Page 68 of Since Always

I watch Jessica out of the corner of my eye, my senses on high alert. "No, I'm good. You should go dance with your friends."

"Nope. It's my birthday and you are going to dance with me."

"You know I hate dancing."

I hope she will take the hint and let this one go, but I can tell by the slight way she raises her chin at this that she is readying for a fight and not going to give up.

"Okay, well. It's my birthday wish that you dance with me. And, if that isn't enough to entice you, you still owe me from our bet."

"What bet?"

"In Aspen. The race. I won, and you lost."

"I can vouch for the validity of that statement," Chris says.

"I am cashing in. I want you to dance with me."

I groan. "Alright, alright. Let's go, Sloane."

I keep my tone as light as possible, even though my entire body feels electric from the second that she takes my hand to lead me to the dance floor. Part of me wonders whether I should tell her about the strange moment with her mom, but I don't want to do anything to dampen her joy.

"Hang on," she says, leaving as we reach her friends. "I'll be right back."

"Hey, Senator," a smooth voice says just as she walks away.

"Hey, Becca. It's good to see you." I give her a hug and she pulls me close to whisper into my ear.

"You broke her heart, you know."

I pull back to look at her, but can say nothing in my own defense. Instead, I nod.

"I didn't want that. It was really the last thing I wanted."

"I know. And yet, here we are."

"She's strong. She's going to be okay."

Becca glances at Cass, who is talking to the DJ. "Yeah. She will. But she's not yet. Please, just keep that in mind tonight."

I nod again and we both plaster on smiles as Cass walks back to us.

"I wanted him to play something slower."

"Aw," Becca says. "Slow dancing? This is the best middle-school dance I've ever been to."

The music starts again. It's not exactly a ballad, and people stay on the dance floor twirling one another around, but Cass grabs my arms and wraps them around her back. I try to keep a respectable space between us as we sway.

"You're playing with fire, gorgeous,” I say.

"Relax, Senator. We are just two old friends dancing, right?"

I stare at her face. A piece of hair has fallen in front of it, and I brush it off and tuck it behind her ear. The corner of her lips turn upward into a small smile as she studies my face.

"Sorry about the drunk dial the other night. That won't happen again."

"Ah, well, we've all been there."

She cocks an eyebrow. "Owen Blaze, you have never drunk dialed someone in your entire life. I don't believe you for one second."

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