Page 11 of In It to Win It

She toasts me back.

Let’s get on with the dancing so I can put my hands on this girl again.

First I have to dance with Lacey’s matron of honor, Karine, who’s nice, and very pretty, but also very married. When that song ends, I try to make a move toward Taylor, but I’m waylaid by Everly.

“Come on, let’s dance.”

I don’t have much choice, since she’s standing right in front of me, so I take her hand and start moving to the music.

“Great speech.”

“Thanks.”

“I’m glad you and Théo have gotten past what you did to him.”

One corner of my mouth lifts. “Thanks for reminding me I’m an asshole.”

She shrugs lightly. “It’s what I’m here for.”

I laugh.

“Seriously.” She eyes me. “We’ve never been super close, but since Théo moved here and I’ve gotten to know him better, and Lacey, I discovered I actually kind of like him even though he still thinks my mom is a gold digger.”

I choke. “Uh . . . he said that?”

“Well, sort of. He said everybody thinks that, which I know.”

I grimace. “Well, I’m not going to judge her. Being on the receiving end of that kind of judgment bullshit sucks, as I now know.”

“True. Sorry everyone’s being so jerkish to you.”

“I deserve it.” I sigh.

“They’ll get past it. Eventually.”

“Whatever.” I try to pretend it doesn’t matter. “I’m fine.”

“Uh-huh.”

My attention wanders over Everly’s shoulder to where Taylor is dancing with Théo. I’ll just keep an eye on her until this song’s done.

“You’ve been staring at Taylor all day.”

My eyes snap back to Everly’s face. “What? No, I haven’t.”

“Yes, you have.” She narrows her eyes at me. “She’s a nice girl.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“Ha ha, I don’t know. I just apologized for everyone else being dickish to you and now I am.”

The song ends and we move apart. “Thanks for the dance. Catch you later.”

I scrunch my face up in indecision. What the hell. I push my way through bodies toward Taylor. Standing in front of her, Everly’s snarky comments and the pressure I’ve been feeling all day fall away. I feel lighter and calmer and . . . happy. I smile. “Dance?”

“Sure.”

I take her hand and set my other hand on her back, pulling her closer than I did with Everly. “Having fun?”

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