AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Grayson seems very much at home, which is especially clear when he dips her during their grand entrance to the reception.The guys all hoot and holler, and the happy groom beams.
It’s like one big family.And now I’m crying again.
I slipmy hand into Tyler’s as we step onto the dance floor.“I’ve never done this before and have no idea what I’m supposed to do.”
“We’re just moving to the beat.It’s not any harder than walking.You step backward starting with your right.The first two steps are quick, the next two slow.”He moves my hand to his arm, and I give his bicep a squeeze.
“I like it so far.”While I’m a bit nervous, I’m also excited.
“This song isn’t too fast.You ready to try?”
Visualizing how my feet should move, I pull my bottom lip between my teeth.It helps me think better.
Tyler grins, then leans down and brushes his lips on the spot I’m chewing.“That’s what I want to do whenever I see that lip between your teeth.”
“I had no idea.”I glance down at my feet, then inch closer.“I’m ready.”
“Don’t watch your feet.It always makes me trip.”He steps forward, and I move back with my right foot.
The song is a slow one, and we settle into the rhythm quickly.I forget about steps and beats and just move as Tyler moves.
When the song ends, I hug him.“That was fun.I never understood about someone leading on the dance floor until now.You move, and my body responds.”I slap a hand over my mouth, then hold up a finger.“Okay, the way I said it probably sounds bad, but I didn’t mean itthatway.”
Chuckling, he pulls me close as another song starts.“I knew what you meant.”
We dance through several more songs.
“Ready for something cold to drink?”He twirls me as a song ends.
“Yes.It’s quite a workout.”
He leads me off the dance floor to the bar set up in the corner.
The bartender leans closer as the music starts again.“What can I get y’all?”
I scan what he has behind the bar and spot cans of soda in a cooler.“I’d like a Coke.The whole can please.Unopened.”I’ve never told Tyler why I’m kind of weird about opening my own drinks.Although I don’t think twice about whatever the waitress brings me at the diner.
The bartender fishes a can out of the sloshy ice bath and holds it out only a second before pulling it back.“Hang on.Let me wipe the top of this.You don’t want the cooler water getting into the can.”
As he wipes off the top, I picture the can of soda I opened at the party and the liquid and tiny piece of ice that filled the top.I thought it was water from the cooler, but it wasn’t.
All my self-doubt about that night disappears, and I know I was drugged.Because now I know how it was done.
I stare at the can.
Tyler reaches for it and puts it in my hand.“Thanks.”Without ordering anything for himself, he leads me outside.
The July night is sultry, but I’m thankful when his arms wrap around me.I crumple against him, praying he won’t ask me what’s wrong.I’ll tell him, but not here.Not at the wedding.
I just need a few minutes to pull myself together.
With my face buried in the curve of his neck, I focus on the feel of his fingers brushing through my hair.In that moment, I’m even surer of how I feel.Remembering the terror of that night, I feel safe here.With him.Just like I felt safe with that stranger.
I’m grateful I didn’t cling to that fantasy.Letting go of that, I engaged with the flirtatious cowboy who makes me feel not only safe but treasured.
Calmer, I pat his chest.“Thank you.I’m okay now.”
He presses a kiss to my forehead.“Ready to go back in?”
“Yes.I’m going to stop by the ladies’ room.”I press the can into his hand.“Take this, and you can open it and have some if you’d like.”
It’s impossible for him to know the meaning of my offer to let him open my drink while I’m not there, but his slack jaw and intense gaze makes it seem like he somehow understands.
He stands there and only blinks a couple of times before grasping the can.
And I answer the unspoken question.“I’m sure.”
I trust him.Completely.And soon I will tell him that along with the story of what happened at the party.I might skip telling him that I licked a guy’s hand.That’s just embarrassing.
