Page 96 of First Love, Second Draft

“Good idea.” Matt straightened her and they immediately transitioned into a wild-limbed two-person conga line.

“They’re really terrible dancers, aren’t they?” Gracie said with a laugh.

Noah grinned back. “I’m not even sure what I’m seeing right now.” Other than two lovebirds having the time of their lives.

Had Noah ever seen Matt look so happy? Everyone tonight looked happy. Even Mona was laughing and clapping as she spun Buck around on the dance floor in his wheelchair.

Noah traced a slow trail with his fingertips from Gracie’s hip up to the middle of her shoulder blades, wishing that when the song ended, there’d be another one. And then another one. And that he could just go on holding Gracie like this forever and everyone stayed happy.

He pressed his cheek against her hair. “Remember the first time we ever danced together?” he murmured next to her ear.

“You were even worse than Matt,” she said with a chuckle.

“But you taught me the steps, and you have to admit, I was a fast learner.” He leaned back to catch her eye.

“Pretty sure you taught me a few moves that summer too,” she said with a saucy grin.

He stared at that grin, wanting to gobble it up as much as he had back when she was teaching him to dance. He dropped his forehead against hers. “Whatever happened to those two kids, Gracie?”

He felt her tense, then start to push back just as one of her ankles must’ve twisted in her high heels. “Ooh.” She stumbled to the side.

Noah grabbed her waist. “You okay?”

“I’m fine.” She clung to his upper arms, not meeting his gaze as she tested her weight on her foot. “Should’ve known better than to wear these shoes. Maybe I should find some ice.”

“Let me—”

“No.” She waved him off. “No, I’ll get it. I’m fine. You just... stay here.”

“Gracie—”

She limped off the dance floor, weaving in and out of tables. Wouldn’t take more than a few quick strides to catch her. But he wasn’t so sure whether he should catch her. One of these days she had to decide to stop running away from him on her own.

A pointy fingernail jabbed him in the back. Noah turned and found Mona’s sharp gaze locked on him. “Well?” she said.

At some point “Chattanooga Choo Choo” had ended and a song he didn’t recognize with a heavy bass beat had started up. All of Matt’s friends rushed back onto the dance floor, brushing past them. “Well, what?”

Mona rolled her eyes and dragged him away from the commotion of dancers, then propped her hands on her waist. “Are you really that big of an idiot?”

“I think you of all people know the answer to that one.”

She inched closer, her voice as hard as her gaze. “You’re about out of time, bub. Are you going to make a move or not?”

“I’ve spent nearly a month with her. Not sure I have any moves left. And wait a second—what are you saying? You want me to go after her?”

“What I want is for my sister to be happy. Didn’t she ever tell you about Morris?”

“It really does all come back to that cat, doesn’t it?”

“I never should have made her get rid of him. I didn’t realize at the time how much it would cost her because it didn’t cost me anything. And I hate to say it, but I think I did the same thing with your marriage. I encouraged her to let go and move on without realizing how much that would cost her. To me you were just a stupid cat whowasn’t worth the grief, but to her? Well, you’re like Rachel is to Matt. You’re the love of her life—even if you are an idiot.”

“Wow, Mona. That was almost supportive.”

“It’s a new thing I’m trying,” she said with a quirk of her brow. “Now go. Fight for my sister. I’ve seen you down in the count before. I don’t know why you’re acting like this is any different.”

Because itwasdifferent. If Gracie didn’t give him another chance, he wouldn’t be losing a game. He’d be losing all hope.

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