Page 112 of Keep My Heart
‘Sure.’ He turns to me. ‘What’s going on?’
‘What you said just now, about me living here. Did you mean it?’
‘It was just an idea. I didn’t say it was a good one.’
‘Then why did you say it?’
‘Because I don’t want you feeling like you have to rush into this if you’re not ready.’ He lowers his voice as people walk past us. ‘You just got divorced. You’ve been through a lot of changesthe past year. I’d understand if you need some time before making another big change.’
‘But you want this, right? For me to move there? For us to be together? You’re not changing your mind?’
‘No. Of course not. I can’t wait to have you there. But I’m not thinking of just me and what I want. I need you to do what’s best for you, and if waiting a few weeks or a few months is what you need, I’ll understand. I’ll be working a lot anyway so I wouldn’t see you much even if you were there. But I could fly you out on weekends, or if you wanted to stay all week, go check out the city while I’m at work, that’s an option too.’
I feel better hearing him say that. I’m so used to being with a guy who didn’t want to be with me that my mind instantly assumed Nick was the same way when he suggested I stay here instead of going to New York. I need to stop thinking every guy is like Chris.
‘I’ll take that dance now,’ I say, rising up from my chair.
Nick takes my hand and we make our way to the dance floor. I spot Tom and Diane a few feet away. Diane’s eyes are closed and there’s a dreamy smile on her face as it rests on Tom’s chest. He’s swaying side-to-side, staring up at the ceiling speaker above him like he’s praying for it to stop playing this song so he can go sit down.
‘I always wanted to do this,’ Nick says, drawing my attention to him as his arm goes around my waist.
‘Do what?’
‘Dance with you like this.’ He moves us along the dance floor like he actually knows what he’s doing. He’s not at all awkward or uncomfortable like Tom. He seems completely at ease being out here. ‘Our senior year prom, I almost asked you to dance, but I knew Chris would throw a fit if I did.’
‘You’re right. He would have.’
‘I should’ve asked you anyway.’ Nick looks into my eyes. ‘I have so many regrets from back then.’
‘Like what?’
‘Like not telling you how I felt. Maybe it wouldn’t have made a difference, but at least you would’ve known.’
‘I know now. That’s really all that counts.’
The song ends and another one begins. It’s another slow one, but I notice Tom and Diane leaving the dance floor. I think Tom needs a break or maybe a stiff drink before being dragged back for another song.
‘You’re really good at this,’ I say to Nick as we reach the edge of the dance floor and he turns us around.
‘I’ve had lessons.’
‘You took dance lessons?’ I laugh. ‘Sorry, I shouldn’t laugh, but can I ask why?’
‘I’ve dated some women with money, like a lot of money. From wealthy families. They tend to go to a lot of formal events where you need to know how to dance. Ballroom dance, not country hoedown type of dance.’
I laugh again. ‘Yeah, I assumed it’d be ballroom. So you took lessons to impress these women?’
‘I took lessons so I’d know what the hell I was doing. I didn’t want to try to wing it and accidentally step on her foot or bump into someone.’
‘How many of these rich women did you date?’
‘I don’t know. Three or four?’
‘Why did it end?’
‘Because I’m a small-town boy from Wisconsin. It doesn’t matter where I live now or what I do for a living. Once the girl’s parents found out I wasn’t one of them, it ended, each and every time. Eventually I stopped dating those women.’
‘What was your longest relationship?’
