Page 57 of Wildest Dreams

He pulls me up softly, arm snaking around my back, holding me close to his body as he begins to dance with me, his lips moving slightly to the song that plays through the bar.

And in this moment, the way his eyes are glistening, burning into my soul, takes me back to when we were just kids.

Truck pulled up, lights the only thing lighting up the evening as he would turn his truck radio up as loud as it would go and he would spin me around in the parking lot, lips meeting then once we were hot and bothered, we would skinny dip in the creek.

And how amazing would it be to be teleported back to those summer nights, just before it all turned tragic.

He must see the way my brow crinkles, the way my lips part and my eyes dull for just a moment because he slows us down, and then it's just us, the only thing around us is Jon Pardi’s voice. His hand cups my chin, tilting my head back to look at him.

“What's wrong?” he breathes, our eyes still dancing.

“Just thinking back to when we were younger,” and I give him a lopsided smile which has his thumb brushing across my bottom lip.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” I nod as his hand cups my cheek and I find myself leaning into him just as he turns me around, swaying me from side to side asSpin you round - Morgan Wallenbegins to play.

“I'm always up for a reenactment,” he teases, and my heart skips a beat in my chest.

“Maybe someday,” I mutter as he holds me close against him.

“Don't say maybe; it'll never happen,” he rasps, his lips brushing against mine, but I pull away slightly.

“Tripp,” I breathe, head dizzy, breathing laboured.

“Dixie,” he whispers and everything around us goes silent and all I can focus on is our breathing.

“I vowed to never fall for you again, I'm sure you vowed that too...” I just about manage to squeeze out.

“I never stopped falling, little Dreamcatcher.”

And my heart stops beating for just a second.

“Ever.”

For just that split moment all of our messy past was forgotten.

TRIPP

Riggs broke the party up and with a few groans, we all made our way to the waiting trucks. The tension that filled Riggs' truck was heavy. A fewaccidentalfinger brushes, shy giggles and burning crimson cheeks looped as we pulled into the driveway.

Pacey stumbled from the truck, not looking back as he climbed the steps and wandered into the house, closing the door a little loudly and I watch as Dixie winces. Her eyes draw back to me and I lose myself in them.

The soft summer breeze wraps around us and for just a moment, it’s me and her, lips edging closer to hers, but a whistle pulls me away. Eyes casting over my shoulder, Riggs gives me a curt nod of his head, his lips pulling into a smirk as he waves me off. Aspen lifts her hand and wriggles her fingers, nose scrunching as she says goodbye. I watch as their truck turns and drives down the dusty drive, their rear lights blurring before they disappear.

A soft sigh has my shoulders lifting as I turn to face her.

Her.

Her, the one who showed me what it was like to love. Her. The one who has held my heart over the last ten years. Her. The one I adore.

Her.

It’s always been her.

My trembling fingers inch towards the loose hair that blows, cascading around her face and tuck it behind her ear, her eyes not leaving mine as they dance and glisten under the clear night sky, the stars twinkling in her beautiful blues.

“I’m glad I came tonight…” she trails off.

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