AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Of course.”
By the time they’d gotten some punch and a few cookies, Eric was ready to stretch out in a chair and take a nap. He was exhausted from entertaining Aimee. And more so, he was tired of avoiding Holly.
In less than ten seconds of sitting, though, he caught her attention from a few feet away. Justin saw them as well and pulled Holly over. “Taking a break, I see. Party poopers. You look as tired as Holly is, Eric. Why don’t we switch partners for a while, and you can get your three dances in?”
Oh, that’s right. Suddenly, Eric sprang to his feet, suddenly alive with energy. “Want to dance?” he asked Holly. “I do have to fulfill my side of the bet.”
“Sure,” she said, taking his outstretched hand. His fingers tingled as her small hand slipped into his. A slow song started just then, and he pulled her away from the crowds, and far away from Aimee and Justin so he would be able to hear her.
“Are you having fun?” he asked her as soon as he’d pulled her into his arms, daring to hold her closer than he had Aimee.
“Yep.” She smiled, but he could tell she was forcing it.
“Did you see my impersonation of the raptor?”
She nodded but didn’t meet his eye. Hmm. He was stumped. Nothing he said was catching her attention.
“Are you tired?” he asked, trying again. “I’m tired. Aimee has way more energy than I would’ve guessed.”
She smiled at the mention of her roommate. “Yes, she’s a feisty one. Justin has just as much energy.”
Justin and Aimee did make a good match, now that he thought about it. Well, they could keep on dancing with each other, because he was content keeping Holly in his arms.
Suddenly, she rested her head on his chest and sighed. He tightened his grip around her. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I guess slowing down helped me remember how tired I really am.”
He nodded, and without thinking, ran a hand through her hair, making sure not to mess anything up.
When she glanced up at him, he swallowed the tight feeling in his throat. “Sorry. Did I do something wrong?”
She shook her head. “No.”
When her attention never wavered, he stopped moving and dropped his hands, finding both of hers. “Holly, I felt something tonight, kissing you. I’ve tried to not think about it and to be respectful to Aimee, but I can’t stop thinking about you. Tell me you felt something too.”
There was a long moment of silence before she spoke. “No,” she finally said.
That hadn’t sounded like no.
She dropped her chin and shook it. No, she hadn’t felt anything? No, she didn’t want anything to do with him? He waited for an excruciatingly long time for her to explain, but she never elaborated.
“Holly, what are you thinking?” His mind whirled as he waited.
“I’m with Justin tonight, Eric.” She took a few steps away from him. “I’m not feeling so good. Will you tell Justin I had to leave?”
“Wha—”
She spun away and fled to the nearest exit. Everything in him wanted to follow her, track her down, and make her say how she really felt. But he knew, and that little twinge of hesitation she’d given was the perfect hope he needed. If it was supposed to work out, he didn’t mind waiting.
9
Holly
In less than thirty seconds, Holly escaped the ballroom, fled down the stairs, and ran toward the exit doors of the student center. Couples gathered in the lounging area, laughing or cuddling. If only Eric had picked her first.
There was no way a relationship would work between them, not when her best friend liked him so much. At least, that’s what she told herself all the way home.
As soon as she was back in the safety of her room, Holly slowly took off her dress and hung it carefully on a hanger. All things considered, it had been a new and exciting experience to attend a college dance. Justin had been attentive the entire night. He’d been upbeat and had helped her focus on what was important.
