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Her laughter is infectious and soon I’m joining in. “You know I’m not confident!”
“Yeah, that’s what yousaid, but all I’ve seen is you being badass and making moves.”
I giggle at the thought ofNaomithinkingI’mbadass. I didn’t think I was making any sort of moves today, but everything seems to come naturally with me and Dean, even if I embarrass myself in front of him. He’s never made me feel bad about it—he’s never made me feelboring—even when I blew on him. If I think about it, Dean’s always made me feel special, always made me feel like he enjoys me forme, awkwardness and all.
“Having fun?” Faye appears, dropping into the seat beside me.
“Oh my goodness, yes, I’ve been having so much fun! Where have you been?”
“With Kellan.” She turns to Naomi. “Hey, I’m Faye.”
“Naomi,” she replies, then shakes her empty glass. “I’m going to get a refill. Lori?”
“No thanks.” I point to the still full drink that Dean got me, and Naomi disappears to give Faye and me some privacy.
Faye wastes no time telling me what happened with Kellan and how she admitted to him she wants to be more than friends with benefits. I’m proud of her for doing that. I know it’s hard for her to open up aboutrealfeelings and let people in, but she did it with Kellan and it looks like it’s paying off. She finishes my drink while telling me her plans for the room, then disappears to meet him.
“Was that Faye?” Dean asks just as Faye vanishes from sight.
“Yes. You know her, running around all over the place.”
Just as he’s about to drop into Faye’s vacated seat, Naomi appears, a new drink in her hand.
“Nuh-uh!” she chides him, causing him to hover over the seat as if frozen. “We’re not sitting around. This is my favorite song! Let’s go dance.”
I don’t recognize the song, but Naomi must really love it because she grabs Dean and shoves him toward the dance floor.
“Come on, Lori!” she summons me.
She pushes me toward Dean and says, “I’m going to find Thomas. Have fun!” And with a wink at me, she’s gone. She doesn’t care about this song; this is all about her matchmaking effort. She didn’t even try to be discreet.
Though I’m sure he’s onto Naomi’s antics, Dean just grins and holds out a hand to me. It’s not a fast song, not like the others we were dancing to, so instead I wrap my arms around his neck, and he pulls me closer with his hands on my waist. There are no fancy spins like last time, but our steps and the flow of our bodies comes naturally.
“Are you having fun tonight?” he asks as we move together.
“I am,” I admit, then because I’m hit by a strange wave of confidence from Naomi telling me I’m a badass, I add, “Mostly because of you, though.”
A mix of delight and surprise lights up his face. He looks like he’s struggling to fight his smile. “Because of me?”
I nod and bite my lip, and his eyes track the movement.
“Yes . . . thank you for today.”
“Why are you thanking me? You don’t need to.”
I shrug a shoulder. “I don’t know. For having fun with me, I guess.”
He gives his head a sad little shake. “Stop thanking me for hanging out with you. You make it sound like a chore when it’s the complete opposite. I look forward to seeing you. You’re amazing, Lori.”
He’s looking at me like he means every single word, and maybe even more that he’s leaving unsaid.
Now I’m all too aware of his hands around my waist, of my chest pressed up against his, of the rapid beating of my heart that he’s sure to feel. I don’t hear the music anymore—don’t notice all the other people around us—it’s just me and him and the intense way we’re looking at each other, a spark in the air that signals we’re on the precipice of something new and exciting, something that could change everything between us. My eyes are drawn to his lips, and I can’t look away.
“Lori,” he breathes, and the sound practically makes my knees weak.
Oh my gosh! He’s going to kiss me! It’s really going to happen!
At this point we’ve stopped dancing altogether, too lost in each other to care. My hands act on their own volition and tangle in his hair, which is so soft, way too soft. He leans in closer to me, and his lips brush mine in a featherlight touch and—
