Page 68 of What We Broke

If he’s embarrassed or annoyed at being put on the spot, I can’t tell. Instead, he pulls his cell out of his pocket and throws it to Raine. “Pick a song.”

She seems to navigate his phone with ease, and I marvel at how kids her age don’t need an introduction to technology. Her fingers tap away until a song I’ve never heard fills the living room.

“I love this song,” Leo exclaims. “Will you dance with me?”

He bobs over to Raine and holds his hand out for her to take. Hesitantly, she takes his offer and he pulls her up till they’re both standing, Leo moving to the beat while Raine stands there nervously.

He picks up the pace, his arms and legs now just flailing, and I catch Raine’s widened eyes. If I wasn’t so enamored by him the night we met, I’m certain I would’ve stared at him the exact same way.

When her gaze shifts to me, I mouth“I told you so,”and the sweetest giggle leaves her mouth.

“Come on,” Leo coaxes. “Show me what you got.”

Hand in hand, they move all around the living room in the most coordinated uncoordinated dance I have ever seen. Raine’s eyes are bright, her smile pure undiluted joy. It was the same exact look that made me notice Leo that night; a smile that beamed from the inside out.

The song ends and another one starts as they continue to purposefully dance worse than the other. They laugh and sing and my heart grows to an unmanageable size.

I rub a fist over my chest. There’s no denying I’m in love with him. Hard and fast. I’m so happy it hurts, but the possibility of losing what I’m feeling in this moment could easily bring me to my knees.

Our eyes meet over Raine’s head and I lose the ability to keep those three words to myself.

“I love you,”I mouth.

I watch the words land as he bends and whispers something into Raine’s ear. Nodding, she runs up to me, grabbing my hand and pulling me up off the couch.

“Dance with us, Dad,” she exclaims over the music.

I let her lead me to Leo, and when I reach him, he takes my free hand and raises it to his chest, right atop his heart.

He leans into me, mouth right by my ear. “Feel it,” he says, placing his hand over mine. His heart beats wildly against my palm. “It only does that for you.”

CHAPTERSIXTEEN

leo

THEN

“What doyou mean you got her dance lessons?” Jesse exclaims.

“I gotusdance lessons,” I correct. “They’re for me and Raine.”

Jesse and I are sitting beside one another at one of our favorite Greek restaurants, waiting for the server to bring out our usual order. The table is round, and no matter how many times we start the night sitting opposite one another, we always end up side by side, waiting for our food to arrive, our bodies facing each other, knees knocking, hands roaming.

“You got dance lessons for Raine?” he asks incredulously.

For a split second I can’t tell if he’s impressed or upset, and I internally panic that maybe I’ve overstepped. I probably should’ve asked for Jesse’s permission before assuming I could organize just anything for his daughter.

“Fuck. I should’ve asked you first,” I say. “Or even Zara. Shit. I honestly didn’t think you would have a problem with it.”

“No,” he interjects quickly, placing a hand over my thigh and squeezing. “That is absolutely not it. Sorry for freaking you out. I’m just surprised.”

“Good surprised or bad surprised?”

He smiles, and the knot of anxiety in my stomach loosens. “Good. Of course it’s good. You just didn’t have to do that.”

I straighten my spine, my voice serious. “I want to do things for her. I know you don’t expect it, but she is part of…” I gesture between us. “Whatever this is for me.”

His hold on my thigh loosens as he starts to move his hand higher. “And what is this for you?”

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