“Dude, you’re a good dancer,” he’d told me, sounding surprised. “You just gotta channel that inner sassy girl when you feel the beat.”
I gave him my best rawr!
He frowned and clucked his tongue. “You can’t be smiling when you do that.”
Dang it. I shook out my arms. Okay, enough roaring. Time to move.
Once we had the dance down, we left to find the perfect outfits. Blake knew just where to go—swanky, over-the-top stores with glittering shirts for women and tight shirts for men. Only certain types of boys could pull off the club look, and Blake was one of them.
The night was hot, but I felt self-conscious in the backless halter top Blake picked out. I kept trying to hike up the low-rise black pants, to no avail.
“What if this thing comes untied?” I asked, feeling the bow at my neck and lower back as we walked down the darkened sidewalk. “Are you sure you can’t see in through the sides? I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.”
“Don’t worry, I double-knotted it, and all your goodies are safe. You look hot. Kai would kill me if he knew I let you out in that.”
My self-consciousness waned as we entered the club and I saw that my outfit would not be getting any special attention. The giant room was three stories high, with balconies tapering down to a view of the dance floor in the center. Next to me, Blake hollered so I could hear him over the blasting music.
“Ever wondered how it would feel to have thousands of eyes on you? ’Cause you’re about to find out.”
He started forward and I grabbed his hand, suddenly terrified.
“Relax, girl.”
“I’m not ready!”
He shrugged one shoulder. “Maybe you need a drink?”
I gave my head an adamant shake, while that greedy little voice inside me had a tantrum.
“Look, Anna. I’m not trying to be a creeper here. I got your back tonight. You can drink.”
I bit my lip. It would be so nice to let go, and I knew Blake had no expectations except that I have fun and be willing to take risks. He may have been the world’s biggest flirt, but I didn’t get any vibes of attraction from him. He was safe. It was my own self I didn’t trust.
“I don’t want to get drunk,” I told him.
“I won’t let you.”
“Once I start drinking, I want more. And I’ll get mad and sneaky. I might be mean if you don’t let me have more.”
“You think you can take me?” He laughed. “I ain’t scared of you, girl.”
“But . . .” I felt my argument weakening. “I don’t have a stamp like you.” I pointed to his hand. I could have used my fake ID, but I hadn’t been planning on drinking.
“Nobody’s paying attention. Trust me. Come on.”
I rejoiced on the inside. He was the exact friend I needed at my side tonight.
Blake got me a beer, then scared away a guy who tried to hit on me, telling him to step away from his best friend’s girl. It warmed me to know Kaidan had a best friend and to hear Blake call me Kai’s girl.
By the time I’d had my drink and we made it to the center of the dance floor, I was relaxed and ready to go. Blake had requested the song we’d practiced to, and when it came on Blake got serious while I attempted not to break into laughter. It didn’t take long for the crowd to spread, creating an opening where Blake and I were in motion, synchronized and more fluid than when we’d practiced at Kaidan’s place. I could not believe I was doing this. Veronica would freaking love it. Having an audience made me tighten my moves and halfway through I finally lost my nervous smile. I found myself playing it up the more people cheered.
I’d worn my hair down and straight. Blake said hair was a girl’s best prop. Mine swished with my movements. I understood what he meant now, and I used all my assets to give these people a show. Everyone whistled and cheered. The song ended and I hugged Blake, laughing and out of breath.
And so the night went, with Blake keeping me at a steady buzz, never letting me stop moving long enough to overthink or overanalyze what might be happening on the other side of the world. Even after we got back to Kaidan’s place, Blake was intent on wearing me out. He made me change into my bathing suit, while he borrowed Kai’s swim trunks, and the two of us went swimming in the middle of the night. We weren’t the only ones there, but when Blake began doing trick flips and dives, others came out of their apartments to watch. Someone turned on music and brought drinks, making it an official starlight pool party. I kept my cell phone nearby, checking it occasionally, but no calls came.
I thought about Jay and Veronica back home. They thought I was visiting Dad, but I’d told them I might be seeing Kai. They didn’t understand the dynamics there, about how my family and Kai’s were “related,” except that our dads were somehow connected.
With a drunken grin, I climbed from the pool, picked up my phone, and texted Jay and Veronica.
Guess what? Me and Kai are BFGF!
I giggled, waiting.
Two seconds later it rang. Veronica. When I answered she said, “Shut the front door, you are not!” I laughed and she went on. “Are you really boyfriend-girlfriend? Oh, my gawd! How did this happen? What time is it there? Have you even gone to sleep? This is totally worth being woken up before six for. Tell me every single detail, and I swear if you leave anything out I’ll kill you. And if he’s stringing you along, he’s so dead!”