Page 68 of Unspoken Words
Frowning, I dismissed her grump. “It’s a great song.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Yes, it is. Look at all the people dancing.”
“Connor, you’re seeing double. The only person dancing is Mrs Benbow.”
Squinting, I tried to refocus and call her out on her bullshit when a soft, warm hand slid into mine, and an even softer voice filtered into my ear. “I know you’ve got the moves to this one.”
My face lifted.
“You wanna dance?” Ellie asked.
“Actually, we were—”
“Yes,” I said, cutting Lilah short. I gave her a she’ll-be-right wink, but she just rolled her eyes and ran her tongue over her teeth.
“You remember this song?” I shouted above the heavy drumbeat.
“How could I forget?” she yelled back. “It was the first time—and possibly only time—I’ve ever seen you dance.”
“That’s because I can’t dance.”
She laughed. “I know!”
Ellie led me onto the dance floor next to Mrs Benbow who was stomping around like a crazy person. “Is she one of your teachers?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“I like her,” Ellie said, resolutely. “She dances like you.”
We stomped about to the song, mucking around as if nothing had changed between us. She twirled in and out of my arms, red curls, red satin, and red lips swirling like a fire stick, and I was very much aware that if I touched her for too long I risked getting burned in more ways than one. But I didn’t care. She was there, I was there, and we were laughing, the sparkle in her eyes once again mine.
The music slowed as the song ended, Bon Jovi’s “Always” replacing it. I stumbled, all the bouncing and dancing about catching up to me, and nearly tipped over a table. “Sorry. Sorry,” I said, raising my hands and apologising to anyone and anything I’d offended. “I’m sorry.”
Ellie’s smile faded, so I quickly pulled her to my chest and started swaying to the music. I didn’t know what the fuck I was doing but, with Ellie, it never mattered. She gave me the strength to try without even trying.
“You look …” I sighed and held her tighter. “You look fucking gorgeous tonight, baby.”
She wrestled free and pulled back a little, sniffing the air near my face. “Have you been drinking?”
“No. Okay, maybe a little.”
“A little?”
I dismissed her newly formed O-shaped mouth. “Just one. It’s nothing.”
“One? Like one bottle?”
“Nooo, Silly McWorried Head. I’m driving, see?” I slid my hand into my jacket pocket and pulled out my car keys.
Ellie’s eyes widened. “Did you drink all of that?” she hissed, pointing to the empty Jim Beam bottle in my jacket pocket.
“Shit!” I laughed. “Maybe.”
“Give me those keys.”
Before I could swat her hand away like a fly, she snatched the keys from me and turned on her heel.
