Page 16 of Last Call Lindy Hop
“I didn’t think it was that big a deal.”
She huffed and crossed her arms. “You wouldn’t.”
“What’s that mean?”
“Nevermind. So do you have any clue why he decided to dance with you?”
I blew out a long breath. “I don’t know that it’s my place to say, but Kenzie said that he’s gay and didn’t want to dance with a woman that night.”
“Oh,” she chirped. “Ok.”
“Wait… what? A minute ago you were angry, and now it’s ok? I’m gonna need an explanation.”
Amber groaned. “So you know we usually have more women than men?”
“Yeah?”
“Well that’s one thing. A new guy helps to even the numbers, so it kinda sucks when they don’t dance with more than one person… but that’s their choice. When you said he danced with you but nobody else except Kenzie I got kinda worried that it really was a date and she was the jealous type. She doesn’t seem it, but I don’t know her that well. And jealous-types suck. But him being gay and just not in the mood for dancing with women? That’s back to his choice territory.”
“So you were annoyed because…”
“Because for a minute I thought that it was Kenzie who didn’t want him dancing with anybody else, and that’s not cool.”
“I think I get it.”
“Good,” She paused. “What were we talking about? Oh yeah! You having a crush on the guy Kenzie was with.”
“Lance, and still not a crush.”
“Uh-huh. You keep telling yourself that.”
“I’m straight, remember?”
“Not convinced on that, but go on.”
“Wait… what?”
“Lance. Tell me about him.”
“What was that about you not being sure I’m straight?”
“Just that I’ve dated enough guys to think you’re bi, but haven’t found a guy who would bring out that side of you. Anyway… back to the real topic. Give me the details.”
I sighed, knowing better than to argue with Amber when she got an idea in her head. “Did you talk to him at all, or even get a good look at him?”
“Not really. Why?”
I ran a hand through my hair. “He…” I licked my lips. “Have you ever met somebody so utterly broken inside that you can see it on their face?”
“You mean he wasn’t happy?”
I shook my head. “No. Like happiness was almost a foreign concept. Like apathy and agony had a baby, and the result was somebody who hurt so much that the pain was the only thing that mattered.”
Amber winced. “And you’re saying you think he was like that?”
I nodded. “Kenzie said he was going through a rough patch, and I knew better than to ask. But I think shewantedhim to dance—with anybody who could get him moving.”
“It would make sense. He’d turned down everybody else, so she asked another man to ask.”
