Page 15 of The Story of Us
“When do you have to apply by?” Joanie asked.
“There’s a bit of time.”
“Promise you’ll give it a go,” said Mary.
Eloise picked up her glass and stared at the deep red liquid as she weighed up what to say next. She’d spent the last few days talking herself out of applying. Letting her fears squash the whispers of excitement that blossomed whenever she thought about saying yes, but one glance around the room reinforced what she already knew. Sitting here with her parents and Joanie, she could be honest. “It would be amazing, but I don’t know if I could do it. It’s a lot.”
Michael levelled her with a small smile, his eyes twinkling.Oh boy.She knew what was coming. One of her father’s famous guilt trips. “We’re going to be very disappointed if you don’t at least try, Eloise. Do it for us, please?”
* * *
Nate was typinga half-baked scene outline into the notes on his phone when the door to the dance studio opened. He didn’t look up, just kept tapping away at the screen because if he didn’t get a finished draft to Garrett soon, his agent would be banging down his door. Supposedly, Jemima Jenkins had loved what they’d already sent over and wanted more.
“Hey handsome. Why so serious?” Bianca said.
The ballet barre that spanned the long, mirrored wall bumped into Nate’s side as he stepped backwards. “Are we early?” He looked around the empty studio.
Bianca finger-walked her hand up his chest, and Nate didn’t even attempt to hide his cringe. “Who cares. It’s nice for us to have some alone time.”
They’d have to agree to disagree about that. Even though Nate hadn’t been making progress on his draft at home, he’d still rather be sitting at his computer staring at a blank screen than doing this. Especially first thing in the morning. He moved Bianca’s hand off his chest and crossed his arms, earning himself a scowl in return.
“Let’s get started on the profile you’re going to agree to.”
This woman. She never stopped. “I don’t think so.”
“Come on. We both know you’re going to, so let’s skip all your adorable lip biting and huffing about being a simple guy who just wants a simple life. I mean, unless you want help with the lip biting …” She tossed Nate what he assumed was meant to be a flirty wink, but it just made his stomach clench.
Voices carried down the hallway, and Nate said a silent prayer of gratitude until he saw who walked into the room. Ryan Dixon followed Charlie and Sera, his steps still full of the conceited swagger he’d perfected as a teenager. And while Nate understood why Charlie had included him in the bridal party—Sera had fourteen bridesmaids after all—he didn’t get how Charlie couldn’t see through all Ryan’s bullshit.
Case in point: the way Ryan said “howdy” to Bianca’s breasts. Or how he waffled on about also being a ‘seasoned traveller’ but really he’d only been as far as the Gold Coast. For schoolies. Over ten years ago.
“Nathan.”
Nate jerked his chin in greeting, determined not to take the bait. Guys like Ryan were always looking for a reaction, and calling him something that wasn’t Nate’s name was one of Ryan’s juvenile go-to moves.
More groomsmen and bridesmaids filtered into the studio, the noise level rising. A headache threatened. Whoever gave Sera the idea that the whole bridal party should perform a choreographed dance at the reception was officially on Nate’s shit list.
“Sorry, sorry.” Eloise fell into the room, her backpack slipping down one arm and a pair of pale pink heels in the other. Her hair was falling out of its braid, a rosy blush on both her cheeks. “I forgot my dress for the bridal dinner tonight, so I had to double back to the house. I’m getting ready at Alice’s place, which”—she paused, clearly realising everyone was staring at her—“you didn’t all need to know. Sorry!”
“Right, let’s get everyone partnered up,” the instructor said and started running through the list of couples. Bianca hooked her arm through Nate’s when their names were announced together.
“This is going to be so much fun,” Bianca said.
* * *
Spoiler alert:it wasn’t fun. The studio already bore the signs of the carnage that came from trying to get thirty people to learn a complicated routine. Three couples had already given up and Charlie and Sera were looking stressed, frozen smiles on their faces as they watched from the front of the room with the instructor.
“Concentrate,” Bianca hissed. “Listen to the beat.”
“I am,” Nate pushed out through gritted teeth. This had been the longest thirty minutes of his life. He readjusted his hand on Bianca’s back and did his best to keep up with the one-two-three the instructor was calling out. The pounding in his head worsened.
“Okay. My turn to lead,” Bianca said when Nate turned them the wrong way.
“Have at it,” he said. Hell, if letting Bianca drag him all over the dance floor would make time go faster, he was all for it. Somehow—he didn’t know or care how—she managed to make it look like they were kind of doing the right thing, spinning him to the left so they were next to Eloise and Ryan.
Of course, she’d been partnered up with him.
Nate bit the inside of his cheek as Ryan pulled her closer, his face practically buried in her neck and said loudly—most likely for Nate’s benefit, not hers, because Ryan had always been that kind of guy—“You can boss me around anytime, baby.”
