Big Chicas Don't Cry(42)

“Did you finally get all that dancing out of your system?” he asked.

“Maybe. Or maybe I’m going to dance with every single guy in this place.” Then I hastily added, “Well, you know, except for you, since you don’t dance.”

“Who said I didn’t dance? All I said was that I wasn’t going to bust a move.”

I laughed out loud and took another drink. Then almost spit it out when Adrian stood and grabbed my hand. He led me to the dance floor just as a slower number was starting up.

“Okay, okay. I believe you. You don’t need to prove anything,” I said, trying to pull my hand out of his grasp. I looked around, not wanting others to see us for some reason, but Deanna and Mark were still on the other side of the bar.

“Jesus Christ, Erica. Stop talking,” he ordered as he put one arm around my waist and pulled me against him. I drew in a sharp breath when our bodies made contact. His arms were strong, his chest and stomach hard. Why hadn’t I ever realized how fit he was? And before I could wonder if he was thinking the exact opposite of me, we started to move.

I should’ve known he’d be a good dancer, given the fancy footwork he did to manipulate and dribble a soccer ball. What I didn’t expect was how serious he was taking our dance. No jokes, no teasing. He just swayed me back and forth, and soon I couldn’t help but rest the side of my head against his chest.

If he’d been any other guy, in any other bar, I would have pushed my body closer. That’s how good it felt to be in his arms.

“Did you just shiver? Are you cold?” he asked.

“No, not cold.”

“Okay, then.”

We danced without speaking, and it was easy to close my eyes and get lost in the music. His cologne tingled my nose—a light woodsy scent tangled with some type of citrus. Maybe lemon? I greedily inhaled the smell of him.

I could do this all night.

The song ended, of course. Regretfully, I slid my arms from his neck. But he didn’t let me go right away. Or maybe it just felt like that.

“Thanks for the dance,” he mumbled and walked back toward the table.

Deanna and Mark were waiting for us. “Wow, Adrian. I didn’t know you had those kind of moves,” she said. “Hey, Erica, did you know he could move like that?”

I ignored her sly grin. “I had absolutely no idea,” I answered.

“I guess I’m full of surprises tonight,” he said. “In fact, I got one more—next round is on me.”

But another drink didn’t sound so good. I couldn’t stop rocking back and forth, and not because I couldn’t stop dancing, but because I felt light headed. I pressed my hand to my forehead and cheeks. I was also burning up.

“I’ll be right back,” I told everyone. “I need to get some air.”

I walked out of the bar and leaned against a nearby wall to steady myself. A few minutes later Adrian found me.

“Are you okay?” The concern in his voice touched me.

“Yeah, sure. I’m fine. I probably should slow down on the beers, though.”

“Good. I’ll stay out here with you, then.”

I shook my head and closed my eyes. The world continued to spin. “You don’t have to do that. Go back inside. Buy everyone their drinks.”

“I gave Mark my wallet. Probably not the best idea now that I’m thinking about it. But I’m not going to leave you alone, especially when you’re not feeling well.”

I looked at him. “We’re not in the newsroom, Adrian. You don’t have to feel responsible for me.”

He shook his head. “This has nothing to do with that. We’re friends, right? And friends don’t let their friends hang outside bars by themselves. However, I feel like I need to warn you that if you start throwing up, I’m outa here.”

That made me laugh. “Good to know. I didn’t realize you were one of those people.”

“Yes, I am. Like now, even though we’re just talking about it, I want to gag. For some reason, I’m okay with seeing blood, though.”

The weirdness of our conversation helped center me. I began to feel normal again. “So if I ever need to go donate blood, you’d come with me?”

“Not only would I come with you, but I’d even hold your hand.”

Although I’d never donated blood in my life, the thought of having Adrian by my side if I ever had to did something to my insides.

And I knew I couldn’t blame that on the alcohol.





Chapter Twenty-Three


SELENA


I arrived at New York’s LaGuardia Airport just after eleven at night on a Thursday. Nathan was waiting for me, holding a sign that read, “Sexy lady from Los Angeles.”

He kissed me, and I smiled against his lips.

“What were you going to do if I wasn’t the only sexy lady from Los Angeles arriving tonight?”

“Oh, you weren’t. Two other women came up to me before you did. Let’s just say it’s been an awkward night.”

That made me laugh hard. I was so happy to be in New York.

And with Nathan.

Something had definitely changed between us the last couple of months.

When we’d first hooked up, I’d told him it was a onetime thing. He’d agreed. Then he’d found me on LinkedIn and messaged me that he would be back in town in a few weeks and asked me to dinner. I declined dinner but offered to meet him at his hotel. And that was basically how things had been for the past year. Then a few months ago, he began texting me even when he wasn’t in town. Texting turned into weekly calls, and most of the time we didn’t even have phone sex. But I still didn’t consider us dating. Much to my family’s disappointment. He was the topic of every conversation now.