Mellie sips her drink as she studies me, her head tilted to the side and her amber eyes drifting down my body and back up again. I can’t remember a time when she has ever regarded me like this, and the desire I have been desperately trying to keep at bay begins to bubble to the surface. If she keeps looking at me like that…
Mellie suddenly puts her glass down on the counter, and grabs my free hand. “Enough about my brother. Let’s go dance!” she exclaims, and tugs me through the swinging doorway.
“Okay?” I laugh, and follow her out.
I’d follow her anywhere.
Mellie and I make our way back into the party. Bree’s dancing on a chair in the living room. Brooklyn stands before her, drink in hand as she also moves to the music, her palm resting on Bree’s waist. Mellie finds a pair of NYE glasses as we pass a table, and runs to join the dancing, the giant numbers covering her face.
I watch them, enjoying the sight of Mellie and Bree together again. I missed nights like this with them. I’m also not at all ashamed to admit that I’m enjoying theotherview as Mellie’s body sways in time to the beat.
She moves slowly, her hands roaming down her body as she spins in place. Her fingers graze her stomach, running over her hips before she lifts her arms back into the air, high over her head. Her black top rides up with the motion, and the pale skinof her stomach is bared. My throat goes dry. As her hips continue to sway, I’m utterly hypnotized, spellbound by this woman in a way that spirals me out of control.
I sip my drink, scanning the crowd so that I don’t feel like such a creep standing here watching Mellie dance. My eyes, however, have a mind of their own and I can’t help it when they find her again. This time she’s facing me, her amber stare drilling into me. Her expression is unreadable at this distance, especially with those ridiculous glasses on her face, but her mouth quirks up in a smirk. I swallow, blood pumping, and I can’t look away.
I take a step toward her, not sure what my intentions are exactly, but I can’t seem to stop myself. Her hips move back and forth, her arms up high as she throws her head back, lost in the music. Her neck is bare, and I want to run my tongue down her throat and taste every inch of her.
As I reach her space on the makeshift dance floor, she grabs my jacket, pulling me in and pushing her body against me. Her arms wrap around my neck. I place my drink on a shelf close by and run my hands down her spine, pressing her closer to me. She’s so warm, and my hands linger on her lower back, resting in that soft spot right above her ass.
Mel continues dancing, grinding her hips against mine, and my body responds. I sense the moment she feels my slight erection gently pushing into her, and her pupils flare behind those enormous glasses. She dances closer to me, moving with the music, and I am lost in her.
The spell is broken as Bree suddenly pitches forward, losing her balance on the chair and collapsing on top of Brooklyn in a fit of laughter. Mellie springs away, gaping up at me as she realizes what she was doing—whatwewere doing. She leans down to help them up, but Bree yanks her down with them. Their giggles carry across the room, mixing in with the music and conversation around us.
I step back and grab my drink, retreating from where they lay, still laughing. Mellie is drunk, and whateverthatwas can’t happen likethis.
I head out back to get some air and cool myself down.
What happened to taking it slow, buddy. Chill.
The night is a blur of music and dancing, laughing and drinking like old times. As midnight approaches, everyone crowds around the TV to watch the glittery ball descend on the screen. I scan the room, grabbing Mellie’s hand to point out Evan and Catalina in the corner of the room. We begin to creep closer, coming to a stop a few feet away.
As the countdown begins, the crowd yells along with a hearty “five, four, three—” and Evan gets down on one knee. Whatever he says to Cat is drowned out by the cheering and yelling as the clock strikes midnight, but Mellie grasps me tightly as Cat’s hand comes up to her mouth. Her face is full of emotion as she nods vigorously, the wordyesevident even without sound. Evan stands and slips his grandmother’s ring onto Cat’s finger before they embrace, both with tears on their faces.
Mellie turns to me with a grin, her eyes lined with silver. She leans up to yell into my ear, her chest pressing against mine as she puts her hands on my shoulders to brace herself. “Happy New Year, Ro!”
“Happy New Year, Mel,” I reply, looking down as she leans in. My breath catches, unsure of her intent, and she places a brush of a kiss on the corner of my mouth. Her amber irises blaze as they hold mine for a beat before she spins away to congratulate her brother and his new fiancé.
January 1
How’s the head today, Dancing Queen?
Stop yelling so loud
Also whyare you up at this ungodly hour
…it’s noon.
Exactly, you heathen. I’m going back to sleep. Otherwise my other option is laying on the bathroom floor bc now I feel like I might throw up
Stay put. No need to subject Bree and Brooklyn to your delicate condition.
I know just the thing that will help. Grandpa passed down his hangover remedy to me a few years back, I’ll be there in twenty if you can hang on til then.
*insert me singing Foo Fighters “My Hero” in my best karaoke voice
Seriously how did I survive without you all these years
No idea, but luckily you don’t have to anymore
