Page 73 of Dissonance (Unrequited 3)

Alex

Ididn’t live by a lot of rules, but one I stuck to was to always dance when Taylor Swift came on. That had led to some awkward moments—awkward for other people, I was not ashamed of my T-Swift adoration—but I stuck to my guns.

When “Lover” began playing, my heart sunk. Not because I was disappointed to hear Swifty—that would never be the case—but because this was the one song on the one day I didn’t want to dance alone to.

Then, like a mirage, Yael was in front of me. “If I step on your toes, I don’t want to hear any complaints.” Her arms circled my neck. “Will you dance with me?”

Stupefied, but only for a second, I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her against me to sway to the slow beat. She had absolutely no rhythm, so I didn’t try to get fancy. We rocked back and forth and held on to each other.

“You’re the first girl I’ve danced with to this song,” I said.

She grinned at me. “I haven’t slow danced since prom.”

“I remember you at prom. You wore this dress that was so low in the back, I held my breath, waiting to see ass crack.”

And I’d spent the night staring at her until it felt like my heart had set up a ladder to climb out of my throat. I’d gotten that feeling a lot over the years when it came to this woman.

“Double-sided tape, silly. I remember you at prom too. I’d never seen you dressed up before. When you showed up in a tux, I felt faint for a second.”

I shook my head. “For real?”

She nodded, her fingers dancing with the loose hair at the nape of my neck. “I was so dumb then, but I was smart enough to see how utterly adorable and heart-stoppingly hot you were. And that tux…my god, Alex, it was almost as good as this suit.”

Dipping my head, I ran my nose along her throat, touching my lips to her skin as I went. She shuddered in my arms and tilted her head to allow me access.

“It still kills me every time you call me Alex. Why do you still do it, after all these years?” I dragged my face away from her skin to meet her eyes.

Her long lashes fluttered against her cheeks before her gaze settled on mine. “The same reason. I’ve never wanted to be like everyone else to you.”

“You never have to worry about that. You’ll always stand apart.”

She brought her hands up to my face, cupping my cheeks with a gentleness I didn’t often see in her. She didn’t say anything; she didn’t have to. The look she gave me, raw and honest, was enough. We rocked, and I mouthed the words of the song while I held her gaze. By the end, Yael was singing softly with me, grinning and holding on tight.

After that, the music picked up, and she stayed with me. She was a god-awful dancer, but she let me twirl her and dance around her like a maniac. I was being goofy as hell—my default setting—but Yael wasn’t embarrassed by me. Her cheeks had gotten rosy from her near-constant smiling and laughter. She wasn’t trying to be the cool girl she so often affected. Nah, she was just Yael, and when she was this way, she was one of my favorite people in the universe.

Allie sidled up to Yael, rubbing shoulders with her. “I’m married,” she squealed.

“You are, you pretty, pretty princess.” They hugged and rocked, and over Yael’s shoulder, Harris’s glower caught my eye. I quirked a brow and shrugged, then tookmyfake girlfriend in my arms, never losing eye contact. He could look all he wanted. He could drown in fucking regret. He’d never have her again. Hell, as far as I was concerned, he’d never really had her in the first place.

He held on for a second or two, then his nostrils flared and he looked away, turning his attention back to the woman beside him. Yael threw her arms around my neck.

“Tell Allie she’s a pretty, pretty princess,” she demanded.

I took one of Allie’s hands and spun her around, her dress spreading out like a cupcake. When she came to a stop, I bowed to her. “Princess Pretty Pretty, it’s an honor.”

Allie curtsied back. “Sir Murray, fair knight. You have slain all the dragons, so I command you to eat and make merry.”

Yael coughed, and it sounded a lot like“nerds.”Allie flipped her off, which looked so out of place in her fancy, poufy dress, but she didn’t seem to care at all. Yeah, I could see how these two were friends.

We stayed until the DJ played the last song and spent most of our time on the dance floor. Before we left, we hugged Allie and nodded politely at Jamie, wishing them the best. Yael promised to keep in touch, and I kind of believed she just might.

Since the wedding had been early, it was only midday, and I had ideas. “Let’s go get changed,” I said as we walked across the lobby.

“Into pajamas?”

“Nope.” I dragged a finger along the curve of her cleavage. “We can’t leave this place without going on the lake.”

She frowned. “It’s raining, and I thought…”

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