Page 3 of The Wicked

“They’re both perfect,” Aaron assured Romi, and Luca clenched his fists.

“Can we quit talking about my sister’s boobs?” he grumbled.

“Take a chill pill,” Paulo told him. “Can’t you see Romi needs reassurance? Sweetie, you’re boobilicious, and I’m allowed to say that because I prefer dicks.”

Brooke tried to kick him under the table, but she missed and caught my shin instead. I let out an involuntary yelp, and she clapped both hands over her mouth.

“Sorry! I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay, really.”

I took a long swallow of my mojito and nearly poked my eye out with a cocktail umbrella, but I managed to avoid spluttering when rum burned my throat. Whoever mixed these drinks sure had been generous with the liquor.

“So,” Brooke asked brightly. “Who’s gonna join the beginner class? Has anyone apart from Addy actually tried salsa dancing before?”

Everyone else shook their heads, and I tentatively raised a hand.

“You took a salsa class?” Brooke looked surprised, and so did the others, which was quite understandable, considering I barely left the house for anything except work. I’d pushed myself out of my comfort zone and started painting lessons at Darla’s craft store last year, but I still felt uncomfortable in social situations.

“A couple of classes, years ago,” I clarified. “Before I moved to Baldwin’s Shore.”

“Oh, right.” An awkward silence fell. “So, uh…”

I should have said no.

“I’ll take the beginner class.”

Brooke’s relief was palpable. “Great. That’s great. You could dance with Paulo, or a guy Addy knows from the intermediate class offered to help out. That’ll only leave us one man left to find, and—”

Darla cut in. “Don’t you worry about me, hun. I’ll just sit here and enjoy the music.”

“You don’t want to dance?”

“No, no, I have two left feet.” She held up her nojito. “I’m happy watching.”

“I guess that solves one problem. Sara? Who do you want to dance with?”

The answer was easy. Paulo might have been a walking disco ball, but he was sweet and he was safe. Maybe Addy’s friend was lovely too, but I couldn’t take the chance that he wasn’t. I preferred to keep strangers at arm’s length. And besides, Paulo would drive Blue crazy. She threatened to chop off his body parts on a regular basis, and although she hadn’t followed through yet, the night was still young.

“I’ll dance with Paulo.”

He beamed at me. “We’re gonna set the dance floor on fire, doll.”

That’s what I was afraid of.

2

SARA

“Now we’ll put together everything we’ve learned for the next track. If you forget the steps, don’t forget to watch Lorena and Joaquin on the stage.”

After nearly an hour of dancing, the only thing burning was my toes. Paulo knew how to move his hips, I’d give him that, but his feet were a whole other story. The teacher said go left, Paulo went right. The teacher said go right, and Paulo went left. He joked that next time, he’d bring a pair of gloves with L and R written on them—probably in glitter glue—so he wouldn’t forget which way was which. Next time? If there was a next time, I’d be wearing steel toecaps, and I’d definitely opt to dance with Addy’s friend. He looked about forty, and twice I’d seen Blue move his hand off her ass, but at least he hadn’t managed to crush any of her metatarsals yet.

“Feel the beat,” the teacher instructed. “Let the music speak to your soul. Ready? One, two, three… Five, six, seven…”

Ouch.

“Sorry,” Paulo said as he stepped on my foot and bumped into the lady next to us. “I messed up the start again.”

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