The comradery.
The family.
The support.
I’d miss it.
I’d miss this.
Trying to not let the sad feeling take hold, I finished my fifth margarita at the same time my favorite song, “Lovefool” by The Cardigans, came on through the speakers. This was the second I realized I was way drunker than I thought. My telltale sign was always dancing and singing.
I was that girl.
You know the one…
The cute girl in the movie who ends up with her soulmate and they lived happily ever after. She’d start to dance, and the guys would swarm to her like bees to honey. They’d fall in love with her based on her sexy, spunky confidence. I swear that shit actually happened in real life, I had to beat them off with a stick after I tore up any dance floor. There was something about the way I moved that turned on their Just-in Beavers.
I couldn’t control my body. I didn’t care who was around, I had to sing and dance. Instantly, I was swaying my hips back and forth to the hard, short bangs of the blaring guitar, and the sound of the drum beat vibrantly against my core. Slowly, my hands worked their way up my waist to my head, inch by inch they glided until I was running my fingers seductively through my hair.
I let the music take over, singing the lyrics like I was the artist performing the song in front of my fans. Rocking my hips, I pointed to the first guy I saw which just so happened to be Cain.
Singing, “Love me, love me.”
He immediately started laughing, his charm radiating off of him like the bright full moon above. I didn’t stop my performance, the liquor flowing through my veins wouldn’t allow it.
Shimmying my shoulders, I signaled with my index fingers in a come hither gesture, and he didn’t have to be told twice, except…
Cain started dancing.
And not like white boy dance moves, like he started breaking it down like I was. Singing right along with me. The crowd parted for him and it didn’t take long for everyone to gather around to watch us put on a blatant display of chemistry.
Once the singer belted out the chorus again, I jumped around in a circle before Cain grabbed my hand and spun me into his arms then pulled me to his chest. Both of us dancing together, in sync with our hip and body movements. It was easy and comfortable, our effortless dynamic played well off one another.
With my arms at my sides, I danced my way around to look into his eyes. They were dilated, happy, beaming. It was an amazing sight and I think this was the moment I felt a new, strange connection to him.
I didn’t think he could get any cuter until he put his hands on his waist and began thrusting in a funny dance sequence. I clapped my hands together loving his enthusiasm and together we sang the last chorus. Both of us now with our hands over our hearts, profoundly uttering the lyrics to each other.
I couldn’t remember the last time I had this much fun with someone who wasn’t Leo.
Quickly, the artist’s singing started fading, the song was coming to an end and at the last moment Cain grabbed my hand, spun me into him again, and dipped me. My leg naturally angled to the side of his body, and he left me there until the song was over.
“Why Mr. Roberts!” I exclaimed. “The man can dance.”
He smiled wide, his dimples promptly showed on his cheeks.
Tugging me higher to his face, he whispered in my ear, “I told you I’m full of surprises.”
Making me realize…
I liked Cain’s surprises.
Chapter 9
—Mila—
I hurried up the stairs of the cabin to use the bathroom. I was ready to break the almighty seal. I think I peed for like five minutes straight and it was the best feeling in the world. Once I was done, I washed my hands and walked back into the open floorplan. Leo was pouring himself a drink on the metal island in the kitchen.
We were the only two people inside. Usually everyone hung out around the bonfire, shooting the shit about nothing in particular. As we got older we realized it was easier to have the cabin be off-limits.
“Have fun dancing?”
“Yeah.” I nodded, smirking. “I didn’t know Cain was such a good dancer.”
“Does that mean I’m replaced as your honorary dance partner?”
“Do you want to be replaced?”
“Do you want to replace me?”
“Hmmm… I don’t know. Cain can dance, unlike you and your two left feet.”
“I can dance.”
“Having a chick twerk on your dick while you grind behind her is not exactly dancing.”
“My grinding has never bothered you before.”
“It doesn’t bother me now.”
“Yet here I am being replaced.”
“Oh, well, you know… I have men lining out the door for me.”
“That you do.”
I smiled. “Make me one.”
“I think you’ve had enough.”
“Have I? Since when are you the authority on how much I drink?”
“Since you threw up on me.”
“Touché.”
The song “You Don’t know Her Like I Do” by Brantley Gilbert started playing from the speakers, and Leo put his drink down on the island. He grinned in that Leo Hawkins sort of way, his stunning good looks burned a hole into my chest with each precise, calculated step that brought him closer to me.
My best friend was handsome to say the least, he always had been. The older we got, the better looking he became.
Bastard.
“What’s with the determined look in your eyes?”
He didn’t answer my question, instead he grabbed my hand and twirled me toward him. An unexpected gasp escaped my lips when he held me firm against his solid, muscular chest.
Slowly, he began slow dancing with me.
“What girl are we putting on a show for right now?”
“No show.”
“What?”
“I’m just dancing with my best friend.”
His eyes never wavered from mine when I asked, “Meet any hot girls tonight?”
“Yeah. I’m dancing with her.”
“You didn’t just meet me, so my hotness doesn’t count.”
“You’re the hottest girl here.”
“Just what every girl wants to hear,” I sarcastically replied. “She’s hot.”
There was no hesitation in his response, “You’re beautiful, Lala.”
I could feel my cheeks getting flushed. “Thanks.”
“I’m only speaking the truth.”
My eyes widened, surprised where this conversation had turned. “Are you drunk?”
“A little bit.”
“Okay,” I chuckled as he twirled me in a slow circle. “Buzzed Leo is wasting all his great pick-up lines on the wrong girl.”
He settled me back into his arms, holding me closer to his torso. “What if you’re the right girl?”
“Leo, what do you—”
“There you two are!” Ashton barged through the double glass doors from the porch and we pulled away from one another.
What just happened?
It was obvious Ashton was drunk as shit. “What are you guys doing up here all by your lonesome?”