Page 111 of Someone to Tempt
Even though I’m nervous, sad, and unsure of the future, spinning around the dance floor is still fun. My mind keeps wandering to Jake—the way he steadied me and made my heart skip a beat when he spun me. The way we just clicked.
“You’ve got this in the bag,” Derek tells me with a high five after we run through our solo routine a second time. He’s being kind, but I’m okay with that.
Imperfection is okay, even when it’s me who’s not as good as I want to be. I’m more willing to accept my missteps and stumbles because at least I’m trying. There's something freeing in the realization that I don't have to be the flawless version of myself I've been chasing all these years. Maybe the person I actually am deserves some long-overdue grace.
Once Char is convinced I’m not going to embarrass her or ruin her reputation, she releases me, and I head toward the fairgrounds. I find Joey helping a group of volunteers set up chairs in front of the festival stage.
His eyes narrow as I approach.
“Good morning, Madam Mayor.” He crosses his arms over his chest, his hair newly clipped and his wide jaw clean-shaven. In his crisp white Oxford shirt with one button open at the collar and the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, he looks the part. And while that isn’t everything, he’s going to do okay for the town. I have to believe that.
“Are you here to scare me off?” he asks slowly. “I know your popularity is on the rise—at least my cousin tells me I don’t stand a chance against you. The crew over at Tony’s report you can belt out Journey with the best of them.”
“Don’t stop believing, Joey,” I answer with a smile. “I’ve learned a lot about the community during my time in the mayor’s office.”
“I get it. You’ve got the on-the-job experience that I don’t, but my name carries weight. And Cy?—”
“I know you have plenty of money to dump into this campaign,” I interrupt. “Your signs are everywhere.”
“Did yours get lost?”
I shake my head. “After the showcase, I’m going to announce that I’m withdrawing my candidacy.”
He runs a hand through his thinning brown hair, his expression skeptical. “You don’t think you can beat me?”
“I think I’d have a hell of a chance to win. I’m a good mayor, and I love this town with my whole heart.” I point to the marquee sign for the weekend’s festivities. “I’m also fun. Remember to be fun, but more importantly, have fun. Do the dunk tanks. Let people smash a pie in your face. Take care of the community, but have fun while you’re doing it. It took me a minute to understand that both of those things are important, and why.”
“So why quit?”
“I’m not quitting.” My voice is steady, and so is my heart. “I’m choosing something different. I don’t want to keep trying to live up to expectations I didn’t set for myself.”
He looks away. “No one in my family believes I can succeed as mayor. They think I’m too dumb because I started working at the auto shop right out of high school.” His gaze shifts back to me. “I could have gone to college, but I like cars.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“That’s not what my aunt says, or what my father thought.”
“Only allowing ourselves to become what our parents wanted would be a pretty sad state of affairs for most of us.”
He laughs softly. “Amen to that.”
“One other thing this town—this office—has taught me is fear might be along for the ride, but I can’t let it drive my life. It might not be the path your family wanted, but it’s yours. You own a successful business in Skylark, which gives you a unique perspective. You’re honest and hardworking. You can figure out the rest. Most of life is figuring it out as we go along. There’s nothing wrong with not having all the answers.”
He rubs a hand along the back of his neck. “After a speech like that, I’d vote for you.”
“Not gonna happen, but I appreciate your confidence.”
“Best of luck to you, Iris.”
“You too, Joey.”
We shake hands, and I walk away feeling lighter, a weight lifted from my shoulders.
By the time I take my place with the rest of the class, Fun Fest is in full swing. And it looks like the entire Skylark population has turned up. The crowd buzzes with energy and the smell of popcorn and funnel cakes is thick in the air. There are craft booths and face painting and a small petting zoo on the far end of the midway. It’s everything fun and perfect, and I should feel great in this moment. I want to feel happy. I’m just not sure how with the way my heart feels like it might never recover.
But the show must go on, and Derek takes my hand as we line up for the first routine. No matter what happens next, I’m a part of this community in a meaningful way—something I didn’t even realize I wanted at the start of my bucket list journey.
This class taught me so much. Not just about dancing, but also how to live life to the fullest. I just wish Jake were here to share it with me. I want to experience this moment—and all the moments going forward—with him. To share the good and the bad, the fun and the challenges.
