Princess Next Door

He winked at her often, and she shook her head, smiling.

When they were finished, he found her sitting at the booth with Tammy and Marshall.

“That was awesome. You guys are, like, totally awesome,” Princess said, throwing her arms around them.

“I was wondering if you’d mind if I took her onto the dance floor.”

“No, go ahead.”

Taking her hand, he led her onto the floor, signing napkins as a few people stopped them. “You’re like a celebrity now.”

“It’ll all go in the trash tomorrow,” he said.

The music changed to a slow song, and he pulled her into his arms, loving the scent of vanilla that filled his senses for having her close.

“I like dancing.”

“You’ve not danced a lot.”

“I went to dances all the time. The only problem was I had to go with my parents’ approved boyfriend, and dancing as you know, requires touch. I hated his touch.” She gave a little shiver. “I always pretended that I couldn’t dance or that I hated it so I didn’t have to dance with him. Am I rambling?”

“Nah, I like that you’re talking. It beats totally being glared at by you.”

She sighed. “I was such a horrible neighbor to you, wasn’t I? I was so horrible, and so mean.”

“I had celebrated for a week straight. You had a right to complain.”

“I don’t like your taste in music. If you’d played some of the stuff you sang tonight I totally wouldn’t have had a problem. Your voice rocked, by the way.” She chuckled. “You get it? You sang rock music and you rocked. Totally so cool.”

“You’re a weirdo, right?” He laughed, and found her so utterly adorable.

“Tammy says I’m weird. I have a question for you.”

“I’m all ears.”

“Where do you think that statement comes from? Do you think someone wanted to like make a statement to an entire bunch of people, and everyone lifted an ear? We’re all ears?”

“How many beers have you had now?”

“Five, I think.”

He glanced over his shoulder to see the couple she was with dancing and looking all loved up.

She followed his line of sight. “They’re an amazing couple. They’ve been together since they were eighteen.”

“They married young.”

“Yeah, I know. My parents were so young as well. That’s what they believed and wanted for me.”

“Your parents?”

“Yeah. They think you should marry young, have kids, raise your family, and be there for them always.”

“You don’t agree?”

“I’m twenty-five years old, and they think I’m already too old to marry and have kids. They wanted me to marry Carey, the guy I was telling you about.”

“Handsy Carey.”

She chuckled. “Handsy Carey, I really like that.”

He loved seeing her smile and the chuckle on her face as she relaxed in his company.

“I like this,” she said. “You’re a good dancer.”

“You’re not so bad yourself, Princess.”

When an upbeat song came on, they took a seat with his friends. Tammy and Marshall joined while he went and got a couple of beers for all of them.

Marshall came with him.

“Do you like her?” he asked.

Zane laughed. “You don’t need to do any of that kind of routine with me. I know you’re her friends and I’m just her neighbor.”

“Really?”

“Yep.”

“Last time I checked, getting jealous at a bunch of guys dancing with a girl, it doesn’t mean ‘nothing’ to me.” Zane stared at Marshall, who held his arms out. “You looked a little … put out by it all.”

He glanced back at Princess and saw her laughing at something Silas had said.

“I’m not in love with her.”

“I can see that, totally. Getting your friends to dance with her as well. I’m a guy. I was an asshole once as well.”

“You’re a bit much, calling me an asshole.”

He glanced over at Tammy. “I nearly lost her for being an asshole. I thought I didn’t want forever with her, so she went on a date with one other guy. It’s why I know why you’re feeling what you’re feeling. Don’t worry, kid, you’ll grow up soon enough.”

“I’m thirty years old,” Zane said.

“And the moment you think you don’t need to grow up, is the day you’re going to need to do that the most.”

Zane laughed. “I like you.”

“I get that a lot. Do you have a pet name for her yet?”

“Pet name?”

“Something you call her that no one else does?” Marshall asked.

He looked toward her. “Princess.”

“Do you know her real name?”

“Yes. Wynter Griffin. Princess suits her better.”

This time Marshall laughed. “You’re totally whipped, and right now you don’t even see it. I can’t wait to see how this unfolds.”

Zane ordered himself a soda, and designated himself as the driver for the evening. Marshall was already onto coffee, and he imagined he was the one driving him and Tammy home.

The rest of the evening he listened to his friends tell them all stories about some of the tours they’d been on. Nothing big, just booking bars and clubs, and getting rowdy. He liked watching Princess as the guys told their tales. She seemed to really enjoy them, and he just couldn’t get enough of being close to her.