Page 26 of Love Me Not

“I’m good, thanks.”

“Oh, no, you don’t,” Josie said, coming up behind me and cutting off my retreat. “The whole wedding party has to dance.”

I pointed to the father and daughter. “My partner is taken.”

Without hesitating, she and Miles stepped around me as Miles said, “Dance with Trey. He’s practically an honorary groomsman anyway.”

This was not part of the agreement. “I’m fine sitting it out.”

“Just dance,” Josie said. “It’s not like you don’t know each other.”

Out of excuses and not willing to put a ding in Megan’s big day, I sucked it up and accepted my fate. “Fine, but are you sure you can dance with someone over four feet tall?”

“I’ll give it my best shot,” he said, extending his hand with a smug smile on his face. He was enjoying this entirely too much.

Taking his hand, I let him spin me into the traditional dance position. One hand on his right shoulder, which was bulky and solid, and the other in his, which he held pressed to his chest. This was way too intimate for my comfort, but I could endure anything for four minutes. Even Trey Collins.

“You look nice,” he said when I gave every indication that this would be a silent encounter.

“Thanks.”

“Is this bridesmaids all wearing different dresses a new thing?”

For Becca’s wedding, she let us each pick out our own so long as they were in the same color story. Megan followed her lead, and this method had now become a pact, with Josie and Donna promising that if they made it to the altar, the rest of us got to choose.

“It’s an agreement,” I said. “When one of us gets married, the rest of us get to choose our own bridesmaid dresses.”

“So you’ll do the same when you get married?” he asked, spinning so that I was going backward. I wasn’t the most graceful person, but the switch was so smooth I didn’t miss a step. It pained me to admit, but Coach Collins was a good lead.

“No,” I said, hoping he’d take the hint from my one word answer and shut up.

“You won’t let them pick their dresses? That’s not cool if you all agreed.”

Why were we having this conversation? Was he hoping to be one of my bridesmaids?

“No, if I ever got married, I’d let them choose, but I’m not getting married so it’s a moot point.”

He pulled back, his bright blue eyes wide with surprise. “You already know you’ll never get married?”

“Yes.”

“Why not?”

Longest four minutes of my life.

“Because I don’t want to. Can we dance in silence, please?”

He executed another spin, and ignoring my request, changed the subject. “Burke says he and Aiden came to see you.”

Since this topic wasn’t prying into my personal life, I decided to allow it. “They did.”

“They asked if they can come late to practice so they can audition.”

Time to find out how much he supported his players stepping into the arts. “What did you tell them?”

Smile gone, he watched me closely. “I haven’t given them an answer yet. Will they be wasting their time if they go?”

“I can’t say until I see their auditions.”

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