Page 23 of One-Star Romance

Rob and Natalie stared at each other. No way to back out without making a scene. So, as the drums kicked in, Rob extended an arm, and Natalie stepped forward. He clasped her hand in his and pulled her in, making sure to maintain a careful distance between their bodies. Slowly, background vocalists oohing, the music lush and full, the two of them began to sway.

At first, she pointedly looked anywhere but at him, smiling instead at various people in the crowd as if all was fine. Two could play at that game. He turned his own head.

As he gripped her waist, the heat of her skin burned through the thin fabric of her dress. His hand tightened around her in spite of himself, and she let out a sharp exhale. Briefly, their eyes met before they both looked away again. For a moment she stopped swaying while he kept going, so that their bodies accidentally drew closer, too close, brushing against each other. At that unexpected touch, she stumbled a little. He tightened his grip even more to steady her, a reflex.

But that had the effect of bringing her in even closer, her chest now pressed against his, her head nearly on his shoulder. As Mama Cass sang of longing, the smell of Natalie’s hair lingered in his nose, making him momentarily dizzy. Slowly, as if against her will, she tilted her head up so that her eyes locked on his, and somehow he could not tear his gaze away. He willed himself to release her, to step back. He would. Any moment now.

And then, Angus’s voice sounded faintly, telling the people around them to join back in the dance for the final choruses.

As the others began to move, Rob cleared his throat. “What were you going to ask me?”

“Oh.” For just a second, her expression was unguarded. And then that challenging look came back onto her face. “I wanted to ask how many stars you’d give my speech.”

Rob nearly choked on his own spit.

She went on. “After careful consideration, I’d rate yours four stars. So, what’s mine? Don’t be shy, I know you have opinions.”

His jaw clenched. “You know very well that yours was better. There’s no need to be cruel.” He spun her out and then back again. “Although I guess that comes naturally to you.”

She sputtered. “I’m cruel? What are you even talking about? And what about you?”

Around them, people started to shoot furtive glances at their argument. Thank God the song was ending. The moment it faded into the “Cha-Cha Slide” (an odd transition from the DJ), Rob made his way off the dance floor and into the hallway. She followed, blazing after him.

“It isn’t cruel to give one star to someone you know?” The door shut behind them, turning the thumping dance floor music faint.

“I had issues with the book, and I expressed that,” he said, more calmly than he felt.

“Oh, okay. And that’s perfectly normal? How would you feel if I eviscerated you on Rate My Professors?”

“I’m not a professor yet, so you couldn’t.”

“Well, someday.”

“In this scenario, have you taken my class?”

“No. You couldn’t pay me enough—”

“Then I’d be angry that you were misrepresenting yourself. But if you did take my class and had legitimate grievances with it, I’d feel that it was within your rights.”

“There are plenty of things within our rights that we don’t do. I’d be perfectly within my rights to go back into that reception, pick up the microphone, and announce to the crowd that you’re an insufferable asshole.” She moved closer to him in righteous fury, the pupils of her eyes expanding, black holes that wanted to suck him into oblivion. “But I would never do that because of common human decency!”

“It also shows a real lack of common human decency to—”

At that moment, the door swung open, and Angus’s grandfather hobbled out into the hallway.

“Oh hello, you two,” he said.

“Hello,” Natalie said pleasantly. “Having a nice evening?”

“The most wonderful.”

“A joyful occasion,” Rob forced out.

“I’m off to bed. Can’t keep up like I used to.”

“Sleep well,” Natalie said, waving him off, and they watched him as he slowly moved down the hallway to the main entrance. He stopped to check his pockets. Satisfied he hadn’t forgotten anything, he opened the front door and disappeared, after what felt like eons, into a taxi waiting outside.

The moment he was gone, Nat and Rob turned back to each other.

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