Page 39 of The Dating Game

He said he understood where I was coming from with the whole trying to be a bad date to get her to break up with me and that he’d try and help me out. But evidently Corbin is a liar.

You think you know someone.

“Salsa dancing?” Corbin is saying to Brooke as I abandon my brooding and rejoin their conversation. “That sounds fun. I’ve never been.”

“We’re going salsa dancing?” I whip my head around to look at Brooke.

Corbin chuckles from the back seat. “Welcome to the conversation, buddy. Brooke said the address she gave you is to a club downtown that does salsa on Friday nights.”

“I thought it would be fun,” Brooke says lightly. “I like to dance.” She lets out a little laugh at her own expense. “Which I’m sure you can guess,” she touches her palm to her forehead, “since I’m a dance teacher.”

Corbin laughs again, but I can’t manage even a single ha!

I don’t want to salsa dance with Brooke. That sounds…sexy…and dangerous…and not like the type of activity a guy should perform if he’s tryingnotto fall in love with a woman.

“You okay, man?” Corbin asks me. “You look a little pale.”

“I’m fine,” I choke out. Maybe it’s good Corbin is here. He can dance the salsa with Brooke.No!My mind forcefully rejects that idea. I’d rather give Brooke my heart and let her stomp all over it, then have to watch her dance with some other guy tonight.

Corbin and Brooke continue to chat for the rest of the drive, but I sit in stony silence heavily regretting all of my choices.

When we get to the club, I’m lucky enough to snag a parking spot right out front, then, before I can stop myself, I hurry out of the car to grab Brooke’s door.

“Oh, thank you, Will,” Brooke says, her surprise evident as I offer her my hand too, pulling her easily onto the curb next to me. By bringing Corbin I appear to have sabotaged my own operation.

Attempting to keep my annoying persona in tact, I only grunt in response.

But I don’t let go of her hand the whole way to the door.

***

“Soareyougoingto ask her to dance or do I have to?” Corbin asks me after Brooke excuses herself to go to the bathroom. We’ve been here for about half-an-hour and so far all we’ve done is get drinks and watch the dancing. Brooke’s shoulders haven’t stopped swaying the whole time we’ve been here. It’s obvious she’s dying to get out on the dance floor.

Me, I’m stuck in this painful limbo between not wanting to hold Brooke close and wanting more than anything to hold her close.

“You are not dancing with her,” I growl at Corbin.

“I thought that’s what you’d say.” Corbin sits back in his chair, smirking.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I demand.

“You like her,” he replies. “I can tell.”

“Didn’t you listen to a word I said on the phone yesterday. This is all a game to her, Corbin. A bet!”

“Yeah, well, your sister only asked me out on a dare and look how well that turned out.” His tone is light; it’s been long enough now that he can talk about Amy without crying, but I don’t miss the way his hand clenches around his napkin.

My expression softens. “A dare is different than a bet, Corbin. Amy just needed a push to approach you. Brooke wants nothing to do with me.”

“Not from where I’m sitting.”

“Then move.”

Corbin studies me, then shakes his head. “You’re being an idiot, Will. Ask the woman to dance.” I clench my jaw, but Corbin isn’t finished with me. He puts his elbows on our table, leaning forward to speak more earnestly. “This whole thing isn’t like you,Will. Trying to scare a woman off to get back at her for dating you as a bet? Seems to me like you’re the one that’s actually scared—scared of falling in love again.” I flinch. His words a punch to the gut. “Not every woman is Kimberley, Will. Not every woman is going to walk away when things get hard. Maybe it’s time you let God heal that wound, that you choose to try and trust again.”

“This has nothing to do with Kimberley,” I rasp, pushing myself to my feet, and almost running into Brooke as she arrives back at our high top table.

“Brooke,” Corbin booms, “there you are. Will was just headed to find you. He was hoping for a dance.”

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