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He looks down at me and our eyes meet. “You really are the best.”
Our gazes lock until the woman claps loudly. “Okay, everyone. Grab your partner and get out on the dance floor!”
“Come on, you two.” Midge waves her hand as she does the box step with Earl, whose eyelids keep drooping as though he might fall asleep.
“No time like the present.” I take Noah’s hand and drag him onto the dance floor. We might as well make the best of it. His large hand lands on the small of my back and he links our hands between our bodies. “So far you’re not that bad.”
There are a few slower songs at first, and it takes a little bit of time for me to get comfortable being so close to Noah. The smell of fresh soap mixed with his masculine scent wafts off him and makes me want to move closer even though he keeps his distance between our bodies, concentrating on his feet.
The male instructor comes over and positions our bodies so they’re closer, more like a couple. He shows us the steps and asks Noah to borrow me for a moment to show them with me. Noah eyes him hard as the man spins me away and back. I fall into his chest, unable to keep myself upright. Noah intercepts and takes over, the man waving his arm and telling him to go ahead.
“I guess I really am an amateur,” Noah says.
“It’s too much pressure with that guy. I prefer dancing with you. Spin me.”
He pushes me away. When he pulls me back into him, my hand lands on his hard chest and we both laugh.
“Now I spin you,” I say.
The instructor ends up giving us an unimpressed look because neither of us is taking this seriously, but I don’t need a smooth dancer. Just someone who likes to have fun no matter what we’re doing.
As we grow more comfortable with one another, I wrap my hands behind Noah’s neck, and he rests his hands on the small of my back. We sway instead of attempting some fancy dance we don’t have the footwork for.
“Close to You” by the Carpenters comes on and I step closer, resting my head on his chest. His arms tighten around me, and for one full song, I enjoy the moment as if it’s real. Having Noah these past weeks has proved to me that I could get used to having someone permanent in my life, but the problem is, I only picture Noah there.
His heart beats steadily and I sink into his chest as though I’m six and he’s my favorite teddy bear. Noah offers me a stability I’ve never felt in my life. My parents split when I was young, and after my mom and Hank were married, I remember feeling like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. For something to happen to ruin their marriage and send Hank on his way.
I look up at Noah for a second as he turns us away from the group. He’s watching me. My fingers play with his ponytail, and he bends down. No one is asking us to kiss, so if he kisses me, he’s doing it because he wants to. I hate how much I hope for more than a press of his lips. I want his searing tongue in my mouth, to feel how badly he wants what I do.
I rise to my tiptoes, ready to meet him halfway when the song ends and “Do You Love Me?” by The Contours plays. We’ve gone from slow dance to dirty dance in a matter of seconds. Both of us look around at the group, our mouths hanging open.
“Your grandma…”
He cringes. “I can see.”
She’s grinding on Earl’s thigh, and he looks as if he’s struggling not to fall over. I spot another couple where the man has his hands on her hips, grinding his pelvis on the woman’s ass while she’s bent over.
I blink and blink again. “What just happened?”
“I have no idea. We went from sock hop to orgy.” Noah winces and looks away.
“Come on, you two. This is the best kind of dancing.” Midge waves at us to get moving.
“Fuck that,” Noah murmurs to me.
“I can’t not look. Help me.”
He covers my eyes with his hands and situates himself behind me. “Lord, please let it end soon.”
I take his hands and turn around between his arms. “You know, you’re not that bad of a dancer.”
“So, you’ll still marry me?”
“Just tell me when and where.”
He takes my head in his hands, his thumbs running across my cheeks. “Do you ever wish it was different with us? That we would’ve crossed the line before this whole farce began?”
I cover his hands with mine. “The obstacles would still be there. You’d still be traveling and have your home base in New York, and I’d still be committed to staying in Alaska. But to answer your question. Yes, I see it.”
