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“You nervous?” Trevor asked.
“Yep.” I nodded dramatically. “I think I am more nervous about this five-minute dance than I ever was for any combat mission I undertook.”
“Yeah.” Jake laughed. “That’s because love is worse than war.”
I peered at Alice—well, most of us glanced her way—but she just stared back at me with no expression on her face. She was kind of amazing like that—I think you called that being unflappable.
“What would you even know about love?” Trevor asked Jake. “It’s not like you have ever been in love before.”
“Yes, I have!”
“Yeah, loving yourself and using your hand is not being in love,” Wyatt said, and everyone cut up laughing.
“Mr. Melton,” someone said from behind me. “It’s time to head down.”
“Aww.” Trevor grinned at me. “Our little boy is going off to find love on the dance floor.”
“Get out of here,” I snapped back at him playfully.
Everyone wished me well and threw me some taunts about breaking a leg and not paralyzing the poor girl before they said their goodbyes. I asked the production guys to give me a minute and went into the bedroom.
I sat down on the edge of the bed, closed my eyes, and tried to slow my breathing that had begun to gain momentum the minute they said it was time. Please do not let me drop this woman, and if it’s meant to be, let it be.
I slapped my thighs as I stood and stared at my reflection. “I got this.”
Downstairs, a lot was going on. More cameras, more crew, and this time, there was a small audience in a side room, where large television screens were up so bystanders could watch the filming. I heard Alex laughing as I walked by. I peered in and saw about thirty people milling around.
Holly found me as I entered another room. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
She hugged me tightly. “I know you will do great, Harv.”
“Thanks.”
“Are you nervous?”
“Very.”
She laughed. “I don’t think I have ever seen you nervous before. Who knew a date would get you this worked up.”
“It’s more than a date, Holly. It’s dancing in front of all these people, and not dropping her while trying to make a connection.”
Holly glanced around and stepped closer, lowering her voice. “Harv, you be yourself out there, and this will be perfect.” She kissed my cheek. “I’m pulling for you.”
She gave me a nudge toward the side and told me to prepare myself. It wasn’t five minutes later that they were getting me settled just inside the darkened room. In the center of the dance floor, there was one spotlight lit. You could see nothing on the other side, and I tried my hardest, knowing that she was over there. Was she as nervous as I was?
When the music started, we would walk toward one another and meet in the center of the light before a few other lights came up. My heart threatened to explode from my chest, and I wiped my hands down my pants.
Oh, shit—shit—shit!
What the hell was I doing? What if I forgot the dance? What if I dropped her? What if I did all this, and it was for nothing? I put my hand to the collar of my shirt, and even though it wasn’t buttoned at the top, I tugged on it as if I couldn’t breathe. I forced myself to swallow.
For a second, I froze. What if she didn’t pick me? I wanted her to pick me. I wanted her to choose me. I didn’t like to lose.
A soft male voice sounded off to my side. “Ready, and three, two, one.” A palm in the center of my back gently pushed me forward just as the music began to play. Five steps later, I reached the dance floor. I could just make her out on the opposite side. We stepped in unison again, and my fears vanished as I began to make out her features. I dropped my chin to my chest, staring at the ground as I took the last few steps as was my part in all this.
A light-purple gauzy dress flowed around her pretty legs, and her feet were bare. Her toes were dainty and painted the same color as her dress.Please don’t let me step on her toes.Her small hand landed on my chest, her fingernails also light purple, and I couldn’t help but smile as I began to lift my face but snapped it to the side as she took my hand and placed her right hand into it. I curled my fingers around her warm skin, and she lifted my chin with the tips of her fingers, her touch sending waves of something warm through my chest. Our eyes made contact for the first time, and I felt electrified.
