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summer
“Let’s start together.Use your left foot to sidestep to your left. That’s step one. Then we step back and to the left using our right foot. That’s step two. We keep our left foot in place and then shift our weight left.” I balance myself on my left foot and demonstrate how to shift my weight. Phoebe steps back to her left and then moves right. She arrived ten minutes late, disheveled and still smelling like men’s cologne. I assume her date with the scorpion tattoo guy went well, but I’m not about to ask. I’ve got too much on my mind.
Where the hell is Roman? Our goodnight call was over an hour late, and today he only left me a quick text to say good morning. There was no morning sugar---no sweet kisses to get me through the day.
And why do I care?
I’m the one who asked to take things slow. He’s giving me what I asked for, and I appreciate it. I wish he hadn’t decided to start the tough love a few short hours after I let him watch me get off. I can’t believe I let him see me like that. The thought makes my face burn so hot, I want to jump into that cold lake to cool off.
“Was that correct?” Phoebe squeaks with uncertainty as she fidgets left to right, wondering what part she missed. The Cha-Cha is a complex dance, but this isn’t her first lesson.
“Nope. Let’s try again but watch me in slow motion this time.” I repeat the moves and shift left. “Did you get it?”
She shakes her head. “Nope. Should we try mambo instead? Is mambo easier?”
“Stop being a baby and follow my feet.” I sidestep to the left and hold. “Are you watching me?”
“When are you going to ask me about my date?” She slides to the right and then breaks into an unfamiliar pattern I’ve never seen before. “I know you’re curious.”
“I’m glad you’re still alive, but other than that, I don’t need to hear details about your one-night stand. If he brought the goods, that’s all that matters.” Frustrated with myself for obsessing about Roman’s whereabouts and annoyed I might have to hear about someone else having a good time, I grab her waist and position her in the correct stance. “Loosen up, Phoebe. You can’t dance when you’re stiff as a board.”
“I’m loosened up plenty. Levi woke me up with a back rub. Has anyone ever done that to you?” Her eyes grow wide as she pries.
“Yes, my boyfriend loves to throw in morning back rubs. The best ones always do.” I cover my heart with my hand and take a shaky breath, suddenly regretting my indecisions. Was it payback? Did I hold out because he took so long to know I was the girl for him? I never thought about it that way. If we’re really going to do this for the long haul, that man needs to be sure about me. He can’t jump head first out of lust and then deal with the consequences later. I’ll be too invested---too in love.
Damn that beautiful man and those rhythmic man hips. He got me good. Without even trying---he got me good.
I stare into the mirror and picture him shaking his hips, taunting me with those hard glutes, and swaying to the sick mambo beat as he led me around the dance studio. We’re perfect together.Are we?Yes, I think we are. Next time I talk to him, I’ll have to tell him how I feel---how I really feel.
“Summer, you’re not listening to me.” Phoebe slides to the right, steps forward, then twirls to the left and prances in place like a pony. What on earth is this girl doing?
“No, I’m not. I’m watching you perform an Irish jig. Is that what that is?” I stare perplexed at her footwork.
“Sorry, I took Irish dance as a kid. I guess I default to it when I’m nervous.” She wrings her hands and steps closer. “Summer, my one-night stand doesn’t want to be a one-night stand. He’s got it in his head that fate brought us here at the exact time and place, and he can’t let me get away. Who says such things?”
Roman Russo--- that’s who. What in the world is happening to these men? Is Mercury in retrograde? Are we having a once-in-billion years full planetary alignment? There must be an explanation for this.
“But you said he doesn’t live in the city? Once you go your separate ways, things will fizzle out. Unless you want to flush him now. That might get complicated.” I remind her we’re still on the clock and usher her towards the mirror to practice footwork.
“I could deal with this ending in a week. He’s a sweetheart, and oh my God, Summer---the man brought the goods. He came ready to work, and he did not disappoint me whatsoever. But last night, Levi told me his brother is some Wall Street bigwig in New York, and he’s been wanting to move to the city to be near his only family. What did I get myself into?”
I flip on the music and draw her gaze back to my feet. “Watch me go slow. You’re going to master this move if it kills me. And as far as your dude is concerned---set clear boundaries before his imagination gets the best of him, and he starts picking out your wedding dress.” I rub my chest to soothe my aching lovesick heart and try not to think about Roman’s subtle wedding plans. I should have taken him seriously. It’s not like he asked to take me dress shopping.Did he?I try to remember our conversation, but the sound of Phoebe’s gasp breaks me out of my daze.
“Holy shit, who the hell is that tall, dark, and handsome slice of pie?” She signals to the door, and I shift my gaze to the entrance.
“Roman?”
“Hey, doll. Miss me?”
