Page 24 of Pinky Promises

“I mean on the dance floor, in general, not actually withyour wife.”

Asher looks down at his daughter and, in the silliest baby voice, whispers, “I guess Uncle Ben and Uncle Cal think you were made via immaculate conception or something.”

Ben and I both laugh as we escape any more talk of Hadley’s vagina or tits. We both steer through the crowd toward the girls.

I step up behind Brynn without her noticing as she sways her hips side to side, and I place my hands on her waist, causing her to startle.

“It’s just me,” I lean down and say in her ear. Was she worried it was that creep, George, who was trying to flirt with her earlier?

She spins around and wraps her arms around my neck. “You having fun?” The song has since changed to a slower-paced song, and our movements match.

I clasp my hands on her lower back, holding her close to me as we sway to the beat of the song. “I am. Well, except the last few songs where Asher proceeded to cross the line as to what is appropriate to talk about, and Ben and I had to evacuate quickly, so I sought solace on the dance floor.”

“Ahh, I get it. So, I’m the consolation prize. Way to make a girl feel special.”Never.I know she says it teasingly.

“Nah, I’ve been watching the prettiest girl dance on the dance floor for a while and thought I would finally join her.”

Brynn looks around. “Well, why are you dancing with me? Where is she?”

I cup her cheek and bring her attention back to mine. “I am.”

“Oh.” Pink covers her already flushed cheeks, and she lowers her head down to her chest in embarrassment. She doesn’t even realize how stunning she is.

I lean down and place my mouth next to her ear. “You know, you really are beautiful in that dress. I feel pretty fucking lucky that I get to say that you’re mine tonight.” I let the weight of my words sink in. It’s up to her how she takes what I say. It could mean she’s mine as my “friendly” date or maybe more. I watch as her chest rises and falls, and she pulls her bottom lip between her teeth as she pulls back to meet my gaze.Is she feeling this, too?My palm flattens tighter on her lower back, keeping her in place.

“Callum.” My name comes off her lips as a warning, yet her eyes say everything her mouth isn’t, and I know that now, in the middle of the wedding reception, isn’t the time for this conversation.

Just at that moment, the song’s pace picks up. I look over Brynn’s shoulder to see Asher and a still-sleeping Olivia have joined us on the dance floor with Hadley. I have to say I’m a little shocked that Hadley hadn’t stolen the show and grabbed the microphone and went full Ducky fromPretty in Pinkon the dance floor.

“Now, what do you say we show off those cotillion dance moves we never get a chance to show off.” Cotillion was forced upon her by her parents, needing to make her debut into society, and of course, I was her escort. We had to learn how to dance all these different formal styles of dancing. It was excruciating at the time, but now that I look back on it, if we both had to suffer, at least we had to do it together.

Before I give her a chance to respond, I push her out, still grasping her hand, spin her into me, and show off a few other moves before finishing with a low dip. The genuine smile on her face says it all—Brynn’s heartbreak is a thing of the past and hopefully something brewing in the future.

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