Page 52 of Two to Tango

“You shouldn’t have to ask for permission for any of that,” he tells me adamantly.

Suddenly, the boisterous bar around us is quiet, and everything is frozen, and all I see is him looking back at me.

He also wasn’t part of the plan.

When did these feelings emerge? When did this change?

I can’t deny something has always been there, simmering just below the surface. It feels like tonight is breaking me free, and who knows what else will come of it then.

“Panty Dropper!”

“What?” I’m harshly pulled out of the spell, looking in the direction of where that voice came from.

A tray of more shots is ceremoniously placed on the table by T.

“Seriously? How is your liver okay?”

She shrugs. “Better not to ask. Besides we’re celebrating.”

Gavin and Manny appear at the table now, too, grabbing shots from the tray.

“Celebrating what?”

“You leaving your house for once.” She reaches for a shot.

“You’re fucking hilarious.”

“I know,” she winks. “To being hilarious.” She raises the glass up.

“And panty droppers,” Manny adds, not referring to the drink.

“And panty droppers!” T repeats.

As I lift my own glass, I watch her eyes briefly meet mine, smiling. And then my eyes meet Logan’s, who must have beenwatching me the whole time. I tap my glass with his, all the others following in a cheer.

“To joy,” I mouth to him, and catch his answering smile, brighter than the neon lights in this place, and then we both down our shots.

“Okay, this one was better,” I tell T.

“Much. Now, back to dancing.”

“No. I need to go home,” I say, but who knows what came out.

“Aw, really? But I was having so much fun with you.”

“You were? Imagine that.”

“Logan, could you take her home?” T asks.

“I’m fine,” I tell him, dragging out the wordfine. “Don’t worry about it. Stay and enjoy the night with your brother. I’ll get a car.”

She laughs like I just said something hilarious.

“I’ve got her.” He nods to T. He says his goodbye to Gavin who wants to stay a little bit longer. He says his goodbyes to Manny and T, too, and then places his hand on my back guiding me as we walk out.

“You don’t have to do this,” I tell him, standing in the middle of the parking lot.

“I know I don’t. I want to, remember?”

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