Page 72 of The Dixon Rule

“No.”

“I’m not done!”

“Nope. You lost me at waltz.”

Desperation rises inside me and brings a pout to my lips. “Please? Kenji bailed on me, and now I’m totally screwed. You showed some solid coordination last night. You have the raw talent, I’m sure of it. And you already told Lynsey you were entering the competition with me.”

“Yes, I said it in the moment.” He looks amused. “I wasn’t planning on following through.”

“What are you going to tell her, then?” I challenge.

“I don’t know. I’ll say it fell through. You found a new partner. Coach wouldn’t let me do it during the hockey season.” He shrugs. “There’s lots of reasons why I might need to back out.”

“Come on, Shane, please.”

He directs another snicker my way. “You don’t even like me, and you want us to be dance partners?”

I jut out my chin. “You don’t have to like your dance partner.”

“I’m not doing it.”

“How about a blowjob?”

“I’m listening.”

I grin at him. “Great. I’ll find a good escort service and see if they’ll give you one on the down low—”

“From you, Dixon,” he interrupts with a smirk. “It’s your mouth or no mouth.”

“Perv. I will never blow you.”

“I know. That’s why I’m satisfied I’ll never have to be your dance partner.”

I let out a loud moan. “Every time I start to like you, you turn around and decide to ruin my life.”

Shane curls over in laughter, which only heightens my irritation. Here I was, sincerely extending an olive branch to this man in the form of dance, and he’s throwing it back in my face. Mocking me.

The chiming of my phone interrupts us. I stifle a groan after I check the screen. It’s Percy. My ex has texted about ten times since I told him we couldn’t be friends, and he’s about one more text away from getting blocked.

PERCY:

I know you’re avoiding me. Can we please talk?

I ignore the message and grumble in irritation.

“Bad news?”

“No. Just my ex.”

“Still bugging you?”

“Yes. He still thinks he has a chance of winning me back.” I make an exasperated noise. “Seriously, what is wrong with you guys? Why can’t you just go away after you get dumped? Why can’t you get the message?”

“Ouch.”

“Aw, I didn’t mean you. I meant…” I suddenly remember what we were up to last night and why. “Oh, oops. I guess I do mean you. Sorry.”

“I’m not trying to win her back,” he insists.

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