Page 16 of Still the One
“I’m really curious, Alan. How do you see my sex life? How does it work from your point of view?”
“I don’t know. You turn up somewhere, looking absolutely gorgeous like you do tonight. You bat your lashes a few times and, boom, a few moments later, you’re in bed with an equally gorgeous woman.” He shakes his head. “I am but a simple man, Mac. I see that now.”
“I don’t think that works for anyone, of any gender, anywhere.” Alan cracks me up and it’s good to have a laugh.
The song ends and Alan bows to me as though I’ve done him the greatest honor of his life. From the other side of the dance floor, I see Teddy elbowing his way over to me.
“Jamie!” I shout.
As soon as she looks at me, I wave her over.
“I need you to dance with me.”
Jamie tilts her head. “You do?”
“Argh!” Teddy has arrived by our side. “Am I too late?” He pretends to pout. “But who am I to come between two beautiful ladies?” He actually winks at me. “Enjoy your dance.”
Jamie curls an arm around my waist and puts her hand in the small of my back. From the get-go, she pulls me much closer than before. Our hips touch and there’s not an inch of space between our bellies. I rest my hand on her shoulder and she takes my free hand in hers, lifting it.
“Teddy did say we should enjoy ourselves.” Jamie grins at me. “It’s important to keep the father of the groom happy.”
“Very important,” I concur.
“In fact.” Jamie folds her fingers around my hand and starts leading the dance—any shyness she felt during our first dance together is long gone. “We should enjoy ourselves so much that he doesn’t even think about interrupting us if there’s another slow song after this.”
“You always were a quick thinker, Jamie. Always coming up with all sorts of plans.”
“If I remember correctly, you quite liked that about me.” She presses her fingertips a little deeper into the flesh of my back. I can’t say it’s not having an effect on me.
“It’s better than dancing with Alan while being subjected to questions about my sex life,” I blurt out.
“Bless him.” Jamie bursts into giggles and it’s a surprising delight to feel her belly shake against mine. Instead of pulling me cheek-to-cheek, she rests her gaze on me. “But you can’t blame the man for being curious.”
“Are you fishing?” Who the hell am I kidding? I am still attracted to Jamie. She’s the woman I’ve measured all other women against—and no one has ever come close.
Jamie nods. If she does that thing with her teeth again, I may succumb instantly—although there really isn’t much to say.
“You go first.” I’m not that easy.
Jamie huffs out some air. “My last relationship was a few years ago, actually.”
“And?”
“And what?”
“You don’t date?” I ask.
“I sometimes go on dates with myself. It’s a thing now. Did you know?”
“Is that a euphemism for, um, you-know-what?”
Jamie snickers. “Are we having the same conversation?”
“I don’t know. Are we not?”
“I told you I like to take myself out and you responded by asking if that’s a euphemism for masturbation.” Jamie does a full belly chuckle. “Damn. I forgot. This is what you’re like. Good one, Mac.” She shakes her head ever so slightly. “Fuck, you’re a delight.” She exhales deeply. Her face darkens, like she’s suddenly standing in the shadow of something. She does pull me close now so I can no longer see her features. It changes the mood again.
Things have shifted from banter into something else, something deeper, something harder to deal with, especially at this time of night. Regret, probably. Good memories being crowded out by bad ones again because that’s how it went—it’s our story. We were good and then we weren’t. And now we’re dancing together and it’s fun, but not the light, easy kind of fun because of all the baggage we carry. It’s a bittersweet treat.
