Noah #3
She bit her lower lip and then glanced over at the couple currently sidestepping around us so they could continue their more energetic slow dancing.
When she glanced back at me, she frowned.
“Do we have to do it that way?” she whispered, nodding her head in the direction of the couple now slipping between another set of dancers.
I shook my head. “I’m more of a slow and easy kind of guy.” I offered her a soft smile, hoping it would put her at ease.
Her expression softened as she began to nod. “Me too.”
I shrugged. “Maybe we do slow and easy together?”
“Yeah.” She stepped closer, slipping her right hand into mine.
My heart pounded as she brought her left hand up to rest on my shoulder. Instinct took over. I closed my fingers around her hand before drawing it in and gently placed my right hand on her back. I closed the space between us as I began swaying to the music.
We danced in silence for a few seconds before I felt Emery tip her head up. I glanced down to see her studying me. My entire body warmed from the gentle look in her eyes and the small crease that had formed between her eyebrows.
I frowned. “What’s wrong?”
I didn’t want this to stop, but if she was uncomfortable, I was willing to let her go. I was willing to step back. I was willing to leave this bar and never come back. Her comfort was all I cared about.
“What kind of food do you like besides hamburgers?”
I blinked. “What?”
“Food. What kind of food do you like besides hamburgers?” she asked again. “I mean, this wedding is about you, too. I want to make sure we serve what you want for dinner.”
I studied her before movement to our left caught my eye. My hand tightened on her waist as I shifted her out of the way so the couple closing in on us could get past.
“I like all food,” I admitted before I shook my head. “Whatever you like, I’ll like.” I smiled at her so she would know that I was speaking the truth.
She frowned, and the little crease between her eyebrows returned. “But this isn’t just about me. I want you…” Her voice trailed off. “Have you ever been married before?”
“No.”
She paused. Her eyes widened and her lips parted. I could see her thoughts churning behind her gaze. “So this—so this is your first marriage?”
I nodded, not quite sure where she was going.
“I’m the first person you’re marrying.” She’d taken her hand off my shoulder and moved it to rest on her chest like I needed the clarification as to who “I’m” was.
I nodded again. “I didn’t have time for relationships or marriage before. I never got around to it.” I hoped that didn’t make me sound like a loser. My job had not been conducive to relationships.
Her lips were still parted as she studied me. Then, suddenly, she dropped her hands to her sides as she shook her head. Before I could register what was happening, she turned and headed to our table, murmuring under her breath, “I need to leave.”
The only thing I could do was follow after her. My mind was whirling, but I couldn’t come up with a good explanation as to why she suddenly cut our dance short. Was it something I said? I was having a hard time following that line of thought. All I’d said was that I’d never been married before.
Was that wrong?
When we got to our table, she grabbed her purse from the back of the chair and pulled the strap up onto her shoulder. I could tell from her nervous energy that she wanted to leave, and I didn’t want her to feel trapped.
Despite my confusion, I didn’t press her. She was all that mattered.
Not wanting to wait for the waitress to box up our food or get us our bill, I racked my brain for how much our food cost plus a tip.
I pulled my wallet from my pocket and flipped it open, grateful that I’d grabbed cash before leaving New York.
Just as I pulled out three twenties, Gran’s ring fell to the table with a clink.
Heat pricked my skin as I reached down to scoop it up. I glanced over at Emery, praying that she hadn’t seen it. That prayer was in vain. She’d seen it alright. She was staring at the table, where the ring had fallen moments ago. Her eyes were wide and her skin had paled.
I didn’t consider myself easy to offend, but there was something in her startled, worried expression that bruised my ego just a bit. Sure, it was a small ring, but why did she have to look so offended by it?
“Sorry,” I mumbled as I threw the money onto the table, stuffed the ring back into my wallet, and straightened. I was ready to get this evening over with. “Should we go?” I asked as I glanced down at her.
She nodded as she brought her left arm up, crossed it over her body, and gripped her right elbow. “Yeah,” she whispered.
I led the way through the crowd. The cool night air hit me as I pushed the door open and stepped outside. I held the door, waiting for Emery to walk through. We walked side by side to the car, the silence engulfing us in a way that I’d never experienced before.
I still wasn’t sure what had happened on the dance floor, but I knew one thing: whatever had been going between us prior to this date had changed.
And from the way that I was feeling, it was not for the better.