Page 115 of When Fate Breaks

Page List

Font Size:

I take one step but stop dead in my tracks, the sound of a very distinct piano melody coming over the speakers. My heart feels like it’s in my throat as my head slowly turns of its own volition. The entire dance floor is swaying and cheering.

Everyone but her.

Evangeline stands frozen in place as well, her lips parted and eyes glued to me.

She knew exactly where I was.

I turn to face her as the lyrics ofDon’t Stop Believin’begin. Someone opens the back door and, as the warm evening air washes over me, I’m no longer at this godforsaken party.

I’m on a rooftop in Boston, dancing and singing like an idiot under the stars with my childhood best friend and the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. Her sweet vanilla scent hits me as she spins into me, her smile brighter than half the city lights. Something about this night is different. Something about this night changes us. In this moment, I know without a doubt that I’m willing to take whatever leap of faith this girl is willing to give me, regardless of how little of it I know she tends to have. It doesn’t matter. I’ll wait until she finds it. I’ll always wait.

I’m brought back to reality as a flicker of movement catches my attention. I glance up to see Evangeline waving at me. When I meet her eyes, her lips slowly spread into a smile. She nods backwards towards the dance floor, motioning for me to come out there.

I shake my head right away. I can’t. I’m not much of a dancer to begin with, but much less in public. And even less in this current situation. Evangeline tilts her head in a way of sayingc’mon, really?

I shake my head again. She straightens, her shoulders slumping. She motions with her hand one last time. I don’t move. I’m ready to start making my way outside again, but the next thing she does sends my feet hesitantly in the direction of the dance floor instead. Her face falls into a frown, her teeth going straight into her bottom lip.

I can’t have that.

Evangeline’s face lights up the second she realizes my intention, her hands clapping. She dances, waving me towards her with both hands. The second verse begins right as I reach her, one of her arms shooting up and pointing into the air. She screams the lyrics louder and louder, her smile growing with each change in volume. I cautiously sway along in front of her, not willing to fully commit. This is all way too much. She has to feel it. Her wild brown eyes keep darting to mine, a mixture of nostalgia and nerves swirling within them.

The stubborn bastard in me begs me to give in while the glutton for pain keeps my body rigid.

I remain this way, there but not fully vulnerable, right up until the guitar solo. The entire dance floor goes wild, people jumping up and down and spinning around like crazy. Evangeline pumps her fist in the air, a light sheen of sweat coating her forehead and collarbone as she leans back and lets the song take over her body. Just before the main chorus begins, her head snaps down, her gaze trained on me.

“C’mon, Di Fazio!” she shouts, shoving at my shoulder.

That does it.

I fall to my knees, shredding the most ridiculous air guitar solo of my career. Evangeline’s mixture of whoops and laughter sounds more like music to my ears than the actual song. I let out my own laugh, jumping back to my feet just as the words of the chorus begin, screaming to not stop believing at the top of my lungs like I believe it with every fiber of my being.

Like I wantherto believe it with every fiber of my being.

Both of our voices sound hoarse by the time the song comes to a close and both of our clothes are sticking to our bodies. Everybody hollers as the song fades out. My and Evangeline’s eyes have been locked on one another’s for the last minute straight. As if we’re reading each other's minds, our dancing gradually slows at the same time. We’ve only been stopped completely for a fraction of a second when Evangeline unexpectedly throws herself into my arms.

Her laughter tickles my ear and her same vanilla scent invades my nose. My arms robotically wrap around her back, not bringing her closer, but just holding her there. I’m sure it’s only a few seconds, but I allow the time to stretch in my mind and feel like ages before she pulls back. Her smile is huge, but it slowly fades as her brows pull together and I think she realizes what she just did. It’s not until she drops back down to her feet that I realize I was holding her up. My hands slide down until they’re gripping her arms just about the elbow. Our eyes stay on each other's, our breaths melding together.

For the first time in my life, I’m willing to bet my mind is racing just as fast as Evangeline Jacks’s.

I’m not sure I could be more conflicted or perplexed if I tried. I don’t think anything could possibly make this situation more confusing or painful. What is she doing? What arewedoing?

You’re dancing. You’re at a party and you’re dancing.

That’s all.

I’m gonna let her go. I have to let her go. Emotionally, but also physically. I let my hands slide further down her arms. I’m going to do it. I just need a second. She let me go. I can let her go. I thought for a minute there I had a chance, but here we are. She followed through with the wedding shower. The wedding is a month away. It’s over.It’s time to walk away.I instantly think of my dad, and realize I was wrong.

I guess therewassomething that could make this situation more confusing and painful.

My hands approach her wrists and I begin to let go but am distracted as someone calls Evangeline’s name from across the room. She rips her gaze away from mine, turning her head to tell them she’ll be there in a second.

Suddenly my right hand comes into contact with something smooth and cool to the touch. I glance down and my jaw all but hits the floor. Evangeline starts to walk away, but my hand reflexively clamps around her wrist.

“What?” she questions.

I know she’s looking at me, but my eyes are busy. I clench my jaw, heat burning at my eyes and the back of my neck.

“Oh. I–um, Blake, I–”