Page 50 of Truth or More Truth
I give Andrea a questioning look, and she nods her head, giving me permission to dance with her daughter. Then I hold my free hand out toward Emily who, as expected, is watching Melissa and me with wide eyes and an even wider grin. She skips over to me and takes my hand.
“You kids have fun!” Melissa says.
There’s nothing I can do to stop the urge to kiss Melissa’scheek, so I lean down and press my lips just shy of her mouth, and Emily squeals in response before dragging me out onto the dance floor as “Hey Baby” starts playing.
She stops in her tracks, turns to me with giant eyes, and says, “This is my favorite! How did they know?”
I hide my smile, not wanting her to know I talked to the DJ and requested the song just for her. “I guess it’s fate!” I twirl her around and take both of her little hands in mine. “So, Miss Emily, how are we going to do this?” I ask. “Do you want to stand on my shoes, do you want me to pick you up, or do you want to dance on your own two feet?”
She holds her arms up. “Pick me up, please. It’ll be easier to talk to you that way.”
Of course she wants to talk.
“Your wish is my command, my lady.”
Emily giggles as I lift her up, and once she’s settled on my right hip with her right hand in my left, she waggles her little eyebrows at me.
“I saw you dancing with Miss Melissa. You liiiiiike her!”
“Maybe I do, maybe I don’t,” I hedge, trying to act nonchalant as I dance her across the floor.
She gives one firm nod. “You do. I know these things.”
“Do you?”
“Yep. I’m good with love stuff.”
My lips twitch. “Love stuff?”
“Uh-huh. I can tell when people are in love because they get this funny look on their face. Like this.”
I do my best not to laugh when she widens her eyes multiple times and grins maniacally.
“That’s what love looks like, huh?” I ask.
“It is.” She pauses. “Can I tell you a secret?”
“I love secrets.” Too much, especially when I’m the one keeping them.
“Promise you won’t tell aaaaanybody?”
“Pinky promise.” I wrap my pinky finger around hers.
Emily giggles. “You know how to pinky promise?”
“I do.”
“How do you know?”
I cock my head at her. “Canyoukeep a secret?” Somehow I think she can and honestly, I’m tired of keeping Kelli a secret from people who mean something to me. I’m going to tell Melissa about her just as soon as I can get her alone. But I can’t chance having Emily say anything before I do. Melissa needs to hear it from me. “You can’t tell anybody, okay?”
“Yes, tell me, tell me!”
“And then you’ll tell me your secret?” I ask.
“I pinky promise I’ll tell you my secret!” She giggles.
“I know how to pinky promise because my little girl taught me.”
