I dip into a curtsy, unable to keep my eyes off Nate as he bows to me.It feels different to the other times he's done that.Partly because this time it's not to do with our stations, and I get to show the same kind of deference to him.Something he deserves so many times over.
The music starts to play, and I lift my left hand to rest it in his, while I place the right on his shoulder.
"You might have to lead," he murmurs as he puts his free hand on my waist.
I laugh."What makes you think I'm any better at this than you are?"
"You've had years more practice," he points out.
"And I avoid dancing at all costs.Other than tonight, where I've not been able to avoid it at all.The only saving grace is that Mama did eventually concede that I could wear comfortable dancing slippers instead of heels.Which you should be glad of, because it means that I'm not going to stand on your feet with them."
"I'm sure you wouldn't stand on my feet anyway," he responds as we turn around the floor.He might say that he needs me to lead, but I feel as if we're both going through the movements together.It certainly feels as if it's going smoother than some of my other dances, even if Nate isn't very practised.
"Don't underestimate how bad I am at these things."
"I'm not."He smiles at me in a way that makes my heart flutter.
"Thank you for coming tonight," I say."You've made the whole thing that much more bearable."
"I'm glad.But it's not all I have planned for tonight if you come down to the kitchen after you're done here."
"You know how late that's going to be, right?"
He spins me under his arm before pulling me back close to him."Yes."
"But you already said you hate early mornings, I don't want to make it worse..."
"Tomorrow is my rest day," he says."I asked Camille to deal with everything tomorrow."
"You did?"
"Of course.Your birthday only happens once a year."
"Nate..."My voice cracks, and I don't even know what to say.
"I've missed five of them, I'm not about to miss another one," he promises.
"Does that mean you're going to let me do something foryourbirthday too?"
He chuckles."I feel like I might have to agree."
The song comes to an end, and for what feels like the first time ever, I find myself disappointed.
I step back and dip into a curtsy while Nate bows to me.
"Would you like to get a drink?"I ask."I'm not sure how long you've got..."
"Not much longer," he admits."But I think one drink is fine."
I smile at him and draw him over to the refreshments table."This is the blackberry wine from a monastery not far from here," I say as I pick up a glass and hold it out to him."It's really good."
"Thank you."He takes it from me, his fingers lingering over mine for a little longer than is strictly necessary, but I love it.I never realised that it would feel so good to have him by my side at something like this.
Is this what the future is going to look like?He's made it clear that he's willing to give up his job in the kitchen to be with me, but will that mean attending events like together?Maybe after tonight he'll change his mind.
I distract myself by picking up one of the glasses of blackberry wine myself and taking a sip.
"It's good," Nate says.
