Chapter Twenty-two #2
Now we’re facing each other, as in step as we were at the salsa studio after the torrential rain, and just as sweaty. His palm is firm on my back, his other hand resting on my hip. I put one hand on his chest, and his heartbeat rises up to meet me.
Is this too fast? Can we just … do that?
No. We are letting go. We are moving forward.
‘OK,’ I breathe.
He spins me out again, then back.
‘You’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met.’
I slam both my hands on his chest, because I want to feel that firmness under my palms. Everyone cheers as I shove him, step by step, across the room.
‘I’ve dated a lot. You know that,’ he says, and then with a growl as we reach the edge of the dance floor, captures my hands and firmly plants them on his shoulder and waist. ‘But you’ve done something to me.
I don’t want anyone else. Just you.’ Using his muscle to unfair advantage, he’s forcing me backward.
My well-trained feet can’t help but fall into step.
‘If we’re officially dating, I have a list of demands,’ I say.
He lifts a brow.
‘I want to go out for Indian food. It turns out, I love Tikka Masala more than life itself.’
He chuckles. ‘I know a place on Devon Avenue.’
‘I want to go to a concert. As soon as possible. I haven’t been in over a year.’
‘Consider it done.’
‘I want to eat those chocolate cakes you made.’
‘I’ll make them fresh,’ he says. A violent spin, followed by another, and I’m trapped again in his arms. My chest is heaving. His is too. A swatch of hair has fallen across his forehead. ‘And I have a demand of my own.’
I wait.
‘I want to take you away for a weekend.’
‘Oh?’
‘I have a cabin.’ He prances me across the dance floor on the diagonal. We sweep past George and Arjun, and suddenly, George is pulling a fast one and we’re trading partners.
Immediately, I try to snap my face into a normal expression instead of the drooling-all-over-my-new-boyfriend face I likely had.
‘Margot, I had no idea you could dance like that,’ says Arjun with appreciation as he smoothly guides me across the dance floor, our hands clasped. ‘How’s your night so far?’
‘Great. I owe you a thanks.’
‘Oh! The loan application? It was no prob—’
‘No, I mean setting me and Liam up.’
A grin sneaks over his face. ‘It wasn’t entirely altruistic. It got me out of the doghouse. Anyway, if I’m honest, Liam was the—’
But he’s cut off, because just like that, George and Liam are next to us and we’re trading partners again.
It’s cool. I can intuit exactly what Arjun was about to say. Liam was the kind of guy we’ve been hoping to see you with. The obvious fit for you. The perfect match.
‘I was just thanking Arjun,’ I say to Liam. ‘For setting us up.’
Liam’s firm hand again grasps my waist. He’s taller than Arjun – and I can feel the energy of his strength in the wrap of his fingers around me, in the glint of his gaze.
‘But back to the cabin …’ I murmur. ‘Where is this place?’
‘Just a couple hours away, in Wisconsin. Right on the beach. Super private. Gorgeous view of Lake Michigan.’
‘You own this place?’
He grins. ‘Are you surprised?’
‘You’re a little young to own a condo in the city and a vacation house in Wisconsin.’
‘I’ve been successful. And I need somewhere to go and unwind. Work hard, play hard.’
Could it be the cabin where … No. Liam is not a serial killer. But my brain is obviously still wired to be suspicious. I wonder how long it’ll take me to unlearn that and just chill? The song ends. Without warning, Liam dips me. I arch over his forearm to thunderous applause.
He gently scoops me upright and brings me in for a slow kiss. Then, George is right there, slinging her arms around both of us.
‘You two are hot! Oh my God, I knew there was chemistry, but girl, I am sweating! Hey, let’s get drinks, the four of us!’
Worlds are colliding, but it feels right.
‘Drinks,’ I repeat, looking between my best friend and my boyfriend. ‘Sounds great.’
*
Five in the morning finds us singing karaoke in the boat George rented as the sky lightens.
Mimosas are flowing freely, and I have a blanket wrapped around me against the early morning chill.
Snuggled up against Liam, I feel like I’ve had a complete turn of fortune.
A week ago, I was this miserable Reddit-obsessed girl who ate the same dinner every night and had no future.
This morning, the future is spread out in front of me, wide as the sky.
Of course I’ll always carry my grief. Losing Zoe isn’t something I’ll get over, I know that. But I’m starting to realize that maybe I can carry that grief as I move forward, rather than allowing it to keep me stagnant.
As the sun rises over the lake, George belts the final karaoke song, ‘I Will Always Love You.’ She’s delightfully out of tune, but so enthusiastic, she gives out star energy regardless of her iffy pitch.
Liam had star energy too when he sang ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ and did some truly astonishing moves, which the whole group quickly joined while I laughed from the bench, reveling in how well Liam – my boyfriend – is fitting in with my friends.
As George sustains the last note, we all burst into applause. We’re almost to the dock, and then I need to sleep for about twenty-four hours.
‘I’m glad you came,’ I whisper to Liam, nuzzling into his arm.
‘Me too.’ He brushes a kiss to my temple.
‘I wish the night weren’t over.’
‘It doesn’t have to be.’ His gray eyes fix on me. ‘Come away to the cabin with me. We can spend the night, and I’ll drive you home Sunday evening.’
‘You mean … leave now?’
‘We can stop by your place, you can grab whatever you need. And I’ll drive, so you can sleep on the way.’
I look into his eyes. Part of me is yelling, too fast, too risky, but that’s the voice that’s been holding me back for too long, and we are not listening any more.
No more pushing things forward to Future Margot. Future Margot is now.
‘Let’s go,’ I say.