Page 53 of The Truths We Find

The red velvet U-shaped booth is a huge welcome. As soon as Dani sits down, she lets out the biggest sigh. Alexa and I laugh as we scoot in next to her.

“It’s about time you looked relaxed!” Alexa yells.

What? Dani mouths back.

The music is so loud, I can barely hear what either of them is saying.

Alexa leans in and yells again, “It’s about time you looked relaxed!”

She’s right. For the first time in months, Dani seems like she isn’t stressing out. She smiles, tilts her head back, and closes her eyes. The sight makes my chest warm with happiness. She looks so incredible tonight. Hell, she looks incredible all the time. But watching her bask in everything she’s accomplished just adds to her beauty. She’s earned this.

Alexa taps Dani’s shoulder and motions toward the bar. I slide out of the booth to let her pass, then settle back beside Dani. Conversation is pointless over the thrum of the speakers, so we sit in the noise, shoulder to shoulder. I offer her a small smile and she gives one back.

The urge to pull her close, to anchor myself to her, is almost unbearable. But I don’t move. I won’t betray the trust, or the fragile friendship, I’ve fought so hard to earn.

Alexa comes back just in time with a tray of six small glasses filled with clear liquid. Either the music got lower, or she somehow got louder, because we’re able to hear her yell, “Casamigos shots!”

She places the tray on the table and scoots in next to me, pushing Dani and I closer together. The smell of Dani’s perfume dances with my senses, and it’s driving me crazy.

We each grab a glass, and Alexa insists on making a toast. She turns to Dani. “Cheers to an incredible producer and friend. You didn’t give up on me or this story and fought tooth and nail to make it happen.” She gives me the side-eye, and all I can do is shrug. She continues, “This win is because of you. Cheers!”

As soon as the tequila passes my throat, I feel a warm burning sensation throughout my whole body. As uncomfortable as it is, I feel the urge to do it again. As I go to reach for the next shot, Dani has already downed her other one.

“Damn, girl. You really are ready to celebrate!” Alexa giggles.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you drink like this,” I say.

I can tell Dani is already feeling the effects of the alcohol, especially when she yells, “I think we’re going to need more shots!”

Alexa proceeds to hand her second glass to Dani, and down it goes. She slams the empty glass on the table and scoots down the booth, pushing us all out. She grabs Alexa’s hand and says, “Let’s dance,” while pulling her towards a large crowd.

Oh yeah, she’s definitely feeling it.

Alexa mouths to me, Save me.

I can tell she’s kidding, and if push came to shove, those two can handle themselves. But call me old school, I would feel better if they had me watching over them.

I shrug out of my tux jacket, dropping it into the booth, revealing the suspenders underneath. I roll my sleeves to my forearms, tug the hem of my shirt free from the top of my pants so it hangs loose, and undo my bow tie, letting it dangle around my neck.

Dani’s gaze lingers, slow and deliberate, and I feel a jolt straight through me. My pulse skips, my chest tightens—God, the way she looks at me. I catch her eye and give her a sly wink, trying to mask the heat rising under my skin. She rolls hers back, pretending to be unimpressed, but I see the hint of her amusement, and I’ll take what I can get.

We push through the mob, making our way to the center of the dance floor. It’s as if the DJ knew Dani was ready to let go—suddenly the EDM blasts back to full volume, vibrating through the floor. We wedge ourselves under the spinning, multicolored lights and bounce with the crowd, lost in the rhythm.

Dani and Alexa move like nothing else exists, letting the music carry them, every motion effortless and alive. For a solid twenty minutes, the three of us are swallowed up by the beat—until Alexa calls over the music that she needs to hit the restroom.

“I’ll come with you,” Dani shouts.

“No! You stay here with Gavin,” she yells back. “If we both leave, he’ll go sit down and I don’t want to lose our prime dancing spot.”

Alexa is gone before either of us can respond. Dani turns towards me and shrugs. “Wanna dance?”

I take her hands in mine, and we start to move along with the crowd. I’m not sure if jumping up and down really counts as dancing, but it’s fun—because I’m with her.

After a few minutes, the music shifts to something slow, and Dani takes this as her cue to head back to the table. As she starts to move through the crowd, I reach for her hand and pull her back toward the center of the floor.

“What are you doing?” she asks, a flicker of confusion crossing her face.

I don’t answer. Instead, I lift her hand to rest on my shoulder and wrap my arm around her waist, bringing her body flush against mine. I take her free hand, clasping it in mine, and we start to sway. Just touching her like this sends a shock through me. My chest feels impossibly tight, and the only thing I want is to close the distance even more.