Page 26 of Last Call Lindy Hop
I immediately felt horrible at the delay as I approached Lance. His leg was bouncing and his hands trembling slightly.
“Hey,” I said softly as I took a seat next to him.
“Hi…”
“You ok?”
He looked at me, studying me for a minute, then shook his head and stared at the floor. “It’s… hard.” He paused. “Being around a lot of people I mean.”
I reached over and squeezed his knee. “I might have an idea. Can you give me a minute?”
He nodded without looking at me.
“I’ll be right back.”
“Ok.”
I stood and walked over to where Jackson waited for Mitch by the door. “Hey, got a min?”
He turned to me and smiled. “Sure, what’s up?”
“Any chance you can let Lance and I into the garden… and watch the music for a few minutes?”
He tilted his head to one side. “Sure, but why? If I may ask.”
I blew out a long breath. “Lance has what looks like some social anxiety, and I think Kenzie was his safe person. I want to get him away from the crowd to settle his nerves.”
Jackson nodded and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a small keyring and unclipped a smaller set from it. He handed it over. “The garden key is on there. Just give it back when you’re done and try to not let anybody else out there.”
I nodded. “I remember Mitch was mad about all the people who’d gone out to smoke the last few times, and had to clean it up before weddings.”
“Yeah. We’d love to keep it open, but…”
“I get it.”
Keys in hand, I returned to where Lance sat, and it seemed his trembling had increased.
“Come on,” I said, offering a hand.
“I.. I don’t know…” he replied.
“Not to dance,” I clarified. “There’s a nice quiet spot outside. I’m going to get you away from everybody for a few minutes.”
“Ok.”
He took my hand and I led him to the door at one side of the hall, then out into the night air.
I found the external switch, then the garden was illuminated in twinkling lights strewn through the rosebushes, and small upward-facing lights along the path.
Lance let out a breathy noise of surprise.
“Come on,” I said softly. “There’s a gazebo we can sit in at the far end.”
His hand was so warm in mine, and I noticed that the shaking had stopped.
I led him silently through the roses, then the path widened to the small grassy section in front of the gazebo—where Mitch had said weddings were popular.
We climbed the wooden steps, and I got Lance settled on one of the benches. “Better?” I asked, taking a seat next to him.
