Page 30 of Passing Ships

The wedding party consists of Sebastian, me, Wade, Anson, and Parker. Then Avie, Amiya, Eden, and Lisa and Savannah—two of Avie’s cousins.

The cousins arrived this morning with their families. They are lodging in Eden’s house for the duration of their stay, and this evening is our first of several dance lessons.

We pay for our drinks and head out.

“God, I hate this,” I grumble as we make our way to Eden’s studio.

“I’m not excited about it either, but Eden promises she’ll make it as painless as possible,” he assures me.

The music fills the room with a smooth, rhythmic pulse, and I feel a bead of sweat trickle down my back as I take Amiya’s hand in mine.

We’re in a small studio. The wood floor has been polished to a shine beneath our feet. Mirrors cover the walls, reflecting our hesitant movements, showing me how stiff I look and how unsure my feet are compared to Amiya’s fluidity.

I’m not a bad dancer per se. At least, I didn’t think until now. Turns out, it isn’t my forte.

Amiya’s grip is firm, her fingers warm against my skin, and I can tell she’s trying not to laugh at my awkwardness.

She’s obviously better at this than I am, and I have to fight the urge to give up and stomp off the floor, but the wedding is in a few weeks, and I promised I’d try not to embarrass the family with my two left feet.

“Relax, Lennon,” Amiya says, her voice low and calming. “It’s just a simple waltz. You’ve got this.”

I nod even though I’m not entirely convinced.

Eden stands at the front of the room with the posture of a ballet dancer and a no-nonsense attitude. She claps her hands. “From the top,” she instructs, restarting the music.

It’s the melody Sebastian and Avie picked out for their first dance.

We start again, Amiya leading because I still can’t quite remember the steps. It’s something like a box step, but more complicated with the turns and the timing of the music. Amiya’s movements are smooth, almost second nature, while I feel like a robot trying to mimic human motions.

“One, two, three,” Amiya counts softly, guiding me through the rhythm. “Step, turn, step. See? You’re getting the footwork down.”

I’m not sure if she’s lying to make me feel better, but I appreciate the encouragement. I focus on her face, trying to ignore the way the mirrors make me feel like I’m on display. Amiya’s eyes are bright, her smile easy, and I can see she’s enjoying my misery a little too much.

There’s something comforting about that. Her amusement actually spurs me on to learn this damn dance.

I step on her foot for the third time since we started, and she winces but laughs it off.

“Okay, maybe not that foot, but you’re improving.”

“Shit, sorry,” I mutter.

Anson glides by us with one of Avie’s cousins in his hold.

How the fuck is he catching on to this nonsense?

“Fucker,” I mutter, and he grins.

I turn my focus back to Amiya, feeling my face heat up. “Maybe if I’m bad enough, Sebastian and Avie will just let me sit this out. I can hide from my mother behind the cake table.”

Amiya rolls her eyes, pulling me back into position. “You’re not getting out of this, Sailor. So, suck it up and focus. You can do this. And smile, will you? It’s supposed to be fun.”

“Yeah, maybe for people who can actually dance.”

She nudges me with her shoulder, a playful shove that eases the tension in my chest. “I don’t dance like this every day either, but it’s kind of fun once you get the hang of it. Just stop thinking so much and let yourself move.”

I try, concentrating on the feel of her body against mine and the rhythm of the music. Eden and Wade circle us, and she offers occasional pointers but mostly lets Amiya guide me.

“That’s better, Lennon,” Eden boasts.

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