Page 42 of Keep My Heart (The Haydon Falls #1)

‘But you want this, right? For me to move there? For us to be together? You’re not changing your mind?’

‘No. Of course not. I can’t wait to have you there.

But I’m not thinking of just me and what I want.

I need you to do what’s best for you, and if waiting a few weeks or a few months is what you need, I’ll understand.

I’ll be working a lot anyway so I wouldn’t see you much even if you were there.

But I could fly you out on weekends, or if you wanted to stay all week, go check out the city while I’m at work, that’s an option too. ’

I feel better hearing him say that. I’m so used to being with a guy who didn’t want to be with me that my mind instantly assumed Nick was the same way when he suggested I stay here instead of going to New York. I need to stop thinking every guy is like Chris.

‘I’ll take that dance now,’ I say, rising up from my chair.

Nick takes my hand and we make our way to the dance floor.

I spot Tom and Diane a few feet away. Diane’s eyes are closed and there’s a dreamy smile on her face as it rests on Tom’s chest. He’s swaying side-to-side, staring up at the ceiling speaker above him like he’s praying for it to stop playing this song so he can go sit down.

‘I always wanted to do this,’ Nick says, drawing my attention to him as his arm goes around my waist.

‘Do what?’

‘Dance with you like this.’ He moves us along the dance floor like he actually knows what he’s doing. He’s not at all awkward or uncomfortable like Tom. He seems completely at ease being out here. ‘Our senior year prom, I almost asked you to dance, but I knew Chris would throw a fit if I did.’

‘You’re right. He would have.’

‘I should’ ve asked you anyway.’ Nick looks into my eyes. ‘I have so many regrets from back then.’

‘Like what?’

‘Like not telling you how I felt. Maybe it wouldn’t have made a difference, but at least you would’ve known.’

‘I know now. That’s really all that counts.’

The song ends and another one begins. It’s another slow one, but I notice Tom and Diane leaving the dance floor. I think Tom needs a break or maybe a stiff drink before being dragged back for another song.

‘You’re really good at this,’ I say to Nick as we reach the edge of the dance floor and he turns us around.

‘I’ve had lessons.’

‘You took dance lessons?’ I laugh. ‘Sorry, I shouldn’t laugh, but can I ask why?’

‘I’ve dated some women with money, like a lot of money. From wealthy families. They tend to go to a lot of formal events where you need to know how to dance. Ballroom dance, not country hoedown type of dance.’

I laugh again. ‘Yeah, I assumed it’d be ballroom. So you took lessons to impress these women?’

‘I took lessons so I’d know what the hell I was doing. I didn’t want to try to wing it and accidentally step on her foot or bump into someone.’

‘How many of these rich women did you date?’

‘I don’t know. Three or four?’

‘Why did it end?’

‘Because I’m a small-town boy from Wisconsin. It doesn’t matter where I live now or what I do for a living. Once the girl’s parents found out I wasn’t one of them, it ended, each and every time. Eventually I stopped dating those women.’

‘What was your longest relationship? ’

‘Lyndsay, I don’t want to talk about this. It’s the past, and I’m with you, and you’re the only woman I want to think about.’

I rest my head on his chest as the song nears the end, closing my eyes as we sway side-to-side.

‘Hey, Lyndsay,’ a guy says.

I open my eyes and see Chris’ friend, Ted, beside us, dancing with a girl I don’t recognize. She looks at least ten years younger than him.

‘Hey, Ted,’ I say, feeling my shoulders tense up and a knot forming in my stomach. I knew Chris’ friends would be here, but I was hoping I could avoid them.

‘How’s it going?’ Nick says to him, turning me away from Ted, knowing I don’t want to talk to him.

‘Nick?’ Ted’s eyes widen as he looks Nick up and down. ‘Shit, you been working out?’

‘I spend a little time in the gym,’ Nick says, standing up straighter. ‘How about you? Still playing football? Hitting the weights every day?’

I try not to laugh. Ted’s gained about 50 pounds. He probably hasn’t worked out since high school.

‘Nah, I don’t do that shit anymore. I got a job. A kid to support.’

Ted got a girl pregnant a few years ago.

He never even went out with her. He hooked up with her at a bar one night and a few months later found out he was going to be a dad.

The little boy is six now and lives with his mom.

Ted sees him a few times a month. Sometimes I wonder if Ted’s the one who convinced Chris to not have kids.

He’s always complaining about being a parent.

‘So what are you doing with Lyndsay?’ Ted laughs. ‘Living out your teenage fantasy?’

‘We’re kind of busy here,’ Nick says, his jaw tightening. ‘Why don’t you move along? ’

‘I’m just joking around. I didn’t mean anything by it.’

‘I’m getting a drink,’ the girl next to Ted says as she leaves.

I turn toward Ted and put my arm around Nick’s. ‘Nick and I are dating.’

‘Yeah, right,’ Ted says, assuming I’m joking.

‘We actually are,’ Nick says. ‘And I’d like to get back to our date, so if you could—’

‘Wait—does Chris know this?’ Ted directs the question to me.

‘Why would I tell Chris? We’re divorced.’

‘Yeah, I guess. Okay, well, I gotta go find Andrea.’ He takes off, then looks back at us and laughs.

‘I never liked that guy,’ Nick says.

‘He was okay back in high school, at least to me. I don’t really know him now. He’d call Chris once or twice a year to catch up, but that was it. They didn’t really stay friends.’

‘You want to go back to the table?’ Nick asks as the song ends.

‘Yeah.’

We return to our seats.

‘Have you recovered?’ I say to Tom, kidding with him.

‘Barely.’ He swigs his drink.

‘Hey!’ Diane scowls at him. ‘I spent an entire day freezing my butt off ice fishing with you last winter. You owe me!’

He turns to her and smiles. ‘I promise you, you’ll never have to ice fish with me again.’

‘Only because you didn’t like me being there.’ She rolls her eyes. ‘He said I talked too much.’

‘I miss ice fishing,’ Nick says. ‘My dad would take us every year. Brody hated it, but the rest of us liked it.’

‘Why didn’t Brody like it?’ I ask.

‘Because he’s the youngest, so he got stuck doing all the shit work.’ Nick looks over at Tom. ‘If you ever need someone to go with, let me know. If I’m in town, I’d love to get out there again. ’

‘Sure, I’ll let you know.’

I like that Tom and Nick are getting along. I just wish Diane would stop giving Nick that look like she doesn’t trust him.

The night continues and people stop at our table to talk to Diane, not recognizing Nick and me until we introduce ourselves.

A few people asked about Chris, but not as many as I thought would.

I’m guessing word got around about the divorce and me being with Nick, which shut down any need to ask questions.

‘How about another dance?’ I ask Nick, feeling tipsy from all the wine I’ve had. I go to kiss him but miss his lips and get his cheek.

He laughs a little. ‘I think I need to get you up to bed.’

‘I feel fine.’ I stand up. ‘C’mon. I want to dance again.’

As he gets up, I feel Diane grabbing my hand. ‘Lyndsay.’

‘What?’

‘Nick’s right. You should get to bed.’

‘Why would I go to bed? It’s only ten o’clock. It’s still early and I really like this song.’

‘It’s not that great,’ she rushes to say, glancing behind me. ‘And you look really tired. You should go.’

‘I’m not tired. I’m just relaxed from all the wine.’

‘Fuck,’ Nick mutters.

‘What’s wrong?’ I ask.

I look at Diane, then Nick, and see both of them looking back at the door.

‘What are you guys—’ I stop when I see him.

It’s Chris.