hair blended, and our torsos fit against one another’s so entirely. It was as if we were made for one another.
That thought scared me. Not because I thought we fit so perfectly together, but because I saw something different in myself as I watched the two of us dance. I saw a fierceness, a willingness to throw caution to the wind, and that was not who I was.
I was structure.
I was careful.
I was a woman who thought before she did anything and made sure she weighed every risk before doing it.
I would never admit this to anyone—but I wanted to be the other woman—she scared and excited me—almost as much as he did.
As I watched the romantic dance with my first partner, my heart clenched in my chest. Charlie was right; he did seem lost as I walked away. Would I be lost without him if I chose him, and then it did not work?
That specific thought is how I based my decision. I could not afford to be lost. I could not afford to take that kind of chance right now. My life was too busy, and while I was right where I wanted to be, I still had plans. One day I would own my own restaurant. Dancer one could pull me from my dreams, and I couldn’t afford for that to happen.
I didn’t tell Charlie what I had decided. I let her go on and on about the two men. Holly was quiet as we left her office. It looked as if she wanted to say something, but knew she shouldn’t.
On Sunday, Holly showed up at my door with two camera crews. I handed her my envelope. “For dancer one.”
Holly seemed shocked. “Are you sure, Ali?”
“I need safe, not sexy. I’m sure.”
A sadness came over her eyes, but she blinked it away quickly. “Okay then. Let’s go meet dancer number two.”
She handed the envelope off to one of the crew members, shaking her head slightly. I watched the van pull away from the curb as I got into my car to follow Holly to the location I would meet my date.
Holly and a smaller third crew were with me around the corner from the small outdoor café. I was nervous but excited. I tried not to think about what the other man would be going through.
I turned to Holly abruptly. “What was his name?” She raised a brow as if confused. “Dancer one. What was his name?”
She smiled sadly. “His name is Harvey; they call him Harv.”
“Harvey,” I nodded. I hadn’t pictured that name for him, but I liked it. It was a strong, masculine name. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She spoke with a few people, and then turned to me. “Okay, you ready? He’s waiting for you.”
I blew out a burst of air and rolled my shoulders. “Yeah, I’m ready.”
Tarin came on camera with me and asked me a few questions about being nervous and how hard the decision was. When I thought back on the process, it wasn’t all that hard. The hardest part was reminding myself that I wanted safe, not the unknown.
We finished the interview questions, and then I walked around the corner and toward the small café seating area. There was a camera on him, but I knew by the angle that it was picking me up too. I was both excited and a little nervous as I stepped around him.
“Hi,” I said with more bubble in my voice than expected. His eyes snapped to mine, and a wide grin spread over his features as he quickly came to his feet.
“Wow, I hoped you’d pick me, but I was worried you wouldn't.” He put his hand out. “I’m Blake Monahan.”
I shook his hand. “Ali Davidson,” I replied.
“Can I give you a hug?” he suddenly asked, and I grinned up at him and stepped forward. The hug was lovely, and for only a brief moment, I thought about the fact that it didn’t make me tingle. I didn’t need tingle; I needed reliable.
“Have a seat.” He held my chair out for me. “Wow, I can’t believe this. What a ride this has been, huh?”
“Yes, it has been crazy.”
“That last dance we did, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to learn it.”
“You?” I laughed as a drink was put down in front of me. “I was the one that had to learn all those in the air things.”
He chuckled, and I smiled. I liked the sound of his voice and his laugh. “So, what do