Page 10 of Totally Opposed

He spins to face me.

“You don’t think I can pick you up, do you?” He’s got one hand on his hip like he’s some diva offended by the implication they can’t do something.

“I’m just heavier than I look,” I reply with a shrug.

“Fuck that. I’m picking you up. Dennis, start the music. We got this.”

He storms back a few steps up the hall, and I follow, my cheeks on fire, and my pulse pounding in my ears. Do I knowwhat to do? I mean, I watched them over and over, more than I watched the rest of the choreography and that shit I needed to know. It’s sexy stepping, then turning, joining in the middle, climbing the stairs holding hands, and then he’s going to pick me up. Oh crap.Okay. You got this. Don’t fuck it up now.

Dennis starts the music, and Alan takes off at a strut. Dennis is calling out instructions.

“More sass, chin up, that’s good, Ryan, just like that, okay, now turn.”

We hold hands and pretend to walk together down the stairs, his fingers lacing with mine but loose like he almost wants to let go but can’t. Even with the lightest of touches, heat spreads through my skin, up my arm, and crosses my chest.

“Now lift,” Dennis calls, and Alan rips his hand away, slips his arm behind my back, and sweeps his other arm under my legs, lifting me into a bridal carry, then walks a few steps forward.

“See, I got you,” he says, turning his head towards me. His perfect plump lips draw my gaze.

“Are you sure?” I ask, and he smiles.

“Put your arm around me and stay close to my chest. It’s easier that way.”

I lean in and his cologne envelops me in vanilla and sandalwood.

“You’re still supposed to be singing,” Dennis calls. Shit, right. I start mouthing the lyrics again as Dennis puts a chair in front of us.

“See if you can climb onto that, then jump off without dropping him.”

“I’m not so surrre—” I say as he heaves us up onto the chair. He twists at the hip, swinging me side to side, and I hold my arms around his neck tighter.

“I won’t drop you,” he says and then jumps off the chair.

I don’t mean to, but in the split second of freefall, before we hit the ground, I bury my face into his neck like a terrified child.

“Wonderful,” Dennis calls, and though my cheeks are on fire, I can’t bring myself to lift my head because it’s so perfectly nuzzled right here in the crook of his neck.

“Are you okay?” Alan asks.

“Yeah,” I reply, but my mouth is against the soft skin in the crease, and his shoulder lifts as he giggles and drops my legs.

“Shit, sorry,” he says, immediately as I’m forced onto my own feet. “That tickled.”

“No, I’m sorry. I think I just froze. It won’t happen again.”

He rubs his neck where my lips had just been and turns to Dennis.

“You happy?”

“Ecstatic, darling. Now do it exactly like that in two minutes out there.”

The rest of my team starts filing out into the hall, followed by the rest of Animal Control, and Harrison sidles up next to Alan.

“Fraternizing with the enemy, I see,” he says, slinging an arm over Alan’s shoulder. His tone screams disappointment, but his smile is all fun and games.

“If you had been doing a better job babysitting those niblings of your sisters, then Phillip would still be dancing the opening number,” Alan replies, shrugging out from under his arm.

Harrison begins to back away, his hands up, palms out.

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