Page 32 of Last Call Lindy Hop
“It’s a long story, and one that I don’t know yet. But I want to know it, and that means respecting his space. Okay?”
“Fine,” he huffed, crossing his arms. “I still don’t believe you that it’s not a date though, and that this Lance guy is your cover.”
“And what would I gain by that? If you thought I was actually dating somebody you’d stop trying to pawn me off as your single friend.”
“Hey, I’ve stopped!”
I crossed my arms. “Really? Have you? Wasn’t it only a few weeks ago that you were trying to get me to go on a double date with you?”
“After that I meant.”
“Drop it dude. I’ll invite you when he’s ready, and that’s that. Don’t be an asshole and think you’re entitled to his time just because you’re also my friend. Ok?”
“Fine.”
“Good. Now that that’s settled, are you sure that you don’t want to start coming to dance nights with us? You know Jackson teaches classes. We’re always open to beginners.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“That’s what you always say. Come on, you know Amber and I always have a blast.”
“I’ll think about it,” he repeated.
“Whatever.” I looked up at the clock. “Look, I gotta finish eating. And I’ll talk to Lance and ask him to tell me when he’s comfortable with a larger group, ok?”
Josh was silent for a minute. “Yeah man. Ok.”
“Good,” I stated, then I smiled. “Now that that’s settled, don’t forget that we moved our weekly get-together to tomorrow night.”
He laughed. “I remembered, though now I’m tempted to go on a date just to spite you.”
I snickered. “You can line one up that quickly?”
He flipped me off, then laughed.
Another glance at the clock, and I downed the rest of my lunch. “See you back out on the floor.”
He nodded around a mouthful of food.
I stood, threw my trash away, and squeezed his shoulder on the way out. We’d antagonize each other, but at the end of the day we were still friends.
∞∞∞
I watched as Lance opened the pizza box, and a huge grin crossed his face. He pulled two pieces of pizza onto a paper plate before taking a big bite from one.
“I half thought you were joking or testing me when you said Hawaiian,” I joked, taking my own slice. “What with pineapple on pizza being such a sin to so many.”
Lance moaned as he chewed and swallowed, sending a spark of… something… through me at the sound.
“Are you kidding?” he asked, smiling softly at me. “Hawaiian pizza is the best.”
I laughed. “Finally somebody else to eat it with. I usually get trapped in pepperoni hell.”
“What’s wrong with pepperoni?” he asked around another bite.
“Nothing,” I explained. “But I’d prefer something other than it or meat lovers from time to time. Nobody else will split a Hawaiian with me though.”
He took another bite, and with it another moan. “Their loss. This is delicious.”
