Page 132 of Something Rad
“I’m not sure,” he says quietly.
I blink back at him for several seconds, and it’s not until I register a swirl of movement around us that I realize the song has come to an end. People rejoin the dance floor, swaying all around us asEvery Breath You Takeby The Police begins to play through the speakers.
My feet are still rooted to the floor, my throat tight as I try to speak. “Robbie, are you–”
“Hey there,” a sweet voice cuts me off, and I dart my gaze to the side to find Denise. My eyes flick down as I take notice of her hand resting on Robbie’s bicep. My lips flatten into a line, those little white satin gloves of hers suddenly not looking so angelic anymore.
“Denise, hey,” Robbie says.
“I’m sorry,” Denise smiles, “but would you mind if I stole the Homecoming King for just one little dance?” It takes a full three seconds for me to realize that she’s talking to me. That’s she asking me forpermission. “Just for old times’ sake?” she adds on, as if that makes her request better. As if that will somehow soothe the burning ball of hate currently sitting in my chest for her. Robbie and I aren’t actually together, but she thinks we are. Yet she doesn’t care. Clearly.
Bitch.
I keep the thought to myself though. Knowing that I’m not allowed to care. Not actually. I also have to remind myself of what Robbie and I just discussed.Our agreement. Us each getting what we wanted out of it. Robbie said he was satisfied, that he’d gotten his end of the bargain.Denisewas a part of that bargain. She’s what he always wanted. She’s a huge reason why we are even here together in the first place. Of course I have to let her dance with him. Because that’s exactly what he wants, exactly what he deserves after helping me go after everything I’ve wanted.
I swallow against the lump in my throat, forcing a bright smile on my face. “Of course,” I say. “If that’s what Robbie wants.”
Robbie’s head snaps in my direction, his gaze flicking back and forth between me and Denise.
“Great!” Denise grins. “Robbie?” She grabs his hand, and he only hesitates for a second, looking back at me, his brows pulling together.
“See you in a minute?” he says.
I nod, keeping my happy face intact. “Have fun.”
I let out a heavy sigh the moment they both turn away from me to weave their way deeper into the crowd of dancers.
I don’t know where I’m planning on going, but I know I can’t stand here in the middle of the dance floor watching them dance together, so I spin on my heel in the general direction of the food and drink tables. I don’t make it far, however, immediately finding myself bumping into a hard chest.
“Oh my God– Sorry– Excuse me,” I stammer, pulling back from my victim. I immediately tilt my head to the side when I find myself staring up into the hazel eyes of Paul Strothers.
“Hey, you’re fine. It’s a small dance floor,” he grins.
I choke out a laugh. “Right. Doesn’t help when I’m already clumsy. Sorry, Paul, you’ll have to excuse me”
“Don’t even mention it.” He rakes a hand through his sandy dark blonde hair, and, though it certainly doesn’t have the same effect as when Robbie does it, I have to admit I don’t mind watching it.
“Well,” I clear my throat. “I’ll just carry on before I cause any more damage.”
I go to move around Paul, but his hand catches my wrist. “Hey, Sara, wait.”
“Yeah?” I question, looking back at him.
“Do you, maybe…” he pauses, rolling his lips into his mouth as motions over his shoulder with his thumb. “Do you wanna dance?”
“Oh,” I breathe, my back straightening. “I…”
I find my eyes trailing to the dance floor, and, like a magnet, my gaze immediately locks on Robbie and Denise. On him smiling down at her and his hands on her hips,just likethey just were on mine. I zero in on her bouncy blonde hair swishing side to side as they sway together and the way her eyes light up as she looks up into those eyes Iknoware milk chocolate in the disco ball lights.
My shoulders drop, my fists uncurling at my sides. “I would love to dance, Paul.”
Paul wastes no time guiding me on to the dance floor as the second chorus starts up. My hands land on his shoulders and his land on my hips, and I make myself focus my full attention on him, reminding myself for the second time tonight to just enjoy the moment I’m in.
Which would be so easy to do if I didn’t feel a gaze I know all too well burning into my face. I try to stop myself, but I can’t keep my eyes from flicking up over Paul’s shoulder. I find Robbie immediately, his eyes locked on me over the top of Denise’s head as he dances with her just ten feet away. When he realizes I’ve caught him, his gaze falls back down to Denise. He says something to her, smiling tightly. I know I should look away, but I don’t. Not until he looks back up at me again. Then, suddenly, Paul’s face is the most interesting thing I’ve ever seen. I smile at him and he smiles back. I try to distract my mind from Robbie by trying to figure out what Paul’s eyes look like, but, aside from swamp water, I come up blank. I steal one more glance at Robbie, and find he’s already looking at me. The only difference is, this time, he doesn’t look away.
And neither do I.
twenty-eight
