Ben, wasn't quite as vocal but also expressed his concern. Ben is a police officer and his work being what it is, he is a bigger risk taker than Richie and I, but I could still see he was worried. In the end, these two have been through it all with me, and they believed me when I said I thought I had found the one and what my plan was.
Olivia and Evelyn are in the middle of a conversation with my two idiot friends, and it's no surprise to see she is winning them over with ease. I don't interrupt because I want them to get to know her, but a part of me is worried they may be sharing stories that may not be in my favor. Ben looks up and sees me standing self-assured, with my hands in my pockets, and he gives me a barely-there nod that says he gets it. He knows already what I know: she's worth the risk.
Standing on the sidelines watching the partygoers in all their inauthenticity as they pretentiously kiss each other’s asses, I realize how tired I’ve grown of this world, of these people. Some of them don't even try to hide it when they roll their eyes and start whispering the minute the person they were just talking to walks away. Then there's the sweet brunette headed my way. She is so much better than the rest of us.
She stands next to me, shoulder to shoulder and watches the crowd along with me.
"I see you met Ben and Richie. I hope they didn't try to embarrass me too much?"
"I did meet them, and they did assure me they had many stories they could share with me at lunch next week. They said they wanted to be sure I knew who I was dealing with. We've got a lunch date for next Wednesday."
Those bastards.
"Is that so?"
"It is. Ben also seemed very proud to have been the one to give you that black eye at practice last week, but Richie assured me you got him good after."
"That I did."
“You told them.”
“I did.”
I wait for her to get upset, but she doesn’t. We’ve stopped chatting and watch the crowd. When a slow song comes on, she clears her throat. Trying to be nonchalant, she says out of the corner of her mouth, "Why aren't you dancing? You need to dance, even if it's with London. You look like a bad host if you don't participate."
"If there is a dance to be had, it will be with you. It's you I want in my arms. No. One. Else."
"Oh, my goodness, you are so stubborn. If you're not going to dance, then it's speech time." She nods to Evelyn who walks over to my father and uncle and begins to guide them to the stage.
"Fine by me. Let's get this over with."
"Right this way, sir."
Her and her fucking sass.
"Careful, gorgeous."
I hear her giggle next to me, and all is right in my world. Dance or no dance, hearing her happy is all I need.
I join my father and uncle on stage, and not wanting the limelight, I let my dad take the reins. He drones on like he gives a shit about the sick kids we’re here to raise money for when we all know he's only doing it for the PR and the tax write off.
Once the dog and pony show is over, I'm taking my last step off the stage when the band starts playing. The moment the first few notes of the Van Morrison classic about his brown-eyed girl rings through my ears, I can take it no longer. I stalk toward my brown-eyed girl, and I can see the fear in her eyes when she's sees me storming her way.
I hand her phone and tablet to Evelyn and grab her hand, pulling her onto the dance floor. I start swinging her around before she can get more than my name out. I twirl her out in front of me and pull her back in close.
"I'm tired of hiding. It's killing me. Being in the same room with you and not touching you is unbearable."
Not letting her reply, I twirl her away from me and then back in tight.
I'm speaking so only the two of us can hear our conversation, but the intimate way our bodies are pressed together make it clear this isn't a friendly dance. Along the edge of the dance floor, tongues are wagging and the flash of