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Looking around for my next port of call, I considered what I wanted to do. Once again, my gaze found Juno and Kit. Both of them were still dancing, but they had been joined by others now, and it looked more like a group of friends chilling out and dancing together. If I joined them now, it would be safe to do so without drawing too much interest in my actions.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Kit
It felt good to be on my feet and dancing with Juno and some of her friends like we had in the past at all sorts of different parties. She was my favorite person to dance with, and it helped me relax and enjoy the party.
All my duties were pretty much done, and it was clear sailing from here for the rest of the day. Juno was smiling and having a great time, and even Jack had never looked so happy. With the adventures I’d had earlier with Lukas and then getting to sit with him for the meals that day, I couldn’t say I was unhappy with life either.
Not that I knew a lot about him, but so far, I wouldn’t have minded dancing with him. However, it seemed he wasn’t the type.
I glanced over at the bar, where he had been sitting last, to see if there was any chance that he might want to join us as well, especially as more people were coming to dance with us, including Jack’s bandmate Liam and his partner. Juno encouraged Jack to come along, and even Alma came to dance without Kai.
Lukas was no longer sitting there. Instead, he had moved over to one of the tables. There were three women sitting with him, and they were laughing about something.
Trying not to show my disappointment that he was having fun with the others, I concentrated on enjoying the dancing again. It was a lot of fun, and seeing Juno happy made up for a lot of downsides.
It also made me feel good about my anxiety and how I had handled myself in spite of it. I’d flown to New York and been taken to a remote island, and then been the maid of honor in front of a huge number of people I didn’t know. As far as bravery went, this was amazing.
On top of that, before we had begun dancing, I had been approached by a couple about a job in the US. Maybe tomorrow, I would talk to Juno about it and see if she thought I should take it. While she was celebrating her wedding, it wouldn’t be right, and we were having so much fun dancing that I didn’t want to stop anyway.
I let go of all the fears and worries and just danced, focusing on the rhythm and beat. It was easy to let go while everyone had so much fun, and Alma and the others happily joined in, grooving to the music, each with our own style and no embarrassment.
Despite the fun, I couldn’t help but sneak the occasional peek at Lukas. The women left him by himself not long after, but he seemed to be happy enough by himself and didn’t get up, busy doing something else. I tried to hide the desire to get him to come over and dance as well, especially as Jack and Kai eventually came over, too. Kai wasn’t that great at dancing, but it was clear he intended to try to make Alma happy.
The two of them sort of split off to one side, more focused on each other from that point on. It was sweet to see, but with everyone else now in an obvious couple, I started to feel moreself-conscious. When I glanced toward the table again, Lukas was looking my way once more, and I met his gaze again.
This time I didn’t hold it. I probably looked like an idiot to him, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to keep dancing anymore. All of a sudden, it wasn’t so fun. However, while I tried to think of a good reason to stop, I carried on. There was never an easy way to stop dancing mid-song unless you were hurting, in need of a drink, or something else was wrong.
And this was no different. I didn’t want to fake my need, so I opted to wait until the end of the song and then find a way to chill out for the rest of the evening without being alone or making Juno feel like she needed to be at my side. After making sure all their guests were okay, the happy couple only really had eyes for each other now.
It felt like it took forever, and I was suddenly aware of my feet hurting and of not wanting to keep going. What was it about pain and discomfort that the body often ignored until you started thinking about it?
Eventually, the last note struck, and the music went into the opening part of a much slower song I didn’t recognize. It was the perfect opportunity to make some excuse and leave for the nearest seat instead. I didn’t get far before a man stepped into my vision.
“Would you let me have this dance?” Lukas asked me, searching me for a reaction.
I couldn’t think straight and found myself nodding. Almost immediately, he slipped an arm around me and took my hand in his, pulling me close.
Although I almost tripped over my feet, with him guiding me away from the others enough to give us space, I managed to disguise it. It was strange to be so close to him again when I thought he was uninterested in dancing or doing anything else with me in general.
As he slowly turned me in time to the music and swayed back and forth with me, I went through a myriad of emotions. Alma and Juno grinned at me when they noticed whom I was dancing with, safe in the arms of the men they loved already. My cheeks flushed, but I also felt oddly safe.
Something about Lukas just made me feel as if everything was going to be all right. While I had been nervous with him and hadn’t wanted to appear like an idiot, there had been this underlying sense that I wouldn’t face anything worse than a little bit of embarrassment, and he would never make me feel anything strange.
“Have you been enjoying the wedding so far?” Lukas asked.
“Yes. I was just thinking that it’s been a welcome break, and I think it will make me feel braver about traveling more in the future.”
“Good. Everyone should travel plenty if they can.” He smiled, and I didn’t tell him I couldn’t really afford it in my present state. I had enough money to live and for the occasional luxury, but extensive travel wouldn’t be at the top of my list yet.
“What about you?” I asked, hoping to deflect back to him and stop him from probing further into my inadequacies. It was bad enough that I was so much less wealthy than Juno without bringing more attention to it.
Lukas tilted his head to the side. “I think you’re about the best thing in this whole wedding event. I have never been one for socializing too much, but I’m enjoying your company. And there’s possibly some good business that will come out of it, too.”
“Business? You managed to get business done with the craziness that has been this trip so far?”
He nodded. “Not much. I had to message the office a few times just now. Not fun. But I got to talk to some of the others here, and I might be able to make something work.”
