I point an accusing finger her way. “I have allergies.”
“I know. Okay. Okay, I know how bad it is shopping with me,” she grumbles.
“Don’t get upset, I was mostly kidding. Well no, I mean the part about not going shopping with you ever again. I really mean that.”
“Shut up,” she says in false aggravation. “Let’s get to work, Houseman.”
“I’m all yours.” I watch her carefully and love the way my statement blankets her.
Three hours later, I’m cracking my neck as she finishes the details on each table, fidgeting with her arrangements before wiping off any fallen debris from the crisp white linens. I stand in the center of the dance floor and check out her work.
“It’s perfect.”
“Really?” She asks, looking around wistfully.
“Yeah, really. Come here.”
She walks toward my offered hand and grabs it when she reaches me, and I pull her to me in declaration, kicking any amount of respectable friend-zone space to the fucking curb.
“See,” I slide my arm around her back, lifting our entwined hands into position before I begin swaying to a smooth, feminine cover of “Wicked Game”. “This will be their view.”
“It’s awesome,” she murmurs.
“It really is.”
“I’m…”
“What?” I whisper, loving the feel of her in my arms.
“I’m proud.” There’s a smile in her voice. “For a second there, I was worried I wouldn’t pull it off.”
“You did. This looks pro.”
“Wow,” she says giddily. “I hope they think so too.”
“They will.”
She turns to stare up at me. “Thank you. I would have been here twice as long without your help.”
“My pleasure, Ms. Cox.”
“You aren’t a bad dancer.”
“I’m an excellent dancer.”
She grins up at me. “And so modest.”
“That too.”
“You could use another slice of humble pie.”
“Got my fork ready, where’s it at?”
I see it then, her intent. She’s giving me the window, and I’m about to jump through it with both feet.
“Laney!” A voice calls from the entrance of the hall, and we both glare in the direction of the interruption.
“Devin snuck some shooters into her purse somehow. She’s in her dress, drunk, on the balcony, singing “Bohemian Rhapsody” at the top of her lungs.”