed collar, every button meticulously fastened on his shirt.
I thought he must have always been the life of the party, always at the centre of attention, the kind of person everyone loved.
Apart from my mother who, quite displeased, glanced at us over her shoulder, quickly feigning the warmth on her face.
That very face I knew well enough to be far from genuine.
Oh, she did not like Blake Rose. Not even one bit. Blake Rose wasn’t a part of her plan.
***
“So?” Josephine stared at me expectantly.
“So?” I asked back.
“What do you think about Blake?”
“Oh!”
“You two look absolutely great together!” She beamed, nestling at the corner of my bed.
“Um, it’s really too soon to tell.” I shook my head, looking for my pyjamas. “He is lovely, but Jo—” I glanced at her. “—we only just met.”
“Well, I think, if you give him a chance—” She pushed back, arms spread wide, falling onto my mattress on her back. “—this might be something.”
“Seriously! That’s not funny! Where are they?” I muttered with frustration.
“Where is what?”
“My pyjamas,” I sighed.
“Did you consider the laundry basket?” She rolled to face me, head resting in her palm.
“Well, wherever they are, it’s not here…”
“You can borrow mine,” she offered. “If you want?”
“Um…” Considering my sister’s Victorian taste in nightgowns I nearly winced with dread.
Whenever I saw her wearing one, the image of a woman sauntering down the corridor of a haunted house, which ends with her tragic death ninety-five percent of the time, would pop into my head.
Clearly I’d watched too many horror movies in my childhood.
“No, it’s fine,” I mumbled. “I should have an extra pair in my bag.” My gaze fell onto my suitcase; there was one more outfit I’d packed with me—a gift from Alex and Hetal right before I left—which I was absolutely sure I wouldn’t even have to unpack.
For that reason, it was still there, securely hidden from the eyes of others.
“By the way.” I casually changed the subject, bringing another person into our conversation. “I haven’t seen Miles after dinner…”
“Um, yeah, he told Mark he was tired, so he went to bed earlier.”
“Ah,” I breathed, trying to mask my disappointment.
“Thought so.” Opening my bag, I glanced at Jo with the warning, “Okay, now, before you see this, know it was my friends’ idea, so don’t judge me.
” I then pulled out and held up a short black chemise, made from lustrous satin, a plunging neckline detailed with elegant lace, complete with adjustable crossed straps at the back.
Jo tilted her head, looking at me with a playful smirk. “You came prepared, I see.”
“Yeah,” I laughed dryly. “Because passionate nights between the sheets were all I expected from this trip.”
“Well then.” She sat up straight, eyes crackling at the corners. “Go on! Put it on!”
“There’s a matching robe too,” I threw it at her. “Though I doubt you could cover much with it .”
Josephine chuckled. “I don’t believe that gown was designed to be covered, Florence!”
“Ha-ha! Funny!” I retorted, rolling my eyes at her.
“Who knows, maybe you wake up for a thirsty sip of water and, in the middle of the night, you stumble at…” She paused with a grin twisting her lips, and, well, while in my head I envisioned Miles, she obviously was going to say, “Blake.”
“Shouldn’t you go stumble at your fiancé!” I offered with a playful nudge.
“I definitely should!” my sister laughed, then she jumped off the bed, took a few steps, and wrapped her arms around my shoulders. “Night, night!” she whispered. “Get some beauty sleep, my love.”
I hugged her back. “You too, Josephine.”
“I love you.”
“I love you more,” I breathed.
“Impossible,” we both murmured, quoting the book she lent me to read but also meaning every word of it.
“Well, I should go.”
“Yeah.”
“Oh! And remember that tomorrow we have a game to win.”
“What game?” I stared at her, confused.
“Didn’t I tell you? I’ve arranged for us to play volleyball with a couple of friends.”
“You what ?” I shrieked, horror filling my eyes. She knew I was absolutely terrible at sports, and suddenly the affection we’d shared moments before evaporated. I didn’t feel any love left for my sister at all.