Danceafter dance,Imove with him across the marble floor like we’ve been transported into a fairy tale.Jaceis just so very good at this.Notonly does he lead so well, but he keeps eye contact, likeI’mthe only one in the world that matters right now.Andhe’s talking the perfect amount, too.Enoughfor us really to connect without stealing focus from the dancing.
“CanIask you something?”Jaceasks as we dance to a waltz.Inod, so he continues. “WhenItackled that guy in the courtyard to get your purse back, a little jar of honey fell out of it.Itlooked like it has some significance andI’vebeen wondering about it.Isit a story you want to share?”
Aswe continue to move across the floor rather gracefully (ifIdo say so myself), a bunch of emotions flash through me.First, a bit of embarrassment that he saw it.ButthenI’mtouched and a little amused that he saw it days ago and he’s still thinking about it, yet this is the first time he’s asking.Thena bit of the negative emotions that precipitated the need for the honey jar sneak in, but only for a moment before love for a best friend who would give it to me takes its place.
“Well, after my boyfriend,Dan, andIbroke up a couple of years ago after a long, not particularly uplifting relationship,Iwas feeling rather unmemorable.Kindof like howIfelt after noticing thatIwasn’t in any of our family pictures as a kid.Idon’t know.Ijust kind of felt likeIdidn’t matter.
“SoIwas pretty bummed, and thenLivishowed up at my house and presented me with the honeypot.Doyou know what a ‘honeypot’ is?It’sa spy term that refers to a woman who uses her charm, allure, or other ‘feminine wiles’ to lure someone in and extract information from them.”
Jacesmiles in amusement at the term.Maybebecause it’s an amusing term, or maybe because he’s seen enough spy movies himself to know it.
“Anyway, she told me that the honeypot is to remind me thatIhave so much charm, allure, and charisma thatIcan never be forgotten.That’swhy the label read,Youare memorable.It’sto help me to never forget it.”
“You,Mackenzie,” he says as he spins me, then meets my eyes again, “are anything but forgettable.”Theway he’s looking at me makes me believe it.
Ilean in close and breathe into his ear, “So, you don’t need me to be charming, alluring, or exercise all of my ‘feminine wiles’ on you?”
Jaceturns to breathe into my ear, tickling my neck as he does, “Youhave been all along.”Thenhe kisses my temple, and yeah—Idefinitely feel likeI’min a fairytale.
Westop for a moment between dances to grab a drink, andInoticeMileswith yet another woman.IfI’vecounted correctly, this is number six.Inod inMiles’sdirection. “Yourbrother really is a player, isn’t he?”
Jacegives a single nod. “Heis.”
Asthe music changes,Jaceplaces his glass on one of the small standing tables throughout the ballroom and then gives me a playful smile. “Doyou have any experience with the tango?”
Iset my glass down by his and match his playful smile. “Some.Inhigh school.Itook a semester of ballroom to get out of taking aPEcredit withMs.Run-Until-You-Drop.Iprobably remember theTangoabout as well asIrememberFrenchfrom my sophomore year, but it was my favorite dance.”
“Ahh.Soyou remember the dance equivalent of swear words and how to ask where the restroom is.”
“Basically.Aren’tyou excited to see how it goes?”Igive him a smile that tells himI’mready for whatever adventure this will bring.
Hesmiles back. “Verymuch so.”
Heholds my hand at shoulder height as we walk to a spot in the middle of the area where most people are dancing.Thismusic is perfect for a tango.
Jacestarts by turning us both around in a circle.Iremember my ballroom teacher telling my class that the tango is a dance where you get to be all dramatic and capitalize on emotions, so right after our spin,Ibend my knees— dramatically— to lower myself into a bit of an elegant crouch.Okay, maybe it wasn’t elegant, but it did feel dramatic.Then, whenIstand,Ilean back onJace’sarm, almost like a dip, but not so low to the ground.
Aswe start dancing,Iam surprised at how wellIremember the footwork.Thingslike basic to the cross,Ocho, giro and molinete, and…I’mpretty sureBaldosa.Iam so impressed with myself!Thisis the equivalent of remembering how to say “Idon’t know my size” inFrench. (WhichIdon’t remember.)(Howto say it inFrench—Ido remember my size.)NotthatIam graceful about it or anything, butIremember.EnoughthatIeven dare to give my leg a good high kick or raise now and then.
Myteacher also told us that the tango is a physical language that you speak to your dance partner, soItry my best to sayIam a raccoon, which meansIdesperately need your lips on mine, and soon.Itis not hard to interpret thatJaceis sayingIagree.Let’smake out post haste.There’sa good reason why this is my favorite social dance.
Ithits me how much dancing the tango is like that conversationJaceandIhad when we first met when he came to my rescue during my date withSpencer.We’dcreated a shared history together, writing the story as we went.Itfeels like we are creating a shared story now.Bothof us are so in tune with each other that it’s as if our movements are planned, yet we are making it up as we go.Thebackstory we are creating with this dance is complex and beautiful and something we could only create together.
Eventually,Ipull myself out of my little bubble enough to notice that other couples have pulled back from the middle of the floor and all eyes are on us.OnJacein his well-fitted tux and me in my fun, flirty, and flowing fuchsia dress, with us speaking a language and telling a story that apparently everyone wants to listen to.
Itmight have made me nervous in a different situation, butJaceis leading us so well that even ifIdidn’t know the tango, he would get me through it just fine and no one would even realize that it is my first time.Butit isn’t my first time, soIpour on the emotions and the drama.Mrs.Martinezwould be so proud.
AndJaceseems thrilled to be seen with me.Itmakes me feel like a queen.LikeI’madored.Andseen.Notjust by everyone watching, but byJace.Moreso thanI’veever felt in my life.
JaceandIjust move so perfectly together.Idon’t know how, exactly, but he makes me feel confident, capable, and beautiful.Ilift my leg so that my thigh is resting at his waist, and he walks backward, holding me in a way that’s so well supported that my other foot just slides along the floor behind me.
Andthen he lifts me into the air, soIput my legs out likeI’mtrying to do mid-air splits.Exceptsplits by someone who definitely didn’t stretch first and who hasn’t stretched those leg muscles for a good long while, so it probably looked more likeIwas trying to make a capital letterA.
Themore we dance, the more the muscle memory of the footwork comes back to me, and we do some impressive foot and legwork for a girl who is very unpracticed and a couple of people who’ve never done this together before.
Westride dramatically across the floor andI’mhaving so much funInearly laugh instead of wearing the serious expression that would feel more at home with our actions.ThenJacelifts me and spins me around whileItuck my knees in.Whenhe sets me back on my feet,Iwrap a leg around his leg and lean back.
Somemore fancy legwork, then a quick lift, andIcan tell that the music is coming to a close.Jacedoes, too, and ends the dance by lowering me into a deep dip.Hestretches his back leg out behind him and brings his torso parallel with mine.Thenhe touches my lips with his in the sweetest kiss.
