Page 55 of The Wrong Date Deal

“Ha. Not often you meet August in winter.”

August nodded slightly. “Indeed. Though, of course, I spend every day with August.”

“Hm. Well, I’m more interested in nights with August.” She stepped slightly closer. “I love those long, hot summer nights.”

August’s chest felt tight. The connection wasn’t there. She didn’t feel like herself. She felt cornered and unclear about who Eva was and what she wanted.

The instructors started talking and August attempted to follow. The dance was beautiful and the instructors great, but she couldn’t help thinking that she’d enjoy it better with someone else. It wasn’t Eva’s fault. She was clear about what she wanted once they met, even if she hadn’t been in their initial communications, but August wasn’t feeling it. Once her walls went up, she had a hard time letting them down again.

And Eva could tell.

The longer they danced, and the more they talked, the less attention she paid to August, finally going so far as to ask for the instructors to step in and show her a few moves more personally.

As Eva stepped away and the instructor with a short Afro stepped in to replace her, August relaxed. She wished she’d caught their names, though.

“Enjoying the class?” the woman asked.

August smiled. “You’re both incredible instructors.”

She smiled sympathetically. “If it makes you feel better, Eva's here every week. Not every date goes well and that’s okay. She’s not going to be weird about it if you’re not feeling it.”

“That obvious, huh?”

She scrunched her nose. “A little, but she always asks to dance with Rosa when she isn’t feeling it. Kind of helps smooth things over, let you down easy.”

“Ah.” Relief flooded through August. They’d never work. She needed clear communication, she needed safety, and Eva didn’t. Neither way was better, they just weren’t suited to one another.

“Well, at least you aren’t into it either,” the instructor laughed. “Much more awkward when one person is and the other isn’t.”

“You’re not wrong there.”

She smiled widely. “For what it’s worth, you’re not bad at this. If you want to come back for another class, Thursday nights are your best bet. Eva never comes on Thursdays.”

August nodded, following her lead as they moved to the music. She doubted she’d be back, but, if she needed an idea for another date, it wasn’t a bad suggestion. There was a time limit on it, something to focus on, and, while the closeness could be a little awkward, it was, clearly, an efficient way of finding out if you were suited to someone. “I’ll keep it in mind.”

Chapter Thirteen

Piper looked up from her book as people began leaving the dance studio across the street. If August’s date had turned around and was now going well, Piper’s presence was potentially about to be pretty awkward. However, she’d rather that than ignore whatever feeling had forced August to send her location. She hadn’t done that before. Piper knew the feelings that prompted such a move, and she’d much rather appear unnecessarily than leave August feeling alone if she needed help.

Most of the people leaving were in pairs. It didn’t take long to spot August leaving alone.

Piper sat up straighter, watching August closely.

Apparently sensing the attention, August looked around, tracking the pair of eyes she could undoubtedly feel watching her. When she landed on Piper, sitting in the window of the café opposite, she smiled and tilted her head, a slightly bewildered look crossing her face.

Piper grinned as she watched August cross the street and head towards her in the café.

“Random late-night craving for a coffee?” August asked, amused, as she stood behind the bar stool beside Piper’s.

“Hot chocolate, actually,” Piper said lightly, looking up at her.

August bit her lip as she leaned over, looking into Piper’s mug. “My mistake.”

“I’ll forgive you.”

“Thank goodness for that. I would have been heartbroken otherwise.”

“I’m sure you would.” Piper laughed. “I figured it was safer to be nearby, just in case.”

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