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I nod and though it hurts to say it, I add, “I want you to dance with Brie too.”
“I’m not dancing with your girlfriend.”
I can’t claim the privilege of that title, but I don’t correct him. “I’m not happy about you dancing with her, but Brie deserves to dance with someone in her own age bracket.” By the looks of it, the senior citizens are in the majority again. An image flashes in my mind of Travis dancing with Brie, and I hesitate. He’s too good looking, and while I don’t find him charming, I can see how he would have that effect on women. “Try to keep some distance between you.”
Travis gives me a sly grin. “I prefer to hold my women close.”
I narrow my eyes, even though I know he’s goading me. “A foot, at the least. If you can’t fit another person between you, you’re too close.”
Travis chuckles. “Do you want me to stop and measure?”
He thinks I’m joking, but I’m not. “Do you have a measuring tape on you? Never mind. Download one of those measuring apps.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Don’t look her in the eyes either.”
His brows raise. “Where would you rather have me look?”
I scowl. “At her forehead.”
“Next you’ll tell me what I’m allowed to talk about.”
“That’s not a bad idea. Stick to the weather. Unless you want to put in a good word for me.” I don’t know why I add that, since it won’t change anything. I've made up my mind.
“Why would I compliment you when I’m dancing with her?” He’s annoyed, and for good reason. I dragged him here against his will, and now I’m making him dance with a girl he’s not allowed to flirt with. If I hadn’t found a way for him to dramatically increase his profits this morning, I wouldn’t be able to get away with it.
I slap my hand on his shoulder. “Fine, don’t do anything that would make me mad.” I back up a few steps. “Thanks, man. I owe you!”
Once I’m outside, the night surrounds me in a blanket. My fingers fumble out a text to Brie.
ROCKWELL:Something came up and I won’t be able to make it tonight. I’m sorry.
It’s not good enough, and I know it. I’m ruining her Christmas wish. I sigh and quickly hit Dad’s contact info before I change my mind. I hold my phone to my ear as I walk back to my car.
“Rock!” Dad yells into the phone. “Merry Christmas!”
His outgoing personality wins him a lot of friends, and it also won him a second family. I push my negative thoughts aside and return his greeting. “How are you?”
“I have my good days and bad days.” I listen to him talk about his job and his golf buddies. He usually keeps things surface level until he’s ready to talk about anything real. I respond politely, even when, predictably, he brings up his wife and two sons. I never make it to my car. The cold winter air is brisk, but it’s what I need right now. I crave to feel something other than the mounting frustration.
I don’t hear Dad’s words anymore. I’m back in my kitchen with Mom sunk against the cabinets on the floor openly weeping. The wheels of Dad’s suitcase grate against the wood on his way out the door, an eternal echo in my memory. I easily put Brie in Mom’s place and clench my teeth together. I don’t want the kind of power over someone where I’m capable of hurting them.
Even though I know this, I want to be inside with Brie. I hate that I want it so badly. I wish I wasn’t Rockwell Davenport but someone else. Someone who isn’t messed up. Like Travis. But not Travis. What had I been thinking, sending him to dance with her? My chest tightens like someone put a vice inside of me.
There’s a row of windows along the side of the reception hall, and before I can tell myself how completely immature it is to spy on Travis and Brie, I’m in between the evergreen bushes with one hand cupped over my eyes as I peer through the glass.
The blinds are open, so it’s easy to see inside. I partially hear Dad list the presents he bought his boys while I search out Brie. She’s not hard to find again on the dance floor. My lips pull up all on their own but freeze when she laughs at something Travis says. I thought I told him to talk about the weather!
As they glide closer to the window I’m standing by, I realize how close they’re dancing. It’s not terrible, but there certainly could not be a person between them. I hit the window to get Travis’s attention. Brie looks over at me and I jerk back. What was I thinking?
“You there, Rock?” Dad’s voice echoes in my ear.
I retreat from the window and hurry to my car. “I’m here.” Though I’m not sure why. I should’ve left the dance hall before I made an idiot out of myself.
“Good, because there’s a lot we need to catch up on.”
I sigh and let myself into my car. It’s better this way. At the end of the day, I’m still a Davenport. Talking with Dad makes that point clear.
