Page 81 of Eight Steps to Alpha

Chapter 30

Without effort,Elliot charmed the pants off of every single one of her family members. Her aunt Maria, who sat in his lap as she blew out her birthday candles, and little Ella, who held onto his fingers, and pulled him out to the dance floor so she could dance on his feet. But it was her parents’ easy acceptance that most surprised her, because she always thought it would be harder for them to see her in a relationship, let alone welcome him with open arms.

But her mother talked his ear off almost all night. About cooking, and gardening, and other domestic things that Elliot loved to do. And her father kept shooting her little glances and nods of approval everytime they spoke. It was charming really, to watch her two worlds collide like this. To see her family welcome so easily the man who had been her best friend for half a decade.

Now it was the end of the night, most people had gone, and she stood at the bar with Craig, feeling especially tipsy. It was times like this, when it was especially quiet, that she let her mind think inconceivable things. Like—what if Elliot were her real boyfriend, and not just a make-believe one? What would it be like to have someone love her like he pretended to?

She imagined parties like this one, where little girls fell in love with him, and lined up to dance on his feet. Or maybe they’d have their own children? Maybe they’d have a little girl, with big blue eyes, and a wild curiosity.

Fe bit her lip, just as her aunt Beatrice joined Elliot on the dance floor, cutting in line between him and poor little Ella. She laughed, almost spitting her drink when Ella stomped off the dance floor toward her mother. And then, as though twenty people weren’t sitting around watching, Elliot started dancing the twist, right there, full force, like no one was watching. His heels digging into the ground, his body dropping low, before he twisted up again. Like he wasn’t in a room full of practical strangers. Like he didn’t have a care in the world.

“It’s good to see you happy,” Craig said, his back pressed into the bar beside her.

She turned toward him, realizing she was smiling, and cleared her throat “He’s such a dork,” she said, shaking her head as she took another sip of wine.

Craig nodded agreement, raising his glass in a silent tribute. “I would agree with you on that one.”

“I mean, what’s he doing?” She giggled. “Is that the running man?”

Craig took a sip of his drink, narrowed his eyes, and stretched his feet out in front of him. “I’m pretty sure that’s the Kid n’ play.”

Fe licked her lips, barely containing her laugher. “I swear, he has no shame.”

Craig smiled. “Sometimes, I wish we were all like that.”

Fe’s brows lifted, and she studied her brother. “Like what?”

“Like I didn’t care what others thought of me.”

Fe frowned, then lifted her eyes to the dance floor. The music had changed, shifting to something with more of a rhythmic beat. Before her eyes, her aunts started to shout, then all of a sudden, a line gathered behind Elliot. Beatrice, Faith, Gloria, and little Ella, all hooting and hollering and dancing the Conga.

“Oh, dear lord!” Fe said out loud, before covering her mouth. “I can’t watch!” She turned in the opposite direction, causing Craig to chuckle. “Tell me when it’s over,” she screeched.

Without moving from his spot, Craig leaned in close to her ear and whispered. “I hate to tell you this, sis, but I think they’re coming for you.”

Her back stiffened, and she flipped around, just as Elliot beckoned her with the crook of his finger.

“No,” she mouthed, but her eyes were dead serious.

His grin only widened, and he beckoned her once again.

“Nuh-uh,” she said louder, but her words were nil, because nothing was stopping this guy, who had the backing of her entire family. With brows set with determination, a smile that was so wicked he could charm the panties off a nun, he came toward her. One foot in front of the other, his hands rolling to the rhythm of the beat.

When he was only a foot away, he stopped. “Dance with me,” he demanded. His voice low, and full of texture.

She looked around the patio, shaking her head, but there were no words of support to greet her. In one evening, he’d stolen the hearts of every single one of them. Every traitorous person out there.

Her aunt Maria eagerly nodding her head and poked her cane in Elliot’s direction. “Dance with him, Meu amorzinho. Don’t break the poor man’s heart.”

Fe grinned, pushed from seat, and peeked down at little Ella, “Should I?”

The little girl nodded, and the whole crowd erupted in unison. Her aunt Beatrice pushed her toward Elliot, and Fe grabbed hold of his hips. Laughter and cheering ensued, and she could hardly believe this was happening.

He began shifting his hips left and right, until everyone at the party began cheering and chanting. She followed after him, as he wove her round tables, the bar, her aunt Maria. But she loved every moment of it, even though she was pretty sure it was one of the craziest, silliest, and most childish things she’d ever done in her life.

She didn’t care what she looked like. She didn’t care that people were watching, or how stupid she appeared. She was just dancing, with her whole heart, and her whole body, and it felt amazing.

Then all of a sudden, the music changed, and everyone started leaving the dance floor. She took a deep breath, dropped her hands to her sides and started walking toward the bar again, but Elliot’s hand on her hip stopped her. He flipped her around, took hold of her hand, and yanked her in toward his chest. “I heard something interesting about you tonight.”

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