Page 24 of Last Call Lindy Hop
Dance night, and butterflies flitted in my middle.
I couldn’t wait to dance with Eli. It didn’t matter that he was straight, he made me feel… cared for.
It was different than with my family, or Kenzie. I knew my family loved me and always would. Kenzie and I loved each other about as much as friends could.
But they all knew me from before, and I wasn’t the same person anymore. Something deep inside broke that day, and I wasn’t sure it could ever be repaired.
Eli, however, was different. He only knew who I was now, and treated me with more care than I would have ever expected from a stranger. He’d noticed when conversation strayed too close to painful topics, and veered away. He was silent when I needed him to be, and let me just exist in the moment.
There was no past to haunt me when I was dancing with him—only movement and the freedom to follow his direction.
I could almost forget the pain for those few minutes in his arms.
My phone chimed with a text informing me that Kenzie was in the parking lot, and I made my way out of my apartment and to the elevator. I texted her back as it descended and a few minutes later we were on our way to the old banquet hall.
“You’re happy,” she observed.
“Just ready to dance.”
“With Eli?” she teased.
I elbowed her in the side, which made her grumble and complain about driving. “It’s your fault, so don’t you don’t get to tease me about it now.”
She smiled. “Eli’s a good one. I’m glad to see you two becoming friends.”
“We’re just dance acquaintances.”
“You don’t have his number yet?”
“No. Do you?”
She laughed. “Point.”
“But yeah. Dancing with him is nice.”
“I’m glad.”
She pulled into the parking lot and I smiled as we got out of the car. I could already hear the music filtering from the building.
A sense of calm washed over me as we walked in, however it dissipated immediately when I spotted Eli and Amber by the sound system.
Amber was crying and Eli looked distraught, while Jackson and Mitch stood nearby talking between themselves.
Kenzie shoved her bag in my hands then rushed over to hug Amber.
Unsure what to do, I walked over to where Eli stood, uncertainty painted on his face.
“What’s wrong?” I heard myself ask.
Eli turned and studied me for a moment before responding. “Amber’s mom just called. Her grandfather had a stroke and they don’t know if he’ll make it. Her mom is trying to get her on the first plane out, but…” he rubbed the back of his neck. “She carpooled with me and… well… I’m DJ tonight and Jackson doesn’t know if somebody can cover at this point. It would be at least forty minutes before he could be back, and nobody who lives closer is answering.”
“I can take her,” Kenzie interrupted. “But…” she looked at me.
“Go,” I said, shooing her off. Then I turned to Eli. “Can you give me a lift home after?”
Eli nodded. “Of course.”
Kenzie looked between us, then nodded. She grabbed her bag back from me, then turned to Eli. “I’ll get her home to pack, then to the airport so she doesn’t have to drive like this. Don’t worry.”
