Page 7 of I Wanna Dance

I was meeting her at Bread & Butterfly, a cozy café in Inman Park that I loved because it was like stepping into a Parisian dream. The tiled floors gleamed under the gentle glow of the chandeliers, while the pale green walls added an air of serene sophistication. Tiny bistro tables were scattered throughout, each topped with a little vase of fresh flowers. Outside, the patio was dotted with people sipping coffee under striped umbrellas, the early spring air just warm enough to enjoy being outdoors.

I spotted Rose sitting at a table by the window, sipping a steaming cappuccino.

“Leah.” She stood to hug me, her arms wrapping around me. Rose always hugged you as if she meant it, like she was trying to stitch you back together without saying a word.

“Rose.” I pulled back just enough to take her in. “You look amazing. Is it the Angel Island water?”

“Or maybe it’s Gray,” she mused, sitting back down.

“How long are you in Atlanta for?”

“Another week.” She smiled at me. “Gray officially stepped down as CEO last night. The company had a party and all that.”

“Congratulations.” I slid into a chair across from her.

Gray had been a workaholic and freaking clueless about how he was treating his wife. All of Atlanta thought he was sleeping with his assistant, but Rose was confident he would never cheat on her. She was right. I was thrilled for my friend, who was glowing with what I knew was pure happiness.

“How’s Gray?” I asked.

“Amazing.” Her smile was as bright as the spring sun. “We’re good. Better than we’ve ever been. It’s weird, isn’t it? How you can come so close to losing everything, and then somehow, it makes you stronger.”

I could feel the depth behind her words. I’d been with Rose when things were falling apart. Hell, I’d been the one to deliver the divorce papers to Gray, who’d broken down in front of me. That’s when I suspected (and hoped) that they’d save their marriage.

"Rose, hon, if anyone in the world deserves all the good coming their way, it’s you."

“Speaking of good things, I need to know when you are coming to Angel Island?”

I wish I could go right now, I thought, but my law practice was still new. I’d been working at a firm since the divorce—but a year ago, I’d hung up my shingle. It was a lot of work. Money was tight. But I loved everything about it—even the long nights, thestruggles, everything because it wasmine.Onlymine! No one could take it away from me—like Kevin had, our lives together, my marriage, my children, and my identity as a wife and mother.

“Give me some time. Maybe Christmas?”

Before she could answer, a server came along, and I ordered a French-press coffee. I drank it black, a habit I’d picked up when Kevin started making comments about the spoonful of sugar and milk I added to my coffee every morning.

“Do you know how many calories that is?”

Now, even though a part of me wanted to rebel and drink coffee with milk and sugar—I couldn’t. I’d gotten used to the bitter taste and liked it.

“I forgot to ask! How was the salsa class?”

I laughed. “It was…fun.”

“And?” she prompted.

“God! You’re as bad as Alana.”

Rose quirked an eyebrow. “Spill the beans, counselor.”

“Fine! I have a dance partner. The only other person there who wasn’t part of a couple. I’d thought I’d end up dancing with Viviana, our instructor.”

The server returned with my coffee, and I poured some of the black liquid into a white porcelain cup.

When I noticed Rose was watching me, waiting for me to continue, I sighed. “I danced with a man. That was it. We didn’t…you know, do the horizontal mambo or anything.”

“Maybe you should.”

“Yeah?

“Yeah! It’s been five years, Leah,” she said gently. “Five years of you carrying all this hurt around like a weight you can’t put down. You’ve done the hard work. You’ve picked yourself up, rebuilt your life, started over. But you’re still standing in the rubble emotionally, and I don’t think you have to anymore.”

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