The Swan and The Sergeant - Alana Albertson Page 0,56

the orchestra grew louder, and then we arrived, and the doors burst open.

It was even better than I had imagined: the raised bandstand filled with gleaming instruments, the pulsating music, and the bubbly performers set against vibrant orange and blue decor. And the dance floor—God! I’d never seen anything like it. Burnished maple, accented by a shiny brass rail tracing its perimeter. There were round tables, and a soda fountain dispensing tall mugs of Mexican Coke for a nickel each.

It was gorgeous here. I thought I had died and landed on the set of the play Zoot Suit. I loved it.

Xavier took the stage as my posse and I moved through the crowd.

“¿Que Pasiones? Welcome, everybody, to the new Savoy Ballroom,” he said into a microphone. “I have created this evening in appreciation for the jazz legends who inspired me: Tin-Tan, Cab Calloway, and Lalo Guerrero. Ladies and gentlemen, the music never stops at the Zoot Suit Bash. I also wanted to bring awareness to the Sleepy Lagoon murder trial and the Zoot Suit Riots. Al rato, vato.”

He waved his arm broadly to the left. The spotlight followed, picking up Latin music sensation Luis Sanchez emerging from the wings.

Can this night get any better?

Onstage, Luis, wearing a purple zoot suit, belted out Lalo Guerrero’s song, “Los Chucos Suaves.”

The girls and I walked up to the bar, and I ordered a margarita, some chips and guacamole, and a few taquitos.

“Hey, Sel,” Bret said.

I turned to face him. He was also costumed in head-to-toe 1940s garb—and looking way sexy in the midnight-blue double-breasted zoot suit.

I couldn’t even believe he was here!

“What are you doing here?” I said, stepping to the other side of him. “You hate parties.”

“I do. But I wanted to see you.” He ordered a shot of tequila. “You wanna dance? For old time’s sake?”

Elizabeth gave me a huge grin. She mouthed, He totally loves you, and then led Jenny away from the bar.

I scanned the room. “I thought you were done with me.”

“I was upset. I’m still upset.” He took a deep breath and downed his tequila. He licked a drop from his lips—the lips that had kissed every inch of my body.

“Oh. Well, in that case, fine.” I held up my plate. “But let me finish my food? I’m starving.”

Bret laughed.

I took a big ol’ bite of the taquito and a nibble of a chip smothered in guac and—uh-oh.

Benny had spotted me stuffing my face.

I tossed my plate behind a large plant and grabbed Bret’s hand. “No time like the present.”

Benny was still pushing through the crowd when Bret whisked me away to safety.

He led me to the packed floor. Luis sang another song. I dug into my purse and popped a mint into my mouth before tossing my bag onto a nearby table. Then I wrapped myself in Bret’s arms. Ummmm. I couldn’t believe I’d gone ten years without these arms.

He squeezed me tight. “Do you remember that time in Croatia at Junior Worlds when we ditched our sponsor and spent the entire night playing cards with that Icelandic guy, Ingibjörg?”

“Totally. And we still won the next day.” I rested my head on his shoulder.

His hands lowered to my hips and he swayed me into him. “Selena… I’m sorry. I couldn’t deal with the fact that Dima took advantage of you. And seeing my name in the tabloids…I just couldn’t handle it.” He pulled my chin up with his thumb and forced me to look at him. “You should’ve told me what happened. You wanted me to join the Corps. I would’ve done anything for you.”

“Bret, I was so emotional after that night. I didn’t know what happened, so I blamed myself. After I had slept with him, I didn’t think you would take me back.”

“I would’ve killed him.”

“Yeah, I saw the way you fought him.”

“He groomed you, took advantage of you, it’s not okay. He will do it to another girl.”

“I know.” And I did. I just didn’t know what to do.

He spun me around to a drumroll. When I landed back in his arms, he squeezed me even tighter. “See that? You can spin away, but you always end up in my arms.” He kissed my neck.

Good gawd, did this man remember my buttons?

“It feels so good to have you back in my arms,” he said into my ear.

The saxophone kicked in, slowing the tempo even more. He twirled me around.

“I love you, Sel. I never stopped.” He cradled my face and looked into my