Page 28 of Dance with Me on New Year's Eve

“What plans?”

“That’s none of your business!” I wasn’t about to tell him that I wanted to clear my evening so I could catch up with my fan forum buddy. Since we hadn’t talked last night, I needed my CastGamer55 fix, as stupid as it sounded. Jeff would probably burst into condescending laughter—if he were capableof laughing, that is. I hadn’t even seen him smile before.

His eyes narrowed as he studied my posture, with my hands on my hips. “Fine. Can you send your notes by tomorrow, say early afternoon?”

“Hmm…” I placed my index finger on my chin, pretending to think for a long moment just to annoy him. “Yes, that should work.”

“Fine.” His voice sounded like a hiss as he spoke through clenched teeth. “I’ll still fulfill my part and send you the document later this afternoon.”

“OK.” I chewed on one side of my lip. Did I cross a line? I deliberately unclenched my hands, which were getting even sweatier than the rest of me. “Well, I—”

“We’ll speak tomorrow,” he said curtly with a brief nod before abruptly turning and walking away.

I stood with my lips slightly parted, unsure if I should call out goodbye.

Unsure why … something felt off.

Unsure why I felt a whisper of disappointment.

Chapter 7

SawyerRox4:Summer is so overrated, don’t you think? I hate the heat!

CastGamer55:I don’t love summer, but I don’t hate it either.

SawyerRox4:July was miserable here, so glad it’s over now. You couldn’t step outside without sweating instantly.

CastGamer55:Yeah, it was brutal here too.

SawyerRox4:Then winters are the complete opposite. You step outside, and it’s instant frostbite!

CastGamer55:Even with gloves.

SawyerRox4:Yep. Are you my next-door neighbor? :D

SawyerRox4:J/k of course

I lifted my fluffy blue slipper-clad feet up onto the couch and bit my bottom lip. We hadn’t revealed many real-life details. Should I ask him where he lived? Or mention where I lived? Would that be too forward?

Did I even want to know? Sometimes the fantasy was better than the reality. I’m picturing him somewhere in New England, or maybe even actual England.

And then there’s always the chance that he could be a serial killer.

No. He couldn’t be.

He might worry thatI’ma serial killer—or at least a stalker—if I asked him where he was located. We hadn’t even exchanged real names. I sighed, deleting the words I’d startedtyping.

CastGamer55:I am also not a beach type of guy. You won’t find me at a pool party or amusement park or anything like that. Crowds aren’t my thing, especially when everyone’s sweating and intoxicated.

SawyerRox4:Oh, same! I nearly threw up this morning after a meeting when I realized I’d forgotten to decline a coworker’s bachelorette party … so she was expecting me to go. Fortunately, I must’ve actually looked sick, pale, or green or something, so she suggested I stay home.

SawyerRox4:Sorry if that’s TMI

CastGamer55:Was she not a friend? Or why did you feel sick about it?

SawyerRox4:Oh it was a pool party at some swanky house. And no, not really a friend … just, it’s hard to explain, you don’t want to hear about it.

I bit my lip harder this time, wanting to erase everything I’d just said. What was I thinking? Danny didn’t need to know about my mortifying social anxiety. I always went to great efforts to hide it from people. Apart from wanting to avoid further embarrassment for myself, I didn’t want to burden anyone with my problems.

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