Page 63 of My Last Dance

With a sigh, Colt smoothed back his chair and stalked over to Mer. His hand went to the small of her back and she gazed up at him with a loving look.

“You’d go another four years, wouldn’t you?” Kappy asked, making me jump slightly.

“Yes,” I said matter-of-factly. “I’m going until I get my gold.”

He weighed my answer as he finished his drink. “Well,” he said, placing his glass on the table, “I hear thatthisOlympic gold is in your reach.” He raised an eyebrow, making a warmth bloom in my chest.

“And I hear you and Colt might get called up soon.”

He gave me a self-indulgent grin as he offered me his hand. “You know what that means, don’t you?”

Butterflies danced in my stomach as I took his hand and hopped down from my stool.

“No.” I feigned innocence. “What could it possibly mean?”

A little grin played on his lips as he guided me through the bar to the small wooden dance floor.

“It means…” He smoothed my hands to the back of his neck. “That it’s almost our time, baby,” he whispered, before dropping a quick, chaste kiss on my lips.

“Is it, now?” I cupped his face with my palm. It felt so good to finally touch him again.

His large hand grasped my wrist and his thumb gently stroked back and forth. “Been dreaming about it all year.”

“Piper!” Ali’s voice rang out, making me slightly jump. Her features remained tense as she eyed Kappy. “Can I borrow you for a second?”

“Oh.” I immediately dropped my hands from his neck. While I wanted so badly to stay with him, this could be my opportunity to ask Ali if she really wanted to go through with this wedding.

Kappy jutted his chin toward Ali with a small grin on his face. “Find me after.”

Rolling my lips together, I turned on my heel to follow Ali toward the women’s bathroom.

Inside, Ali leaned back against the sink and twisted her fingers in nervous knots. “So, I don’t know how to tell you this…but…”

Mer crashed into the bathroom, a concerned look on her face. “Tell her what?”

Ali’s shoulders tensed. “It’s just…”

“Is it about Mark?” I coaxed, trying to make her spit it out.

She shook her head. “Kappy…”

My heart slowed. “Kappy…what?”

The next thing out of her mouth made my ears ring. The room spun. I had to brace myself on the counter.

My friends regarded me with pity, and I hated it.

“You knew, right? Please tell me you knew.” Ali had a tight grimace on her pretty face.

“Yeah,” I lied, trying to play it off, trying not to reveal how badly I’d been blindsided. “Of course. That was just…I don’t know.” I waved my hand around stupidly. “S-stupid.”

“Because it looked like…” Ali trailed off.

I quickly shook my head. “It wasn’t anything. I’m a little tired, though. I think I’m just gonna…go.”

“No, Piper, you don’t have to leave.”

But I didn’t wait to respond.

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