She felt Hunter’s fingers clasp hers. “I do.”
***
Hunter held on to Britt’s hand, not caring if Maude was a witness or not. The second she mentioned dancing at the reception, Britt’s face turned a grayish pale. If he hadn’t pulled her hand away from her shirt, she might have busted her tank top’s thin straps.
“And I know how to dance too, sweetie.” Maude gave him a tiny nod, one Britt didn’t notice. “X isn’t too shabby on his feet either.”
“Between the three of us,” Hunter said, running his thumb over the back of her hand, “we can teach you.”
“And you might not have to worry about it at all,” Maude said, her encouragement sounding a little desperate.
Britt looked up at Hunter with wide, vulnerable eyes. “I don’t want to be like this,” she whispered.
He knew exactly what she meant. Over the past two weeks she’d admitted more than once that anxiety was her enemy, and that she’d do anything to vanquish it. But nothing ever totally worked.
Maude dropped her arm from Britt’s shoulders. “Don’t worry sweet pea. You got this.” She walked over to the table where the speaker sat next to Britt’s phone. “How do you work this thing?” Then a slow song filtered through the speaker, one he recognized. Something about dreams, he thought.
“This one’s good.” Maude spun around and clapped her hands together as she walked over to them. “Hunter, you stand here.” She moved him a couple inches to the right, so he was standing straight in front of her. “Britt, you move one step forward.”
Her eyes were still locked on his as she complied.
“Good. You’re both in position.”
Britt’s scared eyes widened even more.
“Maude?”
They all turned to see X poking his head into the room. “We’ve got a customer.”
“Can’t you see I’m busy,Xavier?”
“She requested your help specifically. She has a long list of supplies for her project too.”
“Drat,” she said.
X’s bushy, gray brows arched. “We’ve got a customer on a Monday, and you’re upset about it?”
“No, but...” She glanced at Hunter and Britt and sighed. “Tell her I’ll be right there.” After he left, she leaned in close. “I trust you two will figure this out.” She patted them on the shoulders, then wafted out of the room.
Hunter let go of Britt’s hand. “Okay, let’s—”
Click.The door latched shut.
Never change, Maude.He turned his full attention on Britt.
“I can’t do this, Hunter,” she said, moving away from him.
“Yes, you can.” He took her elbow and drew her close. “I’m not good at dancing, and you don’t have to be either. Almost nobody is paying attention anyway. They’re all talking, laughing, hitting the bar... You get the point.”
He felt her arm loosen up a bit. “Really?”
“Really. Trust me, I’ve been to a few over the years.” Although, he’d never seen a bridal party dance together, so maybe Maude was right that it was a northern thing. And of course he hadn’t been on his best behavior at any of the weddings he’d attended, especially family ones. “Who’s the best man?” he asked. He almost didn’t want to know who would be dancing with her. He shoved away the tiny arrow of jealousy piercing his heart. This was about Britt, not him.
“Justin’s brother. He’s older, in his mid-thirties. He’s been married for years.”
That was a relief. “Okay, so he’s someone you know. That helps.”
She nodded. “He’s really nice. Their whole family is.”
