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I peer at Sophie to see her eyes wide with longing as she stares at the table too.
Nick pats her on the back. “Don’t look at it, Sophie. You’ll torture yourself.”
She sighs lightly as she tears her eyes away from the treats and back to her plate. “No, you’re right. This is plenty for me.” She stabs a piece of broccoli with her fork and puts it in her mouth unenthusiastically.
Maureen stands up next to me. “Kai, can I get you anything?”
I shake my head, still watching Sophie. “Maybe a bit later.”
Nick raises his hand. “Can you bring me back a crème brulée?”
She nods. “Brent?”
He stands too. “Your hands are going to be full. I’ll come with you.”
Nick downs the rest of his fifth beer and signals to the server for another. Now that the meal is finished, the music in the room grows louder and more upbeat. A few people get up from their tables and begin to dance in the wide-open space in front of the Christmas trees. They laugh and spin each other around to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas.”
I raise an eyebrow. “So, this ball has turned into a dance party then?”
Sophie smirks. “You don’t like to dance, Kai?”
I peer at her, shrug, and shift anxiously in my chair. It’s not that I don’t like to dance, it’s just that I don’t prefer other people to see me dance.
Nick stands and holds his hand out to Sophie. “I do. Do you want to give it a go?”
She blinks at him, and then at me, and then back at him again. He takes another swig of beer as he waits for her response. She inhales and nods. “Yeah, let me just use the bathroom first. And then we’ll dance.” She gets up from the table and leaves us.
When she’s out of earshot, Nick turns to me with a buzzed grin. “See, Lamont, it’s not that hard.”
I cock my head. “What are you talking about?”
He licks his lips deviously. “Do you really think my great-grandparents died peacefully holding hands in bed during the war?” He wipes his mouth with his sleeve and takes another drink. “He died on the battlefield and she froze to death at her sewing machine. They hated each other. But girls tend to go for the sappy version.”
I stare at him unblinking, and then I narrow my eyes.
Nick straightens his jacket and stands up straight. “Now she thinks I’m a sentimental romantic, and I’ve got her locked in.” He taps his temple. “You’ve got to get in their head. Give it a try.”
I suck in a quiet, disbelieving breath and turn back to my plate. I don’t even have a dignified answer to give him. Not a word. He isn’t worth the effort. But a punch; that’s what I would like to give him. Right in the nose. Right where it hurts most. However, Maureen returns to the table before I have the chance to think any more on it.
“Kai, did you see everyone’s dancing?” she asks me as she sits down. She stares longingly at the group of the dozen or so people who are spinning and swinging around the floor.
Ignoring her question, I look at her dessert plate. “What did you get?”
“Cheesecake,” she replies absently, still staring at the dancers.
The song ends just as Sophie returns from the bathroom. The next one is much slower; “Christmas Lights” by Coldplay. I almost laugh, wondering who would want to slow dance with their coworkers. Are they trying to make us uncomfortable? But without hesitation, Nick extends his hand to Sophie once again. She takes it without a second thought, letting him lead her away from our table.
“Oh, Kai…” Maureen touches my arm. “Can we please dance too? I would hate to miss out.”
I scratch my cheek and inhale deeply. For a moment, I study her pitiful and pleading eyes, seriously considering rejecting her offer. But reluctantly, I stand up and take her hand. “Come on, let’s go.”
She eagerly follows as I lead her to the dance floor, where I turn with her hand in mine and take her waist with the other. She’s just a few inches shorter than me, and her cheek rests almost against mine as we sway to the rhythm. Her hand is firm on my back, holding me close to her as we slowly rotate. She’s soft and she smells nice. As reluctant as I am, I eventually close my eyes, enjoying the feel of a beautiful woman in my arms.
We dance for a while, and when I open my eyes again, I catch sight of Sophie and Nick. They chat happily as they rotate too, but he still has a drink in his hand, and his feet move lazily across the floor. He almost steps on her a few times. They both laugh, but I grimace and look away. He can’t even lead right.
“Kai, what’s your favorite Christmas song?” Maureen asks next to my ear.
I clear my throat. “Hmm, I don’t think I have a favorite. What’s yours?”
