The song was a fast disco number, and they weaved their way to the center of the crowd. For a moment neither of them moved, and she spent the time looking in every direction but his. Finally, he started dancing. He wasn’t the best dancer, but he could cut a decent rug and pretend he was having fun. Not an easy feat when Olivia looked like she’d just eaten a bag of lemons, skin and all. Her feet barely moved.
This wasn’t going to work. He had to settle things between them, and he couldn’t do that while half of Maple Falls surrounded them, shaking their behinds to the beat. He took her hand.
“What are you doing?” she said above the noise of the music and dancers.
“Come with me.” He tugged, half expecting her to pull back. She didn’t, but her hand went limp in his as he led her out of the hall, through the small kitchen where the catering company was starting to clean up for the night, and to a hallway. Then he halted. He’d never been in this part of the community center before. Where was a private place they could talk?
“Kingston—”
He spied a door and walked toward it, still holding her hand. When he tested the knob, it was unlocked. He opened it and found a supply closet. Good enough. He tugged her inside and shut the door, plunging them into darkness.
Uh-oh. Where was the light?
“Kingston,” she said, her tone sounding like broken glass. “If you don’t tell me what’s going on, I’m going to scream.”
Frantically he searched for a switch on the wall. Nothing. What kind of closet didn’t have a light?
Suddenly he heard aclick, and light spilled over the confined space. Olivia stood down from her tiptoes, and he noted the single bulb with a long silver chain dangling from it. “How did you know that was there?” he asked.
“The library has sponsored several events at the center.” Her tone was crisp as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Now, why did you drag me in here?”
“I, uh...” There went his words again, although he still hadn’t landed on the right thing to say to her. He’d just taken advantage of the moment to talk to her alone. He looked down at her. Even with her heels, she only reached his chest. He liked it better when they were eye level.
Like on my Audi.
He shoved away the thought and glanced around. When he saw a tall, old-looking stool a few feet away, he grabbed it and sat down. Now she was a little taller than him, but he didn’t mind.
She blew out a breath. “Kingston, what are you—”
“I’m sorry,” he blurted. “I’m sorry I didn’t call you. I’m sorry I didn’t set up a date. I’m sorry for being a jerk, and I’m sorry I missed out on the best opportunity of my life.”
“Wait, what?”
He inhaled, trying to remember what he’d just said. “I’m sorry I didn’t call—”
“No. The last part. What do you mean, the best opportunity of your life?”
He smiled. “A date with you.”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s laying it on thick.”
It might have been, but he meant it. “Olivia, I really am sorry. I was so busy with work, I just...”
“Forgot. Right?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I did.” He was also ashamed that he hadn’t called her when he did remember, and he was about to tell her that when he caught her staring at him under the sallow light of the antiquated bulb. He couldn’t get a read on her. She was completely impassive.
“It’s okay,” she finally said, her tone as limp as an overboiled spaghetti noodle. “It wouldn’t have worked out anyway.”
Good. She accepted his apology and didn’t seem angry with him. He should have been fine with that. Grateful, even, that she was so amenable. But her emotionless declaration bothered him, and he couldn’t end things on that note. “I disagree.”
Her eyebrows flattened above sharp eyes.
He stood, and due to the small size of the closet, only a fraction of distance separated them. “I think we could have worked out.”
“And what makes you say that?”
“Because we fit together.” The thought just came to him, but now that it was out of his brain, it made sense.
