as carefully as possible, I removed it and placed it on top of my folded dress. But I kept the silver ring on my finger and closed my fist as if it would slide off on its own volition.
The sound of music outside of the room called my attention away, back to Liam.
12
I put on one of the radio channels on the television. James Bay’s Us came on, a slow, piano-heavy song that suited the mood.
The soft close of the bathroom door had me turning around, taking Tori in as she stood, staring intently at me. Without the sheen of her makeup or the shiny dress, she looked softer. More vulnerable. Or maybe that was the music and her reaction to it.
“The club isn’t your scene,” I finally said. “It’s not mine either. But maybe this is?”
“What do you mean?” She stood by the doorway, as if she was a rabbit debating whether to risk it or run.
I held my hand out and took one step toward her. “We didn’t get the dance.”
“The dance.”
“Look,” I said, coming one step closer to her. “I know it was all fake. I don’t have any presumptions about you or tonight.” I shrugged. “I’ve never married—or fake married—anyone, and I guess I thought we both deserved one dance together.”
After a pause, her lips curled softly. “Oh, you’re that type.”
“What’s that type?”
She stepped forward—once, twice, until she was in my arms. “A romantic,” she said, a small smile curving the corners of her lips.
Was I? I hadn’t really thought about it. “I guess I am.”
She pulled back, her face tipped up to mine. “You guess? You made me an engagement ring with paper. You booked a pretty venue—prettier than I deserved. You chose a bouquet for me. You bought real rings.” She looked down at her hand, flipped it over and rubbed her thumb against the underside of the band. “Now, you want to share our first dance.”
“Albeit belatedly.”
Her smile grew wider and her hands slid behind me, up my back. “Albeit belatedly,” she echoed. “You are a romantic. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.”
I tucked a strand of her hair behind an ear. “Do you think I’m afraid of someone knowing? You can tell whoever you want. I’m not embarrassed by it.”
She sighed and leaned in to press her face to my chest. “It seems unreal that I’ve known you all of, what, five hours?”
“Five hours and ten minutes, if you count the night we met.”
I felt the curve of her lips against my shirt. “Five hours and ten minutes,” she amended. “And yet, I feel like I know you.”
I wrapped an arm around her waist and rocked back and forth with her along to the beat of the music. “I know. I don’t even know your hopes and dreams.”
“Oh, blah,” she said. “Hopes and dreams are overrated.”
“What would you rather learn? My favorite color? I told you where I worked, but I still don’t know what you do.”
“I teach online classes to kids overseas. I help them with English.”
“Oh?”
“It’s not a long-term thing.” She moved closer, our bodies flush as we rocked along to the song. “Just until I figure things out. I’m living temporarily with my parents.” She winced. “I got my degree two years ago and I still don’t know what to do. Isn’t that pathetic?”
“No,” I replied immediately. In so many ways, she reminded me of Will. Even after graduating and receiving his degree, he had worked freelance gigs exclusively, not wanting to be tied down or committed to any one thing. “What’s your degree?”
“Computer science,” she said. At my questioning look, she elaborated. “I have a double minor in statistics and sociology.”
“Whoa.”
“Don’t sound so impressed,” she said, reading my mind.
“Sorry, but a major and two minors is impressive to me.”
“Well, you want the truth of it? It was easy. And I know how shitty that sounds.”
“Shitty?”
She sighed and leaned into me. My hand came around her back, cradling her close. “Everyone was talking about what they wanted to do with their lives after high school. All my friends. And I couldn’t relate. I’ve never known what I wanted to do. I should. I’m twenty-four. But I have no fucking clue where I want to be six months from now. So, yeah, I got a degree in something that was—on the surface—easy. I’ve always had a knack for math. I planned to go to college, get my degree, and then figure things out.”