Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 112892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
“Let’s try something different,” he said, walking directly to me. “You dance with me. Aaron, just watch for now.”
For some reason, I took a step back as Diego approached. Attempting to dance with Aaron wasn’t scary because we didn’t know what the hell we were doing. Diego did.
He raised an eyebrow and waited until I put my left hand on his shoulder and my right hand in his.
Right away, it felt different. He held me more confidently. He was still barking instructions, but now, he was guiding me with his arms. His legs. His hips.
It was a very different experience.
Soon, we were twirling around the room, and I’d only stepped on Diego’s foot twice. Oh, and I accidentally kicked him once. But after that, I kind of felt more confident. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad on Saturday if I could dance like this in his arms. In fact, when he held me, it felt like—
“May I cut in?”
Aaron’s words made me realize I’d temporarily forgotten who I was supposed to be dancing with. Guilty, I froze in Diego’s arms.
He stepped back, letting me go. Aaron took his place. Evidently, he’d been paying attention, because we moved more in sync than before. His steps—and his grasp—wasn’t as confident, but it was better than our first few attempts.
“Take a bigger step to the side, Mia,” Diego said. “Are you going to be wearing something you can move in on Saturday?”
Just thinking about that gorgeous dress cheered me up. “Yes. The dress has a big slit along one side.”
Maybe it was my imagination, but both Diego and Aaron seemed interested in that fact.
We practiced again and again until Diego deemed us reasonably competent in the most basic waltz steps.
My heart rate was elevated when Aaron let me go and turned off the music. “Thank you,” I said to Diego.
Aaron clapped him on the back. “Thanks, man. I knew you’d come through.”
Diego waved off our gratitude. “It’s no problem. The waltz is pretty much the only dance I know.” He paused, thinking it over. “Except for salsa. And merengue.”
Aaron and I exchanged a glance. “Do you think people will do those dances at the reception?” I asked.
“I have no idea.”
We both turned to Diego, who was backing away. “Please?” I asked him.
He shook his head. “No way. Diego’s dance studio is closed as of now.”
“Come on, can you just show us a few steps tomorrow night?” Aaron begged.
“You’ve got student council,” Diego pointed out.
“I’ll skip it. This is more important.” He winked at me. “And fun.”
To my shock, I realized it had kind of been fun, at least at the end there. Though being guided around the room by Aaron wasn’t at all the same as Diego’s purposeful movements. “Please?” I asked him.
“We can cook the next time it’s your turn,” Aaron offered.
Wait, what?
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” I said hastily.
Apparently, Diego agreed. “That’s not necessary.” He sighed. “I’ll give you thirty minutes tomorrow night. And that’s all.”
“Thank you!” I said.
Muttering at us to put the furniture back, he left the room.
Aaron smiled at me when we were alone. Maybe this thing on Saturday wasn’t going to be completely awkward.
I was really looking forward to wearing that beautiful dress.
And… I felt a little strange about this, but some part of me was eager to learn what Aaron’s reaction would be when he saw me in it.
And even more surprising… I kind of wished Cody and Diego could see me in it, too.
18
MIA
“Are you okay?” I whispered to Cody. We sat in the back of the dark theater, of course. The last row, to be exact. I was beginning to think that Cody had never sat in the front row for anything. But it wasn't a problem. It was nice being a couple of rows behind everyone else. A lot of students had their phones out, either texting or taking notes for the extra credit assignment, but I liked watching shows when it was very dark.
Being up in the top last row also meant I could look straight out at the screen instead of looking down and seeing all their bright, distracting phone screens.
“Have you seen this before?” I whispered to Cody as it started.
He nodded.
I wished he were more comfortable, but he kept fidgeting. I got a little uncomfortable too, as on screen two middle-aged people shared a very cringey intimate scene. It hadn’t, in the end, turned out to be all that intimate, but it was still cringe. I wasn’t used to sitting next to a guy while watching something like that. There weren’t any sex scenes in American Adventures.
Cody’s fingers tapped nervously against the denim of his jeans, and I was tempted to reach out and take his hand, stilling them. But this was extra credit for chemistry class, not a date. I didn’t know if he dated.