Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
We hopped out of the booth and grabbed the two copies of photos that it spit out. My eyes gravitated toward the final photo immediately, seeing that my eyes were wide as could be in the picture, the surprise written all over my face.
My fingers instinctively went up to the area on my cheek where he’d kissed me. I rubbed the skin mindlessly, still reeling.
“Didn’t think you’d do that,” I finally said, glancing up at him as he pulled out his wallet, tucking his own strip of photos inside it.
Just then, the band started playing the opening notes of a big band version of “Twist and Shout.”
“Oh my God, yes,” I said. “I fucking love this song. Chase and I used to dance our asses off to this as kids.”
Landry watched me with some mixture of relaxation and wonder. “Then let’s go dance.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Damn. I knew you were loosening up, but I didn’t know you’d be the one to drag me to the dance floor.”
His smile was still tinged with some far-off sadness, but it was so clear that he was making an effort.
He was trying. Landry would probably rather be anywhere else but a wedding right now, but he was willing to do this for me.
We headed out onto the dance floor and joined the growing crowd of people starting to dance to the song. For those short minutes, I forgot about everything. I didn’t think about the past or the future. I didn’t worry about what was going to happen tomorrow. I just let go of all control, letting the music flow through me. Landry turned out to be a great dance partner, getting silly with me and dancing better than half of the people out on the dance floor.
I was totally out of breath by the time the band started playing a rendition of the next song, “At Last” by Etta James. It was a slower, more romantic tune, and I looked over at Landry, shrugging at him.
“Shall we?” I asked. “As friends, of course.”
He thought for a moment. He glanced over to the other side of the dance floor before turning back to me and waving a hand through the air. “Fuck it. Okay.”
I rested my arms on his shoulders and he held me—close, but not too close—as we danced to the slow song. As we turned, I noticed what Landry must have noticed a moment ago. Parker and his new fiance were on the other side of the dance floor, Velcroed together, kissing each other every now and then as they swayed.
Landry was clearly trying to avoid sight of them now. He kept his eyes downward, looking at me.
We’d already taken the wedding bet way further than needed. There was nothing for me to win or lose, after last night.
But I still wanted to be here for him.
There was a part of me that wished I could tuck myself up against Landry’s broad chest. That he could hold me close, for real, and I could feel like I truly belonged with him.
But this was good too.
Being friends was good, too. And over time, I was sure the memories of kissing him, sleeping beside him, and imagining more with him would fade.
The next time I glanced up at Landry I noticed that he had a glassy sheen to his eyes.
“Getting tired?” I asked.
He blinked, and I watched as a tear fell down from each of his eyes. “Not exactly,” he said, his voice quiet and hoarse.
“Whoa,” I said, furrowing my brow. “Holy shit. Landry, are you okay?”
He cleared his throat. “It’s no big deal. Just keep dancing with me.”
I knew he was lying. And I knew he knew that, too.
He was crying. And by the end of the song a minute later, I’d watched a few more tears stream down his face, leaving shining rivulets on his cheeks.
My heart twisted. “Landry—”
“Don’t,” he said curtly, but as soon as the song ended he dropped his arms from me and walked off. He grabbed his drink from the table and went over to the side of the room, pushing open one of the big, glass doors to the balcony outside.
14
LANDRY
A chilled breeze hit my skin as I walked out onto the long balcony that wrapped around the ballroom. My face was burning hot other than the streaks my tears had left. I scrubbed my palm over my face roughly and took a long sip of whiskey. The mountains, blanketed in white, loomed out in the distance.
“Fuck,” I whispered to myself, my voice slightly shaky.
All day.
All day I hadn’t been able to cry, and then it hit me like a ten-ton truck just from that slow dance with Jamie.
Talk about dissolving. The box inside me, where I’d been stuffing all my feelings for an entire year, had all but disintegrated. And now it felt like the walls I’d kept around myself were fading fast, too.