He moves the hand that’s on the small of my back the tiniest bit, moves his hips a microscopic amount, and my legs give out from underme.
It feels like I amfainting.
He catches me, of course, and pulls me up without making a big deal of it, because apparently this happens to the women who dance with him all thetime.
“You okay?” he whispers into myear.
“Not really,” I say, as I push him away. “I need some air.” I walk off, out into the night, where there are fewer Scott Braddock particles in the air around me and I can finally breathe again. I finally stop and look down at me knees. Stupid knees. Stupid shoes. Stupidhormones.
“There you are.” I don’t have to turn around to know that it’s David Stack, and that he’s pretending he didn’t just follow me out here. There is no one else around, only the caterers who are clearing thetables.
“Hi,” I say. I can feel that my nipples are still erect, so I cover my chest with my arms andshiver.
“You cold?” he says, hurrying over to my side. “I’d offer you my jacket, but I left it on a chair somewhere. Here.” He puts his hands on my arms and rubs up anddown.
“I’m fine, thanks.” I move away fromhim.
“You certainly are,” he says. “I’ve always thoughtso.”
I look around, as if I’m searching for someone, anyone other thanhim.
“Do I have to pay you to talk tome?”
It’s a line from theCloserscene we did together atschool.
“No, but if you want to tip me it’s your choice.” And that was myline.
“Fuck, that was hot. That scene. You. I’m surprised you never went into acting, you’re good atit.”
“Not really mything.”
“You wanna get out ofhere?”
He says this at the same time as I say: “Well I better get back to myfriends.”
“Your ‘friends?’ I hope you don’t mean ScottBraddock.”
“My friend Maya’s in there.” I start to walkaway.
His hand grips my shoulder, yanking me back. “Get back here, you.” He pulls me into him, and plants a sloppy kiss on mymouth.
I try to pull away, but he is strong and determined. I push against hischest.
“Hey!” I hear Scott stomping towards us. He pushes David away from me, shoves him backwards. David stumbles, but regains his footing. “Why don’t you back off,Stack.”
“Why don’t you fuck off, Braddock.” David shoves Scott, hard, but Scott’s feet are firmly planted on the ground and he barelymoves.
“You guys, let’sjust—”
David pulls back, winds up and punches Scott in the face. “You piece ofshit!”
I cover my mouth. “Oh myGod!”
A small ribbon of blood spurts from Scott’snose.
He feels under his nose, realizes he’s bleeding. He looks over at me, looks back at David. David is flicking his opened hand, his knuckles no doubthurt.
Scott jerks forward, menacingly, and David takes offrunning.
