Page 10 of Game Change

After having drinks at their place, we walked to one of the many restaurants at the resort. They made a reservation, and the seven of us shared a secluded table toward the back. We didn’t get to dinner until nine, and afterward, we came upstairs to the rooftop deck club.

“I don’t believe that,” he says, looking down at me.

This is the first time I’ve seen him in a shirt, and I think he only put it on because it’s required at the restaurant and club, but he leaves it unbuttoned. He moves close to me, and I put my hands on his stomach.

“It’s true. I’m one of those rare black people who can’t dance.”

He smiles down at me. “You’re rare, alright,” he whispers. “You can’t be smart, beautiful, and a good dancer. That’s too much for one person.” I giggle at his words. He takes my chin in his hands and says, “Come on. We can slow dance.” He takes my hand and pulls me to the middle of the dance floor.

Raven and Amira are already to the side, shaking their asses with Brody and Ian. Malcolm is by the bar, flirting with a random woman.

“But this is a fast song!” I yell.

In response, he pulls me to him. Despite the fast Bruno Mars song, he takes me in his arms, and we move slowly together.

“Perfect,” he says, running his hands down my sides.

We stay like that, just swaying slowly to the fast beat. Then he turns me around and pulls me into his broad chest. Both arms wrap around me, and I don’t remember a time when I’ve ever felt so secure. Then I remember I’ve only known this man for two days and that I don’t really know him at all. I don’t know his full name, what he does for a living, or his domestic situation. I believe he’s not married, but how do I know that he’s completely single?

This is only going to last for a few more days, though. I’ll get on a plane, and he’ll do the same. The odds of us living in the same or even neighboring states are slim to none, and whatever his domestic situation is, it won’t affect my life. I’m enjoying my vacation and coming out of my comfort zone. This is about me, not him.

Three more days. No one is in any danger of catching feelings in three days. No one’s life is going to change in three days. No one is capable of falling in love in three days. I’ll fly home and return to my life, which is great, by the way. My career has taken off. I have money. I not only have my own home, but I’ve invested in a rental property.

Now, I’m going to have a tryst with a man I barely know and will likely never see again.

“What are you thinking about?” he yells in my ear. “And your friends are going to give Ian a heart attack.”

I giggle when I see that Amira and Raven have sandwiched him. They’re not pressed against him but dance wildly and wave their arms while he does a basic two-step. I catch Raven’s eye, and she tilts her head at Amira. Raven mouths, three, two. She doesn’t get to one before Amira starts to do the robot. You can set your watch by it. She does this every time she dances. It doesn’t matter what the situation or the song is; she will do the robot.

I notice Malcom watching her. He subtly copies her moves. I’m glad Amira doesn’t notice, because if she did, she’d be too self-conscious to continue. When Malcolm sees me watching him, he abruptly stops and resumes his conversation with the random woman.

I turn away and face Colin again.

“I’m thinking you’re gonna get bored with me. I don’t love clubbing,” I admit. I’d rather be at home reading a good book or watching a movie.

“Honeybee, you couldn’t be more wrong.” His hands caress my sides and land on my ass. “Tell me what you’re really thinking.”

I slide my hands from his lower abs to his naval, all the way to his pecs. I imagine going home with him, stripping him out of those clothes, and climbing into bed with him. I imagine a night in his bed where we get little to no sleep but wake up happy and satisfied in the morning.

He’ll make me a latte or a cappuccino, which I would love to sip while sitting on his lap, against his bare chest, while he rubs his beard on my shoulder.

“I’m thinking I’m ready to leave,” I admit, looking him in the eye.

“You want to go get a drink at a quieter place?”

“No. I want to go back to your place.”

He raises his eyebrows, and I nod to confirm what I said.

“Are you sure?” he asks.

“I’m positive.”

He takes my hand and leads me off the dance floor, but I pull him toward my friends. I tell them goodbye. I don’t know if they understand I’m going to Colin’s place, but they’re not surprised I’m leaving. They both know I don’t love nightclubs, but I text them that I probably won’t see them again until morning.

Colin holds my hand all the way back to the house, and when we get in, he lifts me off my feet, and I wrap my legs around him.

Chapter 6

---