“I’m kind of glue, if you haven’t noticed. You fire me, and I come back smiling.”
“That’s what I’m hoping for.” He leans in, and just before his lips touch mine, someone taps my shoulder and the swaying of our hips stop as Slate stands there.
“Can I cut in?” Slate asks Darby.
He nods his head, steps back, and lets him step in. Slate pulls me to him just not as close as I was with Darby as we start to dance. We know how to dance with each other from years of practice. We move as if our bodies are synchronized as one.
“I really have missed you,” I say squeezing his shoulder.
“He’s a man who won’t let go. Are you prepared for that?” I glance over his shoulder to see Darby staring, watching us.
“I’m used to domineering men, Slate, you should know that.”
“Not this kind, Olympia. Your father was always lenient with you. This man wants to possess you. You know he hired this whole place when I said I wanted to take you dancing?”
“That’s a nice thing, Slate.”
“It is, but the bit I’m worried about is that you may fall harder than he does.” I look up to him. “I know what it’s like to fall for someone, and for them not to love you as much you love them.”
“I’m sorry, Slate.”
He shakes his head. “It’s okay, I’ve accepted it, and I would all over again. That’s what love is, but I’m afraid it may not be enough for you.” He pauses, stops moving, and looks at me. “Just take it slow, and don’t hand your heart over until you know it’s safe in his hands.” He steps away, putting some distance between us.
“Where are you going?”
“I have to go home. I think I came for what we needed… we needed closure. I don’t blame you, Olympia, I never did. I simply wanted you to heal.” He walks away, leaving me standing on the dance floor watching his retreating form abandoning me. Hands wrap around my waist, and I’m pulled back into a body that makes every part of me sing. When I turn around, I realize I don’t know if I can keep my heart safe. Because the way it’s beating right now for him makes me scared. Very fucking scared.24DarbyShe sways in my arms, and I watch as her ex leaves with only a backward glance in our direction. He loves her, it’s clear in the way he is with her and when she’s not watching. Brushing her now dark blonde hair away from her cheek as she turns to face me, she smiles up at me.
“I’ve had such a bad few days.”
I nod, not wanting to ask questions I’m not entitled to know the answers to.
“Tell me something no one else knows.” She lays her head on my chest as we continue to dance.
“I’m scared I won’t be enough for him,” I finally say.
She pulls back and grimaces at me. Her eyebrows squint in confusion, then her eyes scan me up and down with a caress I’ve never been victim to before.
I take a step back from her. the way she’s looking at me frightens me for many reasons.
“You will be, and because you think that, you will be, for sure.” Her eyes don’t leave mine, but her gray eyes regard me waiting for something. “Thank you for telling me that,” she says as the music seems to grow silent, and we’re the only two in the room.
“I would like to kiss you now.”
It takes me two steps to erase the distance that’s separating us and my hands to grab her, dragging her to me, so I can do just that. She makes a sound of surprise when my arms wind around her back our lips inches away. I don’t stop as my lips beg to touch hers. She obliges, reaching up and kissing me strongly.
Something has changed between us. I didn’t know it before, but I know it now. I’m falling for her, in what aspect I’m not even sure. But never have I ever let a woman get as close to me as I’m letting her. She seems to be my exception. Why? I’ve still yet to figure out.
“Wahoo, get a room, would you?” Her lips kiss mine one more time before we pull apart. Falcon still has his fingers on his lips as he whistles loudly for the world to hear. I wave him off and look back to her.
“Do you still love him?”
“Yes.” The heart’s hard when it’s under strain. “But I am not in love with him anymore. He knows that. We shared something no other person can understand but us.”
I nod. Not because I understand, but because I get it. I shared something with Cleo that no one could ever understand and no one ever will.