Page 28 of Last Call Lindy Hop
“I don’t have to do anything,” I repeated. “But I want to. It’s clear that letting Kenzie go has impacted you, and I want you to know that it was worth it.”
He nodded. “Ok.”
I opened my contact list and added his name, then passed my phone over. I sent Lance a quick text as soon as he passed it back, so that he’d have my number as well, then slid my phone back into my pocket.
“Mind if I text you non-updates?” I asked as he settled back against the wall.
“Huh?”
“It just seems…” I started. “I get the feeling you need a friend, besides Kenzie I mean. So maybe I can text and check in on you, or send you funny memes. You know… friend things.”
“Ok.”
I smiled. “Just tell me if I’m too much.”
He gave me a small smile. “I will.”
I returned the smile, then leaned back against the gazebo wall. “It’s nice out here.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“It’s too bad Jackson and Mitch can’t leave it open during the dances.”
“Why can’t they?”
I sighed. “Some people just don’t respect space when people aren’t watching. A bunch of smokers would come out here, rather than out front where there are smoking receptacles. While smoking is fine, they’d just toss their butts on the path or under the bushes. The hall may not be as popular as it once was, but they still hold weddings out here. It meant a lot of cleanup for an event which doesn’t do much more than cover costs for the night.”
“So a few people who couldn’t respect the privilege ruined it for everybody?”
I chuckled. “That’s always the way, isn’t it?”
“I guess so.”
I glanced over to see his eyes were closed, but a look at his hands revealed that his shaking had stopped.
Bringing him outside and away from people had definitely been the right idea.
Silence fell between us again, but it was comfortable. There was no need to fill the air with idle chatter, and I found I liked it.
“I think I’m ok now,” Lance said after a couple minutes.
“You sure?”
He huffed out a rough laugh. “Not really. But I don’t think I’ll get any better.”
“You’ll let me know if you need another breather?”
Our eyes met, and that tiny smile was back. “Ok.”
God, what I wouldn’t give to see him really smiling at me, beaming with joy. I wanted to see that Lance.
I knew he had to be in there somewhere.
Lance stood. “Ok.” He faced me. “Wanna dance?”
I smiled at him. “Of course!”
I stood and he took a step towards the hall, but instead I pulled him back and against me. “I can hear the music from here, can you?”
