his feet.
“It’s just a square,” he says.
I follow him, feeling like a robot and stepping on his foot when we’re supposed to go back. The last time I apologized so much was when I threw up in Liam’s classic car my junior year, after I got wasted at a party.
“Now.” He releases my waist, puts his finger under my chin, and brings up my face. “Your eyes stay on me. This is where the connection happens.”
“Okay. Man, you’re really good at this. Where did you learn?” Just as I think I can hold a conversation while dancing in a square, I mess up and my ankle twists.
“You okay?” he asks.
“Yeah. I’m fine.” I stand up straighter to get back up on that horse, when really, I just want to leave. I’m not getting married. I don’t have to dance at their wedding if I choose not to. Why did I agree to this? Oh yeah, because if Brigette is important to Colton, then she needs to be important to me, which means I need to do things like this to try to build a relationship with her.
“I’m a nerd and took ballroom dancing as a college credit,” he confesses with a shy smile.
“Easy A?”
He chuckles. “Nope. The instructor made sure there wasn’t anything easy about it. To pass the class, we had to partner up and do an actual dance contest.”
“Whoa.”
“Yeah, but she said I had hips for salsa. Whatever that means.”
I glance down between us and see that as we step, his hips sway a little with each move. As if he’s a chained up dog who wants to run free.
Meanwhile, Colton and Brigette dance next to us. Brigette seems to be doing okay while Colton silently counts with his mouth open.
“There you go,” Brigette says. “You’re kind of getting it, but more flair.”
Colton tries, but he looks as if he’s got ants in his pants. I laugh, causing him to look over at me and step on Brigette’s toes.
“Damn it, can’t you two be serious?” She unhooks herself from him and grabs her toe.
“Sorry,” I say.
Two more couples come in. Mrs. Johnson says hello to them then comes over to us and puts her hands on my hips.
“More movement, Juno. Loosen up.” Mrs. Johnson smacks my one hip as if it’s fallen asleep. “There you go.”
I feel no difference, but she leaves us alone, which I’m thankful for. Jason spins me, and I face Colton and Brigette.
“That was a nice move,” I say to Jason, who smiles.
“Oh, I think we have a few dancers in the house,” Mrs. Johnson calls. “I’m going to have you dance around with one another.”
“I thought this was a party, let’s dance!” Denver yells, entering the room with a red-faced Cleo.
I dislodge from Jason and cross my arms. You’ve got to kidding me.
“Who is that?” Jason asks.
“Um…”
“Denver Bailey, you do not enter a ballroom like that,” Mrs. Johnson says.
“It’s from Footloose.” He waits for her to show any recognition of the famous final line, but it never comes.
“I do not care. This is a ballroom.” She takes his hand and leads him to the middle of the dance floor. “It is not to be knee in crotch and grinding.”
Everyone laughs. I think she has her movies mixed up.
“All you had to do was ask, Mrs. Johnson.” Denver brings her close and acts as if he’s going to grind her.
She hits him but looks at Cleo, who’s standing near the wall. “How are you ever going to marry this guy?”
“I guess I’m special because it takes a special girl to see his beauty.” Cleo walks over and smacks him playfully, before taking the spot of Mrs. Johnson. Now Denver really does put his leg between her legs and grinds.
“Your cousin?” Jason asks.
I twist my lips into an apologetic expression. “Brother.”
“Another one?”
“Yeah, but the last one you’d have to meet would be Austin and he’s super chill.”
“Just to be safe, let’s dance on the other side of the room.”
I laugh, thinking he’s joking, but Jason really does spin me until we’re in the opposite corner.
“Juno!” Denver yells, somehow dancing toward me.
“What on Earth are you two doing here?” I ask.
“Dance lessons for our wedding. Gotta start early. Plus, we needed to get out of the house. Everyone’s babies are ruining our social life.” Cleo laughs.
“I’ll put a baby in you,” Denver says. “Let’s ditch this class and go home and try until we’re successful.”
Cleo smacks him on the shoulder. “One hour. You promised.”
Denver acts like