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“Don’t make me blush like that, Ana Reyes. My mother is across the table.”
I laugh. As we finish our food—the most incredible salmon and roasted potatoes I’ve ever had—a new song starts to play. It sounds familiar.
“Oh we have to dance to this, baby,” Hayden says, scooting his chair back and standing. He reaches his hand down for me to place mine inside. I do, and stand. I use my other hand to adjust my dress and he leads us to the dance floor.
“What song is this?” I ask. “It sounds so familiar.”
He gives me an incredulous look. “Ana, it’s “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran.”
“Oh yeah, he’s good.” I nod and he shakes his head in disbelief. “I’m surprised you like him though.”
“Oh, he’s great and an incredible songwriter.”
We make it to the middle of the dance floor and he twirls me around once, making me laugh, before bringing me close to him, keeping one hand around mine and the other around my lower back. My other hand rests on his shoulder and then I move it up towards his neck.
He pulls me close to him, our bodies melting together. He mouths the words as we dance, swaying slowly and tenderly. His rhythm is better than I thought it would be as he leads us in simple steps and turns.
He sings along with Ed, telling me I look perfect, and then he kisses my forehead. “Does this feel as perfect to you as it does to me?” he whispers.
“I never knew anything could feel like this,” I admit. “I never knew I could feel this overwhelmed by a relationship, so consumed by it. Part of me hates it because it goes against everything I swore against.” He laughs at that. “But feeling the way you make me feel is the greatest thing in the world.”
“Té amo,” he whispers and touches his lips so lightly to mine, careful not to mess up my lipstick.
“Té amo, mí amor,” I whisper back.
TWENTY-SEVEN
NOW, WINTER
I haven’t seen David in over a month. The holidays came and went, and I was both grateful and disappointed that he didn’t come to Maddie and Elliot’s New Years party. My phone kept ringing, but it wasn’t David reaching out. It was the past and I couldn’t bring myself to answer any of those calls. Not again. Not right now.
But tonight, I know David is going to be at the school district fundraiser. My company is a donor to the fundraiser, so I really have to go and show my face.
I put on a simple navy blue wrap dress and leave my hair down and curly. I slip some normal work heels on and grab my purse.
It only takes about thirty minutes to get to the restaurant it is being held at—the only one near the school that is nice enough for the donors to feel special and big enough to house everyone invited.
I park and speed walk in since I am a few minutes late. I find Maddie easily enough. She is in the center of the crowd, chatting with everyone. I smile and steer away from her. She’ll find me later.
I scan all the dark corners where no one is and find Elliot, where I knew he would be. I walk towards him and he smiles when he sees me. He’s in a simple white button-down with a gray tie, black pants and brown shoes.
“Hey, El,” I say when I reach him. He’s beside a high table, one arm resting on it and the other holding a glass. Next to him is David. My gut lurches and I nervously take the other side of Elliot and smile at David.
“Hey, David,” I say. His face lights up which makes me feel like the biggest bitch.
“Hey Ana, it’s great to see you,” he says warmly. He’s wearing a navy blue jacket and pants, with a white button down. I hate that I think he looks good.
“You too,” I smile forcedly. I turn away and look towards the crowd. “Is our girl networking?”
“She’s gonna empty all their pockets by the end of the night,” Elliot says in his deep voice, chuckling.
“No doubt about that.” I laugh. I look over to David, who is smiling at me. God why is he always smiling?
“Shouldn’t you be networking too?” I try to joke, pretending to act normal and make conversation.
He laughs once before saying, “I think Madeline is doing enough talking for the entire faculty.”
I let out a laugh, a real one, which makes his grin widen a bit.
