Page 85 of The Defender

“I’ll be fine. Go! He’s hot!”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” I gently pushed her toward the guy. “Have fun! Text me if you need me!”

Carina hesitated, but when I waved her off again, she winked and mouthed,I’ll find you later.

I grinned. I didn’t mind dancing alone, and I was happy to see her interested in someone. Carina was beautiful, but she was extremely picky. She’d turned down almost every date invitation and dance offer I’d seen her receive since we met.

The music switched to an upbeat hip-hop song. I was too buzzed to think too hard about where the rest of my friends were, but I did notice Noah standing alone by the bar with a frown.

Why was he frowning? This was supposed to be fun!

I shimmied over to him. He watched me approach with a bemused expression.

“Come on, Wilson, let’s get you on the dance floor! You look miserable!” I tugged at his hand, but it was like trying to pull a tree out from its roots.

“I don’t dance.”

“Ever?”

“Not to this music.”

“Don’t be a snob. This isn’t a…a waltz or whatever you like to do, but it’s still fun. No one will judge you.”

“I’m fine right here.”

“Noah Wilson.” I planted my hands on my hips. “You are at the best nightclub inBudapest. You’ve spent the entire night watching other people enjoy themselves from the sidelines. Even Carina is dancing with someone, and she usuallyneverdanceswith guys when we go out! You can be uptight all you want tomorrow, but at least try to loosen up tonight.”

His frown deepened. A muscle ticked in his jaw, and just when I thought it was a lost cause, he set his drink down and said gruffly, “One song. That’s it.”

I beamed. “Deal.”

He followed me onto the dance floor like a prisoner following the warden to his execution. The music transitioned again, this time to something sultrier.

He was a little stiff at first, so I tried to ease him into it. “Here. Put your hands on my waist.” I stepped closer to make it easier for him. “I’ll put my arms around your neck, and we can just move our feet and hips like this. One, two. One, two. See? It’s easy.”

A noise of complaint rumbled from his throat, but at least he stayed. His face was even more perfect up close, and if I’d met him randomly at a bar in the US when I was younger, I would’ve been smitten.

Now? I didn’t feel a single flicker of attraction. I admired him the way I’d admire a sculpture of a Greek god—appreciative of the details but devoid of any romantic or sexual attraction.

There was only one person in this club, in thisworld, who could make my heart race, and he was nowhere to be seen.

Where is he anyway?He’d vanished after that first round of shots. Was he with the other guys somewhere, or was he with a girl?

I missed a beat and accidentally stepped on Noah’s toes. I apologized profusely, my face flaming.

“It’s okay.” He placed a reassuring hand on my hip, steadying me. “I?—”

“What’s going on?”

Our heads whipped around at the same time. Vincent stood next to us, his gaze roving from our faces to Noah’s hand placement and back again. His jaw was tight.

It was like I’d conjured him up with my thoughts, though my imaginary version of him was less…aggravated.

“We’re dancing,” Noah and I said in unison.

We glanced at each other in embarrassment before looking away.