Page 41 of Fixing Hearts

Something about Jasmine’s gaze made Jo straighten.

“Wouldn’t have missed it,” she said as the group shifted to make more room.

Evelyn stayed close, and Jo didn’t pull away, but she felt it.

That creeping anxiety again. The one that haunted her for the last two weeks.

This is too much , she thought. Too domestic.

Too final . Jo suddenly felt the edges of the room crowd in.

The drinks, the music, the laughs of people who knew how she used to be.

People who might still expect her to be that person.

With Evelyn leaving in two days, tonight was the night Jo had to decide.

Am I going to be the player Sapphire expects ?

Or am I going to be the partner Evelyn deserves?

Laughing, Brooke grabbed Sophie by the hand and spun her on the dancefloor.

Both women giggled over something Evelyn hadn’t caught, but seeing them having fun made Evelyn feel good.

Jasmine stood nearby, drink in hand, watching the scene with a small smile.

Music pulsed through the club. It was loud.

It was fun. And exactly what I needed tonight , she thought.

Everything has been too intense. Still, even with the happy buzz of friendship and dancing, Evelyn couldn’t ignore the tension that whispered at the edge of her thoughts.

Jo was beside her. Close, attentive, though not exactly warm, but not cold either.

Just somewhere in between, and the in-between was starting to hurt.

Evelyn had told herself not to expect too much.

She had reasoned through every possibility before she ever put on her dress tonight.

She didn’t own Jo. She hadn’t asked for a promise.

Hell, I haven’t even asked what she plans to do once I’m gone , she thought.

Will she keep going to Sapphire every Friday?

Evelyn’s eyes drifted to the crowded dance floor.

Will she go back to being the heartbreaker in the leather jacket with the sexy smiles and the irresistible charm?

She shook the thoughts away as Mica appeared at their table holding a tray high above her head.

“Okay, I am officially that friend,” she announced, setting the tray down with a grin. “A shot for the going-away girl, and one for her emotional support entourage.”

“What exactly are we drinking?” Jasmine asked dubiously, picking up a golden shot glass.

“Something tropical, slightly toxic, and guaranteed to make you forgive bad dance moves,” Mica said, offering Evelyn a wink. “Bottoms up.”

Laughing despite herself, Evelyn accepted the shot and clinked glasses with the others. “To being brave,” she said, mostly to herself, then tipped it back. It was sweet at first, then burned all the way down. She coughed as she set the glass down. “I hope I don’t regret that in the morning.”

Jo chuckled beside her. “Maybe we’d better dance it off,” she said, and Evelyn met her gaze, that familiar flutter starting inside her.

Looking at Jo, Evelyn decided she wouldn’t let that comment go, and she wasn’t going to wait any longer for Jo to make a move.

“Come with me,” she said softly, slipping her hand into Jo’s.

Jo hesitated for the briefest second, then let Evelyn tug her from the table and onto the dance floor.

The music wrapped around them. Bodies swayed and spun.

Evelyn didn’t wait. Finding more courage than she ever imagined she had, she placed both hands on Jo’s shoulders and guided her closer.

Clearly liking the temporary change of who was in charge, a smile lit up Jo’s face, and she let her hands slide to Evelyn’s waist with practiced ease.

Her thumbs moved lightly back and forth against the fabric above Evelyn’s hips.

“Someone’s feeling bold tonight,” she murmured, voice low, full of flirtation.

With a small smile and half-closed eyes, Evelyn leaned in so their bodies met fully. “Maybe I’m trying to hold your attention for a little longer.”

At the words, Jo’s hands tightened a little and their hips fell into rhythm.

One of Jo’s hands slid up Evelyn’s back, not quite teasing, but leaving a streak of heat in its wake.

Evelyn was momentarily dizzy. Their faces were inches apart.

The moment seemed to stand still, and then, like the DJ was in on the moment, the tempo shifted and a slower song came on.

Not too slow, but sultry and Evelyn didn’t hesitate.

She pressed herself tighter to Jo and watched as the woman’s face grew more serious.

Her arms came around Evelyn without hesitation, sliding low on her body.

Caught up in the moment, Evelyn rested her head on Jo’s shoulder. It was exactly like that first night.

Suddenly, Jo pulled away a little, making Evelyn look into her face.

Worry coursed through Evelyn. Is she going to walk away?

she worried. Leave me standing on the dance floor?

But then Jo leaned down and kissed her. Not softly.

Not with coaxing. But like she had something to prove.

Right there in the middle of the dance floor, beneath the lights and surrounded by bodies, Jo kissed her like they belonged together.

Like she knew people were watching and didn’t care.

Evelyn kissed her back fiercely, hands finding their way into Jo’s hair, holding on like she never wanted to let go. And then—

The song changed.

Something fast exploded from the speakers and the crowd screamed with delight.

A familiar anthem. One of those songs that required jumping and screaming out the lyrics.

Sapphire’s dance floor erupted around them.

Brooke and Sophie descended from nowhere, grabbing Evelyn and pulling her into the chaos. “Come on,” Brooke yelled.

“You can’t resist this one,” Sophie added, already spinning.

Evelyn gave in with half a laugh, caught up in the tidal wave of her friends.

When she turned again, breathless and slightly dazed, Jo hadn’t followed.

She was back near the edge of the floor, sipping her beer.

Evelyn smiled at her, and Jo smiled back, but there was something still a little different in her look.

Not the distance like the last two weeks, but definitely cooler than their kiss moments before.

What is she thinking? she wondered. Or more like, what is she feeling?

There was no way to know yet, but Evelyn promised herself she would find out.