“Does it matter?”
She didn’t answer.
Neither of us said anything further, and that familiar tension that had always existed between us began to thicken with every second that passed.
She looked even more beautiful up close, and I was tempted to push her against the wall and reconnect, but I held back.
“Can I speak with you?” I asked.
She looked me up and down.
“Aubrey…” I looked into her eyes. “Can I speak with you?”
“No.”
“Excuse me?” I raised my eyebrow.
“I said no.” She crossed her arms. “As in, no you may not speak with me, and you can go back to wherever the hell you came from.”
She walked away and headed to the dance floor.
I sighed and went after her, clasping her hand and spinning her around. “It’ll only take five minutes.”
“That’s five more than I’m willing to give you.”
“It’s important.”
“Are you dying?” Her face turned red. “Is it a life or death matter?”
“Does it really have to be?” My hand caressed her cheek, temporarily silencing her. “You look f**king beautiful tonight…”
“Thank you. My boyfriend thinks so, too.”
“Your boyfriend?”
“Yes. You know, that person who doesn’t treat you like shit just because he likes you and you like him back? Interesting concept, isn’t it?”
I didn’t get a chance to respond to that.
The orchestra struck a sudden loud chord that reverberated through the room, and a voice came over the speakers.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” it said. “The Benjamin Wright Orchestra will now play their rendition of one of Tchaikovsky’s most revered pieces. The tempo of this song has a similar pacing for what some of you may know as the waltz. Please join us on the floor for this classic homage…”
I grabbed her hand and entwined it with mine, securing my free hand around her waist.
“What are you doing?” She hissed and tried to pull away. “I’m not dancing with you.”
I tightened my grip around her. “Yes you are.”
“Please don’t make me scream, Andrew…”
“What makes you think I wouldn’t love to hear that?”
She tried to move away from me, but I held her still.
“Five minutes,” I said.
“Three,” she countered.