Page 46 of The Last Time

I smile down at her and then kiss her nose. “Let’s get inside before everyone comes looking for us.”

I don’t want to stop, but I also don’t want people out here making a spectacle of this when I’m not sure what it all means.

As we walk back inside, me following close behind her, my brain starts to mess with me.

Dammit! I let my anger and jealousy, my history, take over without thinking about the repercussions.

Of course, I want her to be mine. I’m clearly being ruled by my body whenever she is around. But I also don’t know if I’m cut out for anything more than just a casual fling.

And I really don’t want to hurt her. Nor do I want to find myself hurt at the end of the summer.

We get to the table where everyone has gathered again, only instead of letting Charlotte take a seat, I take her hand.

“What are you doing?” she asks as I lead her to the dance floor.

“I wanna dance with you.”

I spin her around and then pull her body against mine.

“Is this just some alpha male thing where you just want Paul to see, or do you really want to dance with me?”

I look at her as I consider her words. “Can it be both?”

It’s true, I want Paul to know who gets to dance with her, but I also want to dance with her.

I start moving our bodies to the music, and she seems to forget about her reservations. The strange thing is, I do, too.

I haven’t enjoyed dancing in years. I haven’t enjoyed much of anything in years except my time with Brie.

Charlotte is like the breath of fresh air that I haven’t had, nor did I think I’d ever get again.

We laugh as we dance, following the crowd’s two-step. I feel myself smiling the entire time as we stumble over the dance, trying our best to keep up with the people who obviously frequent here regularly.

When the song ends, I grab her hand and walk us back to the table where everyone is busy chatting.

Layla winks at me, and I just smile. Normally, that would piss me off, her trying to imply that she knows something is going on, but I’m too happy to care.

I look down at my watch, realizing I need to get out of here. Ma is at my house while Brie sleeps, and I need to make sure she can get home before it’s too late.

“I have to get going,” I whisper into Charlotte’s ear, who is standing at the end of the table drinking her beer.

“Already?” she asks with a sad look on her face.

I nod. “I have to relieve my mother from babysitting duty at my house. I wasn’t exactly planning to come out tonight.”

“What changed your mind?” she asks.

I smile. “I may have heard this pretty lady that I can’t stop thinking about was gonna be here, and I wanted to see her. Even if only for an hour.”

Her lips curve up. “I think you made her night.”

“I’ll call you, Charlotte,” I say as I squeeze her waist and whisper in her ear, “Thanks for the dance.”

I wave goodbye to the group and walk outside to the parking lot. I’m not sure what tomorrow will bring, but right now there are no shadows across my heart.

Chapter Thirteen

Charlotte

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