I shrug. “I just feel like that’s the direction my life is going, you know. I haven’t had a lot of boyfriends, and Griffin especially sucked. I’m just worried that I metthe oneand missed my chance because I wasn’t ready or … I don't know. I mean, Griffin cheated on me. Maybe I’m not good enough to settle down with?”
I take a few steps forward, but Tobias stops me, his hand coming to my cheek as he forces me to look at him.
“I’m only going to say this once, Dove, so please do not argue with me. You being you is more than enough. It’s everything. If someone doesn’t see that, they don’t deserve you.”
My heart pounds, and my eyes drift to his. He’s staring back as if I’m the only one he sees. As if there weren’t a whole town behind us dancing to Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” It’s the same look he gave me that night in his living room—the one I can’t get out of my head.
Hell, he’s staring at me as if he’s about to devour me.
I swallow. I’m pretty sure that I’m staring back, telling him that I’d let him.
“Tobias! Natalie!” Quinn yells, breaking the trance.
He turns first, but I keep looking at him.
I know I’ve made a lot of excuses to myself in the last couple of weeks. I've been chalking up this whole thing I’m feeling toward him as my mind being crazy after a breakup, but just now, I know I wasn’t imagining it.
Tobias wanted me to kiss him. I wanted him to kiss me. It would have happened if his sister hadn’t interrupted.
A part of me is relieved because, holy smokes, it would change our friendship, but I think more of me is disappointed.
Kissing Tobias would change everything in my life, and that’s the kind of excitement I need right now.
“You remember Hudson Asher, right?” Quinn says as she and the mystery man she was dancing with earlier join us.
“Yes, of course,” Tobias says and shakes his hand. “Only the best hockey player to ever come out of Lovers.”
Hudson laughs deeply as he returns the hand gesture.
“I’m the only hockey player to come out of Lovers.”
“Still the best,” Quinn chimes in. “This is Natalie.”
Hudson’s eyes glide to me, and his smile widens.
“Tobias Banks, I had no idea you were seeing someone. Then again, if my girl looked half as stunning as you, I'd keep her hidden too.”
“Oh, we aren't dating,” I say a lot quicker than I expected. It’s like it came out on autopilot.
Hudson glances at Tobias, who hasn't said a word.
“Oh, my bad, I thought I'd seen … well, anyway, it’s good to see you.”
“Maybe you can take Natalie out on the dance floor,” Quinn says quickly to Hudson. “Or danceroadwould probably be more accurate.”
“I’ll take her,” Tobias says before Hudson has a chance to reply.
Tobias grabs my hand and pulls me toward the dancing. The song changes to something slow, but I don't recognize it.
Tobias spins me, letting his hand land on my hip as he pulls my body flush against his.
We sway to the beat, Tobias’s head leaning in close to me.
“Sorry about that,” he whispers.
“It’s fine, but I’ll admit, I’ve never seen you so … caveman. Is Hudson someone you need to protect me from?”
I’ve never seen him act that way. I kind of like it.
