Even Norelli doesn’t object as Tyler makes his way up the steps, sets his bag on the floor, his jacket over that. His tie is loose, and his shirt clings to the slopes and planes of his chest and shoulders. He rolls up the sleeves as heapproaches.
My anger at Kellan fades. He’s a pawn in this game of Carly’s, nothing more. The frustration I feel with the boy in my pool housethough…
Oh, that’s a living, pulsingthing.
“What are you doing here?” I hiss as heapproaches.
Tyler reaches up to flick the top button of his shirt open, then the second, his gaze never leaving mine. “You haven’t answered mymessages.”
“A rational person would assume I didn’t want to seethem.”
My attention drifts to the exposed skin at the top of his chest as he takes my hand, tugs mecloser.
I’m too startled to resist when he fits my hips to his and murmurs his response next to my ear. “Thank fuck you don’t speakrational.”
Someone starts themusic.
Tyler nudges me back, and he steps into the choreography Kellan screwedup.
I’vedied.
There’s no way in my lifetime I expected to see Tyler Adams dance on stage at our school, not to mention withme.
But it’s not a dream, it’s a waltz, and his touch warms my waist through my shirt, his confident hands moving my body where he wantsit.
When I lift my gaze to meet his, I’m taken from stunned to wrecked. The longing from the restaurant hallway is there, but there’s also fierce determination, as if he knows this is a bad idea and he gives zeroshits.
There’s something beneath the fierceness. If we were alone, I’d pressure him to tell me, but I don’t have to wait long for him to spill hissecrets.
Eight bars in, the guy I can’t stop thinking about sees my “what the hell” and raises me a “the fuck heis.”
Because Tyler starts tosing.
His voice is smooth and full, wrapping around me as if we’re the only two peoplehere.
He’s playing Kellan’s part better than Kellandoes.
I feel each word in mysoul.
His gaze holds mine as he sweeps me across the floor. I dig my fingers into his shoulder through his shirt, living for the warmth of his palm against mine, the one I read at that carnival so longago.
I knew something was going to change for me this year, I could feel it coming like apromise.
I’d thought it was landing the lead in the musical, but it’s more thanthat.
It’sTyler.
I don’t know if this is his way of showing me I can’t avoid him or the world’s most public peace offering, but no girl or fish could resist this prince. He’s strong and sure. The cool edge that follows him around has melted, and the invitation beneath is impossible toreject.
It takes a moment for me to realize he’s stopped, we’ve stopped, and the stage crew cuts themusic.
“It’s not her. It’s you.” His words are loud enough for the entire auditorium tohear.
Kellan's watching from the corner,stunned.
Tyler’s touch leaves my skin tingling, my heart hammering as he stepsaway.
I’m missing his warmth, his talent, his strength, even before he picks up his bag and jacket and heads for thedoor.