AllFreeNovel
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“Isn’t there a guy in anime club that you like?” Willow asks as they head back to our table.
“He doesn’t see me that way…” Their voices trail off as they move further away from me.
Liam looks at me. I look at him. He runs his hand through his hair, then clears his throat. “So, uh…I guess I’ll head back to the table.” He gives me a stiff smile before walking past me.
“Dance with me?” I blurt.
He freezes and slowly turns around. “What?”
“Do you…” I tuck some hair behind my ear. “Do you want to dance with me?”
He looks behind him as though I’m talking to someone else.
“I’m talking toyou, Liam.”
He points to himself and mouths, “Me?”
I nod, maybe a little too eagerly.
He takes a tentative step toward me. “Are you sure? I thought…”
I hold out my hand. “Never mind what you thought. Would you like to dance with me?”
“Yeah, but…” His brows furrow. “I, um…” He rubs the back of his neck.
My heart drops. “What?”
“I always pictured…” His gaze lowers to his shoes. “I always imagined me asking you to dance. You know…” He lifts his shoulders before dropping them. “Being the romantic one.”
“Oh.” My heart beats so wildly, I can’t think straight. “That does sound like a more romantic scenario.”
He gives me a small smile, but that’s enough to light me up and make me feel so good inside. “Okay.” He clears his throat, then holds out his hand to me. “Chloe Barrington, it would be my honor to share the dance floor with you.”
Even though I knew he was going to ask me, his words cause butterflies to flap around in my stomach. With a smile, I slide my hand into his. “I would love to.”
His hand is so warm and strong and protective. I’ve clutched his hand a lot, but it holds so much more meaning now. It feels like forever until we reach an empty spot on the dance floor. Maybe because I’m savoring every second. I don’t want to let go of his hand because it feels so good to hold it like this. And maybe because the thought of slow dancing with him, of my body being so close to his, makes me super nervous. Even though I’m excited as well.
We face each other, our eyes staring into each other’s. A hard swallow makes its way down his throat as he takes me in. He’s not judging me on my outward appearance or anything—I feel like he’s reading my soul. Like the last few days have been torture for him because he’s yearned to have a moment like this. And I’ve yearned for it just as much.
I step forward and lock my arms around his neck, my face so close to his. With another swallow, he rests his hands on my waist, his touch as light as a feather, but also burning. He doesn’t move his gaze from mine and neither do I. As our bodies slowly sway to the beat of the song, everyone else in the room disappears and it’s just me and him, in our own little bubble.
“You look so beautiful, Chloe,” he murmurs.
My heart rate picks up its pace. “Thanks. You look so handsome.”
“Thanks.”
We don’t say anything else, just continue staring into each other’s eyes and swaying to the music. I see so many raw emotions in his eyes, so much hope and fear and regret. But what stands out the most? His feelings for me. I see them in there as plain as day.
“Liam,” I whisper. “I’m sorry I’ve been so cold to you the last few days—”
He shakes his head. “You don’t have to apologize for anything. I know you needed time. And I told you I’ll give you however much you need. Even forever, if that’s what you want.”
I shake my head. “Never forever. I think I’m…”
His eyes grow hopeful.
“I think I’m ready.”
