I turned toAce, seeing a ghost of a smile on her face. “Thatwas nice,” she said.
It was.Iusually hated coming to events like these, thoughIfound having her by my side made it more enjoyable, even though we didn’t talk much.
I grabbed her hand and led her out toward the reception tent, and she didn’t fight me, whichIconsidered a small win.Wemade our way over to the tent and enjoyed casual conversation with all the peopleIworked with as we had dinner.Eventually, people began to get up and head to the dance floor or to get more to drink from the makeshift bar area at the end of the tent.
I sawAcescoping out the dance floor and could tell she wanted to get out there, but she was likely unsure since she didn’t know anyone here very well.
“Go on.Godance,”Itold her. “Justsave the last dance for me.”
“Okay,MichaelBublé,” she tossed back at me with a smile, causing my lip to twitch onceIrealized my accidental reference to the popular song.Itwas unintentional, butI’dtake it if it put a smile on her face.
I leaned into her space and spoke softly. “Imean it,Ace.Dancewith me.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea…” she tried to explain, shaking her head.
Deflection was her game, soIhad to tread lightly here.
“One dance,Ace.It’snot going to kill you.Unless, of course, you can’t actually dance and you just don’t want me to show you up.”
She was competitive to a fault, andIknew damn well she could likely dance circles around me, butIalso knew my comment would rile her up.
“Ugh, fine,” she sighed, getting up from her chair, andIknewI’dwon this battle. “Butyou’d better be able to keep up.”
The giddinessIfelt following her out onto the dance floor should have embarrassed me.Ifelt just likeIdid in seventh grade whenAliciaCorners—a girlIhad been crushing hard on—said yes to dancing with me at theSpringFlingschool dance.
I may have slept withAcemultiple times and had my ring on her finger for a brief period of time, but we had never danced.Thiswas my chance to make it memorable for both of us.
When we got to the dance floor, she turned to me and put her hands on my shoulders but kept her arms ramrod straight, which meant there was a huge gap between us.Ithought back to the church group dances, where this was the protocol to make sure we “left enough room forJesusin between us.”
WithAce, this just made me smile even bigger.Shecould try all she wanted to keep the distance, but there was no denying the connection we had.
“You scared of me?”Iasked her.
“What?No,” she replied quickly and then realized whyIwas asking. “Archer, it’s not a smart move to be too close to each other.”
“I applaud your honesty that you wouldn’t be able to keep your hands off me, but just so you know,I’mawareI’mirresistible to you, andIaccept this fate.”Igave her a big grin. “Ican assure you thatIaccept your request to have your way with me.”
At my wink, she rolled her eyes.
“Your ego knows no bounds,” she said, giving me full attitude, butIdidn’t miss the lip twitch.
The mid-tempo song stopped as a slow song replaced it, giving me the opportunityIneeded.Igrabbed her elbows softly and slid her arms up and around my neck, putting her closer to me.Myhands found their place at her hips, andIpulled her even closer so her body was flush with mine.
I leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Youlook gorgeous tonight, by the way.”
“You already said that,” she returned, her breathing picking up, telling me she was nervous.
I leaned back and tucked a wayward hair behind her ear. “Didn’tknow there was a limit for those kinds of comments.”
I could feel her pulling away.IknewIneeded to throw in the big guns—let her knowIwanted another chance at this.
“Our relationship may have been founded and started in lust, but it was more than that, and we both know it,”Itold her, holding her close but staring right into her eyes. “It’sworth the fight.Somethingmeant to be,Ace.”
I’d been given a gift.Thatgift was havingAceback in my life, even if it was for a shitty reason like a death threat.Foryears after our divorce,Iprayed for a way to have a second chance with her—albeit one that wouldn’t put her life in danger.NowthatIhad that opportunity,Iwas going to do everything in my power to rectify my mistake and make her realize there was still something between us.
“I fucked up,”Iadmitted. “Ican admit that.Notproudly, but it’s the truth.Idid whatIthought was best at the time.Itwasn’t.Pleasegive us a second chance.”
She stopped moving and stared at me for a brief moment. “I’msorry,Archer.Ijust…I…” she said and then walked away, leaving me alone on the dance floor but taking a part of my heart along with her.
