Page 38 of Another Love, Another Time
“Well, yeah. We kind of just hang out and talk, listen to music, drink, and dance.”
“Some of them should not be dancing.” She laughs to herself.
“You think you can do better?” I challenge.
“You know I can do better.”
I’m egging her on. I love to watch her dance, and I know none of the girls can dance like my girl.
“Play a good song, and you know I will.” She grabs my arm. “But you have to be my partner.”
River is not a trained dancer. I think she took dance for a few months when she was younger, but she’s a natural. When we were younger, we used to watch dance videos, and she made Logan and me learns the dance with her. Still, she always picked up on them so much faster. It could be that we just weren’t interested, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that she’s a good dancer.
We have been listening to music from my truck’s speakers all night. I hook up my Bluetooth and find the song I’m looking for. “Buttons” by The Pussycat Dolls starts to play, and River is already standing by the fire, swaying her hips back and forth, and crooking her finger at me. She turns her back to me as I reach her. I grab her hips and follow the sway of her hips.
She reaches one arm back and holds on to my neck while her other hand is on mine, over her hip. We stay in sync for a few beats before she breaks away and turns to face me, but she leaves some space between us. She runs her hands through her hair while moving her body like she’s a damn snake.
Suddenly, she drops down like it's hot and bounces a few times, spreading her legs out before she comes back up again. She’s danced in front of me before, but it’s like she’s putting on a show for the other girls. She’s claiming me, and damn, if it doesn’t make me hard…
Standing, she presses her hands to my chest and slides them down until she’s at the hem of my shirt. Then, she slides her hand underneath and walks around me so she’s facing myback. She slides her hand around with her so that she’s always touching my skin.
At this point, I have stopped moving, unsure of her next step. She moves her hand away, and I feel her back against mine. She’s rubbing her bubble butt on me, and I start grinding against her butt.
I’ve had enough of following her lead. I turn around and move my thigh between her legs. We start moving our hips together. I know she can feel how hard I am. I feel like I have had a constant hard-on all night.
She leans in to whisper in my ear, “You may want to have one of those girls you take into the woods to take care of that.” She laughs, walking back towards the truck as the song comes to an end. I follow close behind her.
Everyone is looking at us. I never dance, especially at one of these bonfires. I reach Gracie first, and she says, “That was so hot, Auggie. Where have you been hiding those dance moves?” She’s fanning herself.
Kyle scowls at her and scoffs. “Thanks for making us all look bad.”
River is already in the back of the truck, where she is grabbing something else to drink. I look at my watch and realize it’s almost eleven. River and I have to be back home by midnight. That’s new since I turned sixteen, but my friends don’t have to be home yet. I want to hang out with River a little bit longer before we go back to my house.
I start telling everyone it’s time for us to head out and get the goodbyes over with. I try to avoid Melissa; she went out of her way to be mean to River. I’m pissed off, but she’s not having it.
“You’re leaving?” Melissa pouts.
I nod, not wanting to talk to her.
“Can you drop me off at my house?” she continues. “I rode out with some of the girls, and they’re not ready to leave.”
“Are you serious?” I blurt. “After how you treated River?”
“Yes, I’m serious. I’ve been drinking, so I can’t drive. What if something happened to me? What would your parents say, Auggie?”
I know she’s trying to guilt-trip me, and I almost give in. River will kill me.
Then, Logan says, “Melissa, I stopped drinking a couple of hours ago. I can drive you home.”
“Yeah, but I want to go home now. Auggie can just take me.”
“Then let’s go. I think I’m ready to call it a night anyway.”
Out of excuses, she has no choice but to accept Logan’s offer. I give Logan a grateful look, and he gives me a nod. He’s seen enough of Melissa’s antics to know what she was trying to do.
“Thanks, man,” I say. “I’ll give you a call tomorrow.”
I look at River and see that JD guy’s talking to her again. I butt in, touching her shoulder. “You ready?”
