“That’s just a dream, not likely to happen this year with everything planned for the tour and all.”
I nod in understanding. I, of course, know the feeling of pushing things aside for Mae.
“But what about you, Raleigh? Thoughts on the New Year?”
All mythoughtsare about how Dalton is here right now, and neither of us are expected at Mae’s side. That all changes tomorrow. There will be no time to sneak around or tease, or for late night drinks in borrowed oversized t-shirts. “Just to get through it all in one piece, I suppose.” Dalton eyes my glass as I take another drink. I don’t usually have more than one or two, but I’m on edge and it’s the only thing I can think of that will keep me from short circuiting.
He eases his hand over my glass. “Hey, you want to dance?”
“It’s a slow song,” I cut in. I thought he was playing it safe? This is all too confusing for me.
“I know, but you could use a distraction.” He’s right, but I don’t know how swaying next to him could ever fix what’s holding me back.
Chapter 22
Dalton
THERE’S NO WAY OF fooling myself now that I’ve invited Raleigh to dance with me. I thought I could view the situation as nothing more than a distraction for her troubles, but the way she’s swaying against me now is testing all of my resolve.
My grip on her hip loosens just a bit as the song enters the chorus. My trepidation fights the raging hormones flooding my brain at the feel of her and loses out. At Christmas, I told her I’m not scared of anything, and that’s true, but I can’t help to feel a bit cautious. Jumping into something as quickly as this, I believe, is unwise. The New Year is coming in hot, and the challenge she set forth earlier in the night hangs low over me. I know for a fact that I’ll want to kiss her when the ball drops.
The conflict of promises and challenges clash as Raleigh tilts her head up to mine before laying it gently on my chest. Unable to keep my hands off of her any longer, I wrap a solid arm around her and hold her tight. I’ve been fighting everythingsince she kissed me in the kitchen because I don’t want her to have any regrets, but with her in my arms like this, I can’t think of any sound reason to tell her no.
Despite both of our tempestuous feelings, the hours leading up to the New Year go off easily. The attraction cooled slightly when we noticed a couple next to us livestreaming the event. I had also noticed Mae’s wandering eyes, but I didn't mention that to Raleigh. The pro that she is, she led me off to a group of her marketing friends and started up a conversation.
As time passes, the conversation between Raleigh and her peers becomes a bit overwhelming. The topic passes from social media strategy to rumors at the blink of an eye. I notice her grit her teeth as one woman mentions the photos of Mae and Trenton on the beaches and proceeds to prod Raleigh into giving them the deets on the PR stunt relationship. The pack of hyenas, as Raleigh would surely call them, has turned the topic completely onto her client. A lie at that.
Thankfully, the tension is broken by an announcement calling everyone to the floor for the countdown. A rush of people flood by our group. Raleigh nods goodbye to the other publicists and turns swiftly to me. “I don’t know if that was worse or better than being tempted by you,” she mumbles low, but I heard all of it.
As we go with the wave of others back out onto the dance floor, Raleigh’s head is instantly on a swivel. Without even looking at the direction she’s facing, I know she’s found Mae because she stops moving her feet forward. Instant doubts.
Crooking my finger under her chin, I turn her face away from Mae. “Let them look, they won’t remember it tomorrow.” I know there’s no going back after this moment, but maybe for once, we don’t need to care. I swing Raleigh around and lean down close. Her forehead comes to a rest against mine and we’re centimeters away from kissing, but she falters and buries her face into my shoulder.
As the countdown chants begin, the realization that the most insane year of our lives is about to begin sets in. Raleigh pulls away, panicked as if she’s realized that we’ve run out of time. In Raleigh’s eyes, I see stress, an overwhelming sense of being out of control. I push the hair from her face and rest a reassuring hand on her cheek. “It’s going to be okay. We’re good. We’ll talk it out.”
Words are left unsaid as the countdown drops to one and then the whole room explodes with the sounds of cheering and those cheap plastic horns you get from the dollar store. It’s moved Raleigh from her stunned silence, she steps away from me gingerly. “Happy New Year, Dalton Cosgrove,” she says, a pained smile spread thin across her face.
I’m about to return the favor when a scream takes both of our attention. Raleigh turns rigid and I turn to see where she’s looking. Down on one knee, Trenton Travers sits, looking up at his girlfriend, who’s just said yes to forever.
Those around the happy couple have their phones out recording, already cheering for them. Only when Mae pulls Trenton to his feet and jumps into his arms do I feel Raleigh move. “Raleigh…” I try. She’s on a different planet, her mind grinding gears trying to determine how she’s let this happen. “Hey, are you okay?” I can’t tell if she’s about to march over and punch the man or keel over.
Reaching out for her hand, she only moves when I make contact. In three swift movements, she’s looked down where our skin has touched, straightened the strap of her dress and stepped away with force. I nearly follow her but think better of it. I can’t be sure, but I thought I saw tears in her eyes as she stormed away.
The moment Raleigh reaches Mae, her entire demeanor changes, her muscles loosen and immediately smothers Mae into a hug. Her whole body heaves with a breath and then thetwo women are confiding in each other, a ring is lifted and people swarm them with phones.
“Hey, hey, I meant to find you guys before this happened!” Mitch breathes out a sigh as we watch the crowd make room for the engaged couple. “I know Raleigh thinks it’s a bad idea, and I’m not so sure of it myself but…” His words trail off to me as Raleigh squeezes Mae once more before retreating. The happy couple is invited to the dance floor, gathering love and social media features as they go. Raleigh will inevitably be busy combating the announcement on social media and the news. The new year has already begun for her and my heart sinks at this. I don’t see a time coming up where we’ll be able to be honest about everything that’s passed between us. Just as that future slips away, Raleigh disappears from my view. As much as I want to chase after her and lay everything out in the open, I know that I still have a job tonight. Clenching my jaw in worry, I swivel toward my client.
Watching Trenton twirl Mae around leaves me wondering what Raleigh is thinking about this. A man had ended her career before it even began. Does she see that same threat in Trenton? Worst of all, has she found that threat in me?
Chapter 23
Raleigh
“AND YOU’RE HAPPY with this?” I ask Mae as the final cut of her new song finishes playing over the room’s speaker. The band had been mostly silent listening, their original cut completely taken over by a snap track and drums.
“Of course I’m happy with it,” she snaps, hardly looking up from her phone. Her bandmates are all whispering about their disappointments amongst each other. Though Mae doesn’t seem to be concerned about the negativity, her face does soften when she sees her fiddle player’s confusion. “It’s going to be a crossover. We knew that from the start.”
“You can’t even hear me in there,” Theresa says timidly.
