Page 24 of Love Off Course

But as I stare at the way she dances smoothly to the music, her dark brown hair swaying with her hips that are wrapped in a tight dress, I do feel irritated. He smiles at her, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. Not like when he smiles at me.

Triumph fills me.

“I’ve got you, boo,” Damian whispers, playfully tugging at my hair before standing. “Girlfriends have to have each other’s backs.”

Oh no.

He prances—yes, he prances like a runway diva—right in between Camilo and the beautiful woman. Once he’s at the jukebox, he bends over and wriggles his bubble butt as he chooses a song.

Two seconds later, “Lola” by The Kinks starts its familiar guitar twang. Damian, already falling into the character of Lola, starts dancing toward Camilo. He bats his lashes at Camilo and gives him the come-hither look.

“Cuervois a great dancer,” the cook says to me, patting a meaty hand on my shoulder as he starts clearing off the table of empty glasses. “I taught him when I was wooing his mother, though he’ll argue it.”

Cuervo.

My attention is drawn back to the wayLolatries to seducehermanjust like in the song. Camilo is a good sport and laughs, matchingherantics with his own. They dance well together, both their hips moving in tandem with the beat of the song. Their silliness and over-the-top singing and dancing is…refreshing.

Not the word I was looking for, but it’s true.

Daddy or David wouldn’t be caught dead dancing with Damian, who’s barely held together by expensive spandex. Yet, Camilo is on his knees, just like the guy in the song, singing to hisLola. Carson is riling everyone up and cheering them on. Estefania’s giggles poke their way right into my heart that I thought had long been hardened.

Loladoes some fancy little dance move that makesherjunk bounce and I lose it. I just lose it. A laugh bubbles up. Then another one. I can’t stop it and it feels so foreign. Tears well in my eyes as I fight for control. When Estefania realizes I’m laughing, she starts to cackle even harder.

The song finishes all too soon andLolagives Camilo a big smooch. Camilo squirms, butLola’s a man after all, and easily steals the kiss he wanted. Camilo swats him away, grinning. His nearly black eyes latch on to mine and something shifts in the air. I blame the change in barometric pressure, which is all Rodrigo’s fault. Regardless, Camilo makes his way over to me, no longer interested in the pretty brunette who was moments ago trying to make conversation.

“You should put on a shirt,” I tell him, only mildly irritated I can see all his glorious abs as Estefania puts it. Good God are they glorious.

“You should take yours off.”

“Ass.”

He smirks, flexing his pectorals. “I prefer ace.”

Cocky asshole.

Our arguing is cut short as the cook gets everyone’s attention. It’s then I realize he’s set up a long table nearby with all sorts of pans of food. I don’t do buffets. Ew. But, damn does it look good. My stomach, because of the heavenly smells, has been growling for an hour.

Damian comes up behind me, puts his hands on my shoulders, and leans in to whisper, “Totally saved you, girl. You owe me one.”

“Henry,” Doris says, walking up to us. “Son, that pink is bright.”

Damian whines, because he clearly doesn’t like being remembered as this woman’s son. “Bright is the new black.”

“What?” she yells.

“I said—” Damian starts, but she cuts him off as she whispers loudly to the bitchy maid from earlier.

“That’s my son Henry. He’s a great dancer. Takes after my Dale.”

The maid smiles warmly at her. “And that’s my son, Camilo. He learned how to dance from my Eduardo.”

The two begin talking and I dart my eyes to Camilo. His mom is the bitchy maid? Of course she is.

“Your mom’s the maid and your dad’s the cook?” I ask, frowning.

His lip curls up. “Eduardo isn’t my dad.”

I note his suddenly pissy attitude as he stands and stalks over to the buffet table. Eduardo, with his big mustache, proudlyexplains all the dishes. He keeps swiping the sweat off his brow with a filthy kitchen rag and I want to gag.

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