Page 27 of Take the Wheel

‘She was furious. Like I’d tricked her. Like I’d wastedhertime.’ Ari’s grip on the railing tightened. ‘But the thing that really got to her? It wasn’t losing me. It was losing the story she wanted to tell. The one whereIwas the lucky one, where I was desperate to keep her. She hated that I was the one who walked away.’

Nancy realised something disturbing. ‘Your old friends, are they here today?’

Ari gave a haunting laugh. ‘God, no. I’m sure she ditched them long ago. There’s probably been several friend groups since then. I think people are only really fun to her in the beginning.’

Nancy’s brow deepened. ‘But you think she stole the necklace to… what? Prove something?’

Ari’s mouth twisted. ‘I think she kept it because she thinks it should have been hers. Because in her mind, I still owe it to her.’ She exhaled sharply. ‘And maybe because she knew it would drive me insane.’

Nancy studied her for a moment, then said, ‘Did it?’

Ari let out a humourless laugh. ‘What do you think?’

Nancy didn’t answer. She just reached out and plucked Ari’s hand off the railing, squeezing it once before letting go.

‘OK.’

‘OK, what?’ Ari asked.

‘Let’s dance.’

Twenty

Ari barely had time to protest before Nancy pulled her back inside. The shift from cool night air to the warm hum of the ballroom made her head spin, or maybe that was just the champagne. Either way, her feet dragged slightly against the polished floor as she let herself be guided through the crowd.

The music, which had been up-tempo as they reached the floor, suddenly changed to a steady, measured rhythm. Something intimate. Something dangerous.

It was a slow dance.

Ari twisted to look at Nancy. ‘This is your idea of getting me away from trouble?’

Nancy’s lips quirked. ‘Would you rather go back to the bar?’

Ari hesitated. The answer should have been yes. Instead, she let Nancy’s hand slide into hers, let the other settle at her waist, an act that felt unprecedented. They’d never touched like this before.

She felt the warmth of Nancy’s body, the way their connection shifted the air around them, pulling her into something that, at first, felt ridiculous. Stiff, awkward. She wasn’t even sure they were moving to the beat properly.

It was like neither of them could figure out the right distance to keep. Too far, and it felt silly. Too close and that was a whole other problem.

As the music swelled, Ari felt the champagne start to wear off. The giddy haze faded, and the reality of how close they were settled in.

‘Relax,’ Nancy said, sighing a little impatiently.

Ari scowled up at her. ‘I am relaxed.’

Nancy huffed a laugh, her breath warm. ‘Yeah. Sure.’

Ari had half a mind to step on her foot just to prove a point. Instead, she forced herself to let go of some of the tension in her body, to lean into the rhythm, to stop overthinking. The clarity that came with sobering up left her more aware of Nancy, of the way their bodies adjusted instinctively to move together.

She glanced up and found Nancy already looking at her. And Ari had a very dangerous thought. Worse, she saw the thought reflected in Nancy’s eyes.

Ari wet her lips. ‘I—’

Just then, Paris’s laughter rang out, cutting through the music.

Nancy let go—just like that. Stepped back and dropped her hands, shaking her head slightly as if clearing it. ‘Maybe call it a day there.’

Ari stared at her, confused. ‘Nancy—’

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