Page 45 of Center Ice

None of them should have worked, but they did.

There was a chance I would someday, too.

The first dance ended, and Noah’s mom stepped out at the same time Colby’s dad did. They danced with their parents, then the DJ let us know it was time for the guests to join. I stood and found Dani standing near the kitchen entrance, watching everyone with a smile.

“May I have this dance?” I asked when I got close.

She turned to me and hesitated. “I’m working.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Not really.”

She pursed her lips, then shrugged. “I guess you’re right.”

I offered her my hand and led her out to join the other couples. She wrapped her arms around my neck, and I put my hands on her waist, relishing her warmth.

“You look absolutely beautiful,” I whispered into her ear.

Her cheeks reddened, and I wanted to memorize how she looked in that moment forever. “Thank you.”

“This was amazing. You gave them the perfect wedding day.”

She beamed up at me. “You liked it?”

I nodded. “It fits them as a couple, simple but romantic.”

Her eyes widened. “That was exactly what Chloe and Sydney told me they wanted.”

“You were spot on.”

She tilted her head back. “It might seem silly, but that means a lot to me. I get some feedback from guests, but I always assume they're being polite.”

“You’re very talented, Dani. Don’t sell yourself short.”

She stepped closer and rested her head on my chest. “You’re leaving tomorrow.”

“Yeah.” My heart dropped at the thought. I wasn’t ready. I didn’t want to leave her, not when it felt like things were changing. “I know today has been crazy, but have you thought about where you’re going to go?”

She sighed into my chest. “Not yet.”

“I could stay a little longer and help you figure it out.” I cringed when the offer hung between us. She didn’t freeze up or anything, but she was silent. I almost took it back, as if I could undo something like that, but she pulled away from me just a few inches.

“You would do that for me.” It wasn’t a question. There was something like awe in her eyes.

“I would,” I promised.

She nodded, tightened her arms around me, and resumed her position with her head on my chest. I wrapped my arms around her, holding my wrist behind her. Her light coconut scent was mesmerizing in the warm breeze. I closed my eyes and rested my chin on the top of her head. We swayed together in small circles, obvious to what was going on around us. I wanted this to last forever.

We were interrupted by the cake cutting, and afterward, I convinced her to leave the rest of the night to Maggie. We walked along the beach to the opposite end of the resort and found an empty hammock.

“Climb in,” she ordered, and I immediately obeyed, fumbling to arrange my too-big body into the trap. Once I was stable and lying down, she got in next to me, much more gracefully.

She used the area between my chest and shoulder as a pillow, and I snaked my arm around her hip to hold us both steady. At least, that was what I told myself. I’d craved the feeling of her since our first dance. I wanted any excuse to be this close to her again and again.

“I think I’m ready to leave.” Her voice was barely audible over the crashing waves a few yards from us.

“Yeah?” I tried to sound calm, but I knew she could hear my racing heart.

“I’m not sure what’s next, but it’s time to move on.” She sounded much more resolute than when we were dancing. She managed to decide that much, at least, in the past few minutes. She was on a time crunch. She didn’t have the luxury of taking days to decide her next step.