Page 56 of The Dance

I stood and held out my hand for her to help her up. “What are you doing for New Year’s Eve?”

“I …” She hesitated for a moment, then took my hand to stand. “I’m not sure.”

We started for the door. “I’m going to a party in Dallas. If you want to make the drive, I have an extra ticket.”

“Are you serious?”

“Of course. I’ll get you a hotel room at the same hotel where the party is being held.”

“You don’t need to do that.”

I held the door for her. “I do. I’m not letting you drive all the way back here.” It took over four hours to drive from Dallas to San Antonio, given traffic, and even if the party ended right after midnight—which it wouldn’t—she wouldn’t get home until at least 4:30 in the morning.

“I actually still live in Houston.”

“That’s still a long drive.” I followed her to her car in the parking lot.

Stacey stopped behind a BMW 4 Series convertible, and I wondered what she did for work to afford it. She never answered my question.

“I can get my own hotel room,” she offered.

Without replying, I grabbed my phone, ignored the missed call from my mom, and sent a text to my assistant, telling her to book another room at the hotel. “It’s already done,” I said and put my phone back in my pocket.

Her brow furrowed. “Really?”

“I’m inviting you, so it’s on me. I’ll text you the details.”

18

Stacey

If I had seenEddie walking on the street, I wouldn’t have recognized him. He was no longer the dweeb I’d always thought he would be. No, Eddie Bryant was HOTT! Extra T and caps needed.

I hadn’t seen him since he graduated from high school, which was from afar when I attended the ceremony with a few friends. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that the pocket protector nerd who helped me with my homework would be a total glow-up.

Walking into my mom’s house, I went to my room and frowned. It was the same room where Eddie would help me many times with my homework, even though I was a total bitch to him. It hurt me to remember the times I was rude to him. At least I had New Year’s Eve to show him I’d changed.

In fact, I was going to start before then.

Taking the last sip of my coffee, I placed the cup on my dresser and grabbed my phone to send Eddie a text, only to realize I never got his number. He got mine, but he hadn’t texted me.

Blake had, though.

My Favorite Bartender: Thank you for today … and last night ??

I smiled and texted him back:

You’re welcome. I had fun with your family and I really like Spencer.

My Favorite Bartender: Catch you in a few months?

That was what we did, right? We hooked up for a night and then went months before seeing each other again.

Me: Maybe ??

I left my room and went downstairs to the kitchen to make dinner. It was getting late, but my mom would be home soon, and I wanted to have food ready for her. Her clothing store stayed open for last-minute shoppers needing to purchase Christmas gifts. I usually helped at the store, but I had called and told her that my car, which she thought I was leasing because how could a waitress afford a BMW, had a flat tire and I was getting it fixed. I hated lying to her, but since Blake didn’t tell me the plan and I somehow stayed the entire day poolside with his mom and brother’s girlfriend, I had to lie. How would I explain that the guy I hooked up with every few months needed me?

An hour later, Mom walked in. The frozen pot pies we had on Christmas Eve every year, when it was just the two of us, were almost ready.