“You’re first,” Oliver's loud voice calls.
The room applauds.
I shake my head.
The DJ starts the music, and the moment “Photograph” by Ed Sheeran plays through the speakers, I turn to Evan, wondering how he knew. I scan the crowd until I find those bright blue eyes.
It’s the song he and I danced to the night of his work function.
My parents take the dance floor, then so do Jeremy and Nova.
But my feet are frozen on the spot. Evan moves between people, weaving through them until he's in front of me. He slips the microphone out of my hand and hands it to the DJ.
“I believe this is our song.”
My heart is in my throat. To touch him again. Have his hands on me. God, just the thought sends a shiver down my spine.
“We shouldn’t,” I whisper.
He frowns. “Why?”
“We’re not together anymore.”
“It’s just one dance.”
“Go on,” my mom encourages from her spot on the dance floor.
“If I was your age, you wouldn’t be able to get me off there. Me and Gramps loved a good dance floor,” Iris says.
My eyes flick from my mom to her.
Where did she come from?
Iris and Sebastian move slowly around the dance floor.
When she says it like that, I have no reason not to. The encouragement from our families makes it hard to say no.
Evan stretches his hand out, palm up in a clear invitation. I slip my hand in his, and I shake my head at the applause around us.
Do they not understand we can’t be together?
As much as his hand feels so good in mine, it’s just a tease. There can never be an us.
His hand closes over mine and he tugs me gently to the floor.
Eyes flaring with fire, he glances over me, starting at my body and sliding up to my lips.
Don’t,my heart whispers. Eyes up and away.
Our bodies sway closely, following the beat of the music. My head is close to his shoulder, but I resist resting it there. “I haven’t seen you.”
“I know.” His breath tickles my hair.
My eyes close momentarily. “Is it too hard?”
Time passes before he breathes out, “Yes.”
That one word echoes my own crushed heart.