Page 12 of Reece & Holden (Gomillion High Reunion #6)

CHAPTER TWELVE

Holden

Reece’s words catch me off guard. I was thinking he might want to talk again and I was ready to brush him off.

I don’t feel like talking to him, hearing his excuses, not now, not tonight when I’m actually enjoying myself.

I don’t know why he’d want to dance with me either, as far as I know he doesn’t even like me.

He made that clear in high school, and coming back all these years later, even with an apology, doesn’t necessarily change that.

I hesitate and his expression changes, disappointment taking over. A warmth flares in my chest and propels me forward, toward him.

“Okay,” I whisper and relief floods his face, followed by a smile.

He leads the way onto the dance floor. The song is upbeat, not one I’m totally familiar with but easy enough to dance to.

Reece is a good dancer, perhaps due to being able to coordinate his limbs for swimming.

I’m not nearly as good a dancer but he doesn’t seem to notice.

A couple of times he gently takes my hand and spins me around, keeping hold of my hand for a few more beats before letting go again.

My heart speeds up, from the exertion of the dance and definitely not from the way he smiles at me every time I look at him.

If anyone had told me I’d be dancing at a prom with my high school bully, I’d have thought them mad and very wrong, but here I am.

I let my mind drift back to long ago, to before Reece started bullying me.

Back then I had a different dream about my prom.

In that dream we did dance together, in each other’s arms, a slow dance where he held me close, singing the words to me as if he meant them and we were the only people in the world.

Then we’d find a way to escape the prom, avoiding all the teachers, and he’d kiss me with just the stars to witness it.

I stumble forward, knocked by a dancer next to me, and Reece catches me, giving the other person a dark glare.

“Are you okay?” he asks, and I nod that I’m alright.

He slowly releases me, but not before checking in with me again.

The dream has faded and I have the stark realization that the reality is very different.

I never went to my high school prom and Reece hated me, so that dream would never have come true.

Instead I’m here and feeling foolish for even remembering it.

I am here with Reece, but he still doesn’t like me, which is fine as I haven’t forgiven him.

I don’t know what I was thinking of, agreeing to dance with him.

Damn him and his handsome face. Things will never be any different.

The song changes to a slow dance, and Reece raises his eyebrows. It’s an invitation, but I’ve already let my guard down too much. The memory of my dream has left me feeling raw and exposed. I shake my head and back away, slamming my barriers against him back up. Once again I turn and walk away.