I do a double-take, and my head spins.
The Kat I see across the dance floor with Marlow and Axavier next to her is not the natural-look-tractor-boots-shorts-and-braided-hair Kat.
Fuck…
I can’t take my eyes off her.
She is young Sophia Loren, Audrey Hepburn, Cleopatra, Aphrodite—I can’t even find the words. I’ve never seen her with makeup on, let alone red lipstick, or in a party dress, red, hugging her beautiful body, and high heels.
Or…
With her hair unbraided, falling beautifully over one side of her face.
I’m usually cool as ice. Around her, I’m flammable.
I swallow hard, taken aback by the girl I thought I knew so well. Drowning in this moment when I finally realize I’ve gotten too fucking deep.
Kat notices me, her eyes pausing with that intensity that brings the last evening, the last dinner, the last fuck all at once to mind.
I cheer to her.
She cheers back, sets the glass down, and says something to Axavier next to her.
The DJ changes the tune to a slower Hispanic song remix. Kat takes Axavier by the hand and drags him onto the dance floor where a crowd is dancing already.
Someone bumps into me then recognizes me and starts a conversation. Another person comes over to say hello. I see heads turn in my direction.
I couldn’t care less.
Everyone is faceless.
My eyes are on Kat—red dress, high heels, those beautiful legs that wrap around me when she fucks me, her long hair, wavy, and luscious against my skin when I run my hands through it.
But her smile right now is for Axavier, who slides behind her, her back to his chest as they rock their hips in sync to abachatatune.
Anger rises in me. Jealousy shoots through the roof. Kat is never this open with me in public. We areneverin public.
She is doing this on purpose. But I didn’t come here for a game.
I lose my drink and slowly walk onto the dance floor, glances following me, the crowd parting as I walk through.
I reach Axavier, who already has his hands on Kat’s waist—if we weren’t in public, I would’ve punched the motherfucker—and grab his shoulder, pulling him away.
He is about to object when he recognizes me. I nod for him to get lost and take a step toward Kat.
I set my hands on her waist and start doing slow steps in sync with hers.
One-two-three-tap.
One-two-three-tap.
There’s a perfume I never smelled before on her. She doesn’t notice it’s me until I press closer to her, my hips against hers. She grabs my hands and tries to pull away, but I hold her tight as I lower my lips to her ear.
“Enjoying yourself, kitten?” I murmur.
She relaxes. And that’s a sign. We might have had a little row last night, but she wants me and doesn’t mind this public display.
Everyone is watching. Even those dancing. Those standing by the railing and at the tables are already gossiping. They’ve heard plenty, I’m sure, but they haven’t seen me in a while, and definitely not with my girl.