Without quietly asking Lexie first, I stand up and crouch down next to Sadie. “Would you like to dance with me, Sadie?”
Her eyes widen. “Really? I’m not as good as Reed.”
I laugh. “That’s okay. I can show you.” I hold my hand out, palm up, and wait for an answer.
She suddenly smiles as she takes my hand. “Thanks, Mr. Ashton.”
“Don’t thank me yet. I might be as bad as Reed,” I joke as we find us a spot on the dance floor. Sadie giggles. “Put your feet on top of mine. That way I won’t step on your feet.” She laughs and carefully does what I’ve asked. “Give me your other hand.” She does. “Now, I have a serious question for you.”
“What?”
“Are you like your mom and willing to be a little crazy? Act a little silly maybe?”
Sadie nods without hesitation. I hold our arms and start dancing straight across the room. She giggles, holding on tighter, and I’m careful to make sure her feet stay on mine. I turn us around in circles as fast as I can, pretending to get dizzy and almost fall over. She squeals in fear before laughing harder.
I shuffle my feet back and forth, attempt to do the moonwalk, and anything else to make her laugh. That’s all she does too: giggle while we dance offbeat.
“Go in circles again,” she pleads.
We start turning around and around. “Oh, I’m getting dizzy again, Sadie.”
“Don’t fall!” I stumble forward a little, causing her to half laugh, half scream, “Mr. Ashton!”
At the last second, I stand upright again. “Oops. Sorry, Sadie. We might have to lay off the circles.”
“Can you twirl me like a ballerina?”
“Sure. Hop off my feet.”
She steps down and I hold her arm up as she twirls around. I swing her out, keeping a good grip on her hand, and then swing her back in. Sadie laughs and holds her stomach.
“My tummy hurts.” She puts her hands on either side of her face. “My cheeks hurt too. We’re laughing too much.”
“How about we stop being silly for the rest of the song then?”
“Okay.” She takes my hands again and we dance in a small circle. “Thanks for dancing with me, Mr. Ashton.”
“Thank you for dancing with me, Sadie.”
Chapter Thirteen
Lexie
“He danced with her?”
I nod.
“Well, that’s it. You have to date him forever.” Tiff throws her hands up.
“He was being nice. It doesn’t mean anything else.”
“But you like him?”
“Yes, but we’ve been on two dates,” I remind her.
“And tonight is three.” She kisses my cheek. “Sadie, let’s go,” she yells.
Sadie comes running from her bedroom. “I’m all packed, Aunt Tiff. I have all my Monster High dolls and my Frozen DVD.”