Page 49

You’re the one on the outskirts.

Felix and Justin run up to me, zapping me out of my thoughts. “Come dance, Titi Lux.”

Felix’s little hand closes around mine, and Justin grabs my other hand, and now I’m getting pulled onto the dance floor.

Lauren turns to me first, and the smile on her face tells me she sent the boys for me.

“Why are you doing this to me?” I ask, leaning close to her.

“When Dominicans are happy, we dance. Now you’re officially part of the family, in writing and everything.” She takes my hand and lifts it over my head.

“Why don’t you make Chase dance?”

“He’s running now, but he married me. There’s no avoiding.” She doesn’t stop smiling, and God, she’s so happy with my idiot brother. I follow her gaze across the room, and he’s watching us dance. He’s always watching her. I’ve never seen him this happy, this full. Lauren will never know how grateful Cam and I are for the way she grounds him now.

She lets go of me, and next thing I know, I’m dancing with Bron for a few minutes, and then Adri takes my hands. I get the hang of the circle we are doing. Ayla is next, and she’s smiling full, like her dad. She moves well, just like him.

“You’re a great dancer.”

“Thanks, Lux. You’re doing really good.”

“I don’t know if I told you enough times, but you look beautiful.”

She blinks a few times and then smiles again. “So do you. I can’t wait to wear dresses like that.”

“When you’re both older, I’ll take you and Bron shopping for stuff like this.”

Ayla beams, let’s go of my hand, twirls, and moves on to the next person. Oliver's scent reaches me first. I would recognize it anywhere because it lives with me. Sometimes, I wake up from dreams so vivid I could swear I smell him on me. I can’t even explain it. It’s a hint of warm body, spices, and nautical notes. It sneaks up my nose and invades my senses. The next thing I know, his hand is sliding into mine, and he’s pulling me close.

I look up, and our mouths are so close. Then he spins me around very fast, and I brace a hand at his shoulder and follow his steps. And just as quick, we settle into the side-to-side sway.

“You’re really good at following the lead,” he says, his accent so thick and smooth. It’s almost melodious.

I love the way he talks. And the way he moves.

“Only when it comes to dancing. Everyone will tell you I’m not good at listening to them.”

“You dance merengue like you’ve always done it.”

“I’ve danced a few times…” A lot of times. I’m sure he can figure out with who.

“It shows.” He’s staring into my eyes, and I don’t know if the heat creeping up my face is because of the compliment, or the fast dancing, or because he remembers, like I do, when we moved together in sync before. Maybe all of it.

“How do you all dance and talk?” I ask, looking at Adri, Lauren, and Winter chat as they sway.

“Practice. We all get taught this when we’re very young. It’s like they drop us in a rhythm pool, and we have to dance our way out.”

“Makes…sense?” The image makes me laugh, and he joins.

Then, he looks over my shoulder and back at me. “Your mother’s here?”

My heart drops, and I snap my head around so fast I step on the train of my dress and lose balance. Oliver’s arms fold around me, and I fall against his chest. It’s hard as a rock, but I’m barely aware of it because my eyes have landed on the woman at the entrance of the ballroom.

My mother is standing there, flanked by Mateo at her side.

I swear the music stops playing—at least for me.

I look at Chase on the other side of the room, and he’s in deep conversation with Grayson and playing with Avy. Then I find Lauren, near me. She’s still dancing and laughing.