“Why?” I question, staring straight ahead.
I hear as he pulls air through his nose when I won’t meet his gaze. The silence earsplitting other than the drumming in my chest.
If I looked up our mouths would touch, and it would be too easy to kiss him. Right now, I wasn’t sure I would be able to deny myself that—him.I needed answers first. I swallow my tongue instead.
He takes his fingers resting them under my chin, lifting it anyway. His eyes molten and clear as they land on me. Not an ounce of deception to be found. Only genuine admiration.
I exhale again. I had asked for answers but was I ready to hear them? I gulp, unsure as his fingers splay out on my cheek.
As if he can sense my reluctance, his face softens. Whatever he was about to say shifted. The corner of his mouth lifts in amusement. “Are you going to answer me, baby?”
“Are you going to say please again if I don’t?” I rebuttal, instantly.
The grin on his face grows. “Only if it gets me the answer I want,” he replies brashly, certain.
I angle my head back matching his expression with one of my own. He was being overly cocky to put me at ease. Knowing what reaction, it draws from me.
I think my heart skips a beat in recognition.
His thumb strokes my cheek. That smile of his making me soft. “I would though if I had to.” Cole’s eyes glimmer with sincerity. “Only for you, princess.”
Those words like putty in my fingers. I was a goner after that.
Nodding, he takes my hand, leading us out onto the dance floor, back to the room of people. I think our moment’s over until I hear the familiar melody as his one hand finds my lower back, the other raised in the air.
My gaze snaps to his. The tune grows louder as we circle the floor.
Cole’s eyes glint, knowing. Watching me.
My eyes scan the room, everyone was watching us. Did they know what this song was too or were they just staring? This is the same one that played the first time Cole kissed me on the hood of his car.
My nerves rattle back in full swing.
“Everyone’s watching us.”
“No they’re watching you.”
“Us,” I correct more strongly. Anxious when I shouldn’t be.
It felt like this was the first time I was really being seen. Vulnerable and exposed to the world. At school it didn’t bother me, but in this room—thesepeople. Their meddling, downcast looks get the best of me.
I can feel my heart rate doubling over. If I could reach my bracelet maybe that would soothe me.
We were still dancing, and it would be weird if I tried. My ears start to ring. The song drowned out by my own head…
“Hey,” Cole says, drawing my attention back to the present. “Don’t look at them, eyes on me. Keep your eyes on me,” he says more sternly this time.
His steps slowed the smallest bit as he continued to move but he didn’t still. Forcing my concentration so that I didn’t misstep. Hailey somehow convinced me to finally wear a pair of heels.
I made a mental note to chew her out for that later. If I made it that far. I was growing more fervent with each passing second.
“Always on me.” His voice like silk. “You never let them get to you before, so don’t start now. They’re in this room with you, not the other way around.”
I look away again, still unsure…
Now he does stop completely. My eyes snap to his resolute ones. Cole’s jaw squares in shortness even though his eyes scream reliability.
“…This song?” I ask after a moment.