Chapter Thirty-Two
Alexandre turned back to his brother as the bartender brought over a fresh pint.
“Not sure where you’re at with dating, but this could be a good place to meet someone,” Luc said. He tilted his head toward Evie’s friends.
Alexandre chuckled. “True.” A lot of the dancers were very pretty, and their athleticism made them even more attractive.
Alexandre had watched in awe at how effortlessly they executed multiple turns and gracefully raised their legs high above their heads.
Even so, there was only one woman he wanted to be with.
“I’m sure Evie can introduce you to people.”
“That’s okay. I’m actually seeing someone.” The words tumbled out before Alexandre could stop them.
Luc’s eyebrows shot up.
“It’s really new,” Alexandre hurried to add.
Luc clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s great! How’d you meet her?”
“In person.”
“Where?”
“It’s so new I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Sounds promising!”
“It is.” Alexandre sipped his beer, his eyes straying to Mei. She was talking animatedly with Ali and Evie. His heart swelled. He turned back to Luc. “I have a feeling you’ll like her.”
“Well, cheers to that!” Luc tapped his pint against Alexandre’s. “I can’t wait to meet her.”
· · ·
The bar turned up the music. Evie and her friends crowded the dance floor. Ali and Luc followed, beckoning Alexandre and Mei to join them.
“Want to dance?” Mei asked.
Alexandre shook his head. “I don’t want you to have second thoughts about me. My dancing is the stuff of nightmares.”
Mei threw back her head and laughed. “Somehow, I doubt that.” Her hand discreetly brushed his back as she strutted to the dance floor.
Alexandre smiled and watched her go, then grabbed a curly fry from the plate in front of him.
“Hey, are you the biology professor?”
Alexandre looked up from his food. A toned young woman with a slicked-back ponytail and short black halter dress stood by his elbow.
“I’m a biology professor, but I don’t know if I’m the biology professor,” he said.
The woman laughed. “I’m Liz. I dance with Evie, and I’m getting my PhD at NYU. When Evie mentioned you were coming, I was hoping to chat. My research is on developing low-cost cancer screenings.”
“Mine was on mobility and aging.”
As Alexandre traded research stories with Liz, a familiar excitement buzzed through him. He missed this scientist-to-scientist banter. Liz reminded him of his long-lost self. She was full of the optimism that comes with nearing the end of a PhD and imagining all the possibilities ahead.
Liz took out her phone. “Let’s grab dinner sometime. What’s your number?”
Alexandre suddenly noticed how close Liz was standing, how much she was angled toward him.
He stepped back to put more space between them.
“I can give you my work email if you ever want to discuss your research.” He glimpsed Mei on the dance floor.
She threw him a quizzical look. Alexandre shook his head and flashed her a reassuring smile.
Understanding dawned on Liz’s face. “Oh, my bad. I didn’t realize that was your girlfriend. Evie didn’t mention that.”
“Well, she’s not exactly my girlfriend. It’s complicated.”
Liz laughed. “Got it. I know how that goes. Well, it was nice chatting.” She gave a little wave, then shimmied back to her friends.
Alexandre scanned the dance floor for Mei. She smiled with her eyes when their gazes met.
Was it really complicated between them? No, Alexandre decided. It wasn’t. He and Mei might be overcomplicating their relationship by not defining it and keeping it a secret.
But in his heart, Alexandre knew how he felt about her, and his feelings weren’t complicated at all.