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——
“Earth to Hope.”
I look up to see Alec drop his suit jacket onto the back of the chair next to me, sweat lining his brow.
If I thought tonight was going to be difficult, I was wrong. It hasn’t been difficult; it’s been nearly impossible. I didn’t realize how unbearable it would be watching Alec and Lulu together. I think sticking needles in my eyes would be less painful.
I’ve seen them together over the last few weeks, but it’s always been in the hallways or at lunch, which limits them from really doing anything other than sitting next to each other or holding hands. But tonight, watching them dance. Watching Alec hold her. Watching him kiss her. It’s been the worst kind of torture.
My initial instinct was right. This was a bad idea.
“Sorry.” I apologize for my distracted state, twirling my finger over the rim of the plastic cup half full of some weird fruit punch I definitely would not recommend drinking.
“Why are you sitting back here all by yourself?” He gestures to the large round table littered with phones, jackets, and purses.
“Didn’t you hear? I’m the property watcher.”
“The what?” He cocks a brow.
“The property watcher.” I gesture to all the belongings on the table. “The one who stays back to watch everyone’s things so no one has to worry about them getting stolen.”
“Did someone actually ask you to do that or is this a job you’ve given yourself?”
I shrug. “Someone’s gotta do it.”
“And that someone is you?” He seems amused.
“Maybe.” I lift the cup to my lips and am about to take a drink when Alec grabs it out of my hand. By some miracle, I don’t end up wearing the fruit punch which sloshes over the sides. “Alec,” I object, watching him take the cup and deposit it on the opposite side of the table.
“Come on.” He walks back around the table and extends his hand to me.
I look at it like it’s a snake about to rear back and strike.
“Take my hand, Russell.” He acts annoyed but the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth gives him away.
“Why?” I make no attempt to move.
“Because I want you to dance with me.”
My stomach twists nervously.
“Why would you want to do that? Don’t you have a girlfriend running around here somewhere? Where is Lulu, by the way?” I ask, surprised I hadn’t thought to ask when he first arrived at the table.
“She ran to the restroom,” he tells me, his hand still outstretched. “And just because I’m here with her doesn’t mean I can’t dance with you. You are myotherdate after all.”
“I think third wheel would be a better title.”
“Hope Russell, get your butt up out of that chair and come dance with me.” He reaches down and grabs my hand, tugging me to my feet.
Wrapping his fingers around mine, he pulls me toward the dance floor, ignoring every objection I give him along the way.
The song mellows from some poppy dance number to a much slower one as we reach the center of the dance floor. My palms sweat and my throat feels like it has a large softball wedged inside of it.
Alec releases the hand he’s holding and turns to face me, pulling me into his arms without a moment’s hesitation. I want to resist. I want to push him away and run like the wind. But the moment I’m in his arms, I know there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.
Wrapping my hands around the back of his neck, I avoid looking at him as he slowly begins to move.
I find Bella in the crowd and the instant our gazes lock, her eyes narrow. IfI told you not to wait until it was too latehad a look, it would be the look she’s giving me.
