Page 45 of Against All Odds

He’s never hurt me. Not once.

It was me who hurt him.

I place my hand in his and he pulls me up, leading me to a space in the middle of the bar. “What are you doing?” I whisper.

“What does it look like?”

I’m not sure, that’s why I asked. “Everett.”

He grins and pulls me to his chest, his hand on my back. “Dance with me.”

Dear God. “This is not a dance floor.”

“It’s a floor and we’re dancing on it. That’s pretty much the definition.”

Out of mortification, I bury my face in his chest and let him sway me to the sounds of the bar. There are people talking, glasses clinking, and then, suddenly, music playing.

I look up and his eyes meet mine. “See, now we even have music.”

I laugh softly and shake my head. “You’re a mess.”

“That’s true, but I’m a cute one.”

“Says you.”

“Says everyone,” Everett corrects.

I don’t argue. Instead, I lay my head on his shoulder and dance with him. The song ends, but he doesn’t let me go. Another two couples end up joining us, which makes this all slightly less uncomfortable.

The music shifts to something more lively and I step back, but he grips my hand tighter. “Where do you think you’re going?”

My eyes widen as I stare at him. “Umm ...”

“We’re not done.” Everett grips my other hand and starts to move like an octopus. His arms move up and down as he waves his lower body.

Truly, it’s not dancing. It’s more of a flailing, but I can’t stop laughing.

We laugh and move, not caring about anyone else in the bar. It’s just us, and all my worries melt away as Everett spins me around.

ten

Everett

Violet rests her head to the side, staring out the window. “Thanks for driving me home,” she says absently.

“Of course.”

She walked all the way into town, fueled by rage. There wasn’t a chance in hell she was walking down these streets at night, even if she had only one drink.

She glances over. “I had fun.”

“I did too.”

I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun. I’m not a dancer—at all—but when she started to smile and forget her piece-of-shit husband, I didn’t care. I just wanted her to be happy, to let go, to remember the girl she once was who lived without fear.

I sawher, even if it was just for a sliver of time, so she’s still in there.

“I made a cake today,” Violet says distractedly.

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