Page 35 of The Ex Effect
“Over on the east side. I’ve actually been here for an hour, walking around, taking pictures of the campus.” Frankie’s gaze traveled the grounds. “God, I forgot how beautiful this place was. I haven’t been to this campus since…”
I knew what Frankie was going to say before she finished. Frankie hadn’t been here since we toured the campus together, back when we were seniors. This would’ve normally lit a fury in me, but today I wasn’t going to let anything ruin my good mood. Although it wasn’t a real day off, sitting on a bench basking in the warm sun with the quiet sounds of a summer campus was close enough.
“Super-cute dress, though. You look good.” Frankie shifted her focus to an approaching Olivia and Tommy.
Thank God. Because the blush that was working its way across my cheeks was mortifying.I really need to get out more often. One compliment from my ex should not push me to near giggles.
“Hey, guys.” I lifted myself from the bench and gave the couple each a quick hug. “Any updates since yesterday, or are we still on that one-hour deadline to nail this thing?”
“Sadly, exactly fifty-five minutes.” Olivia frowned and set her water bottle on the bench. “But we think if you can teach us the fundamentals, we’ll be able to practice on our own.”
“Got it.” I switched into focused mode and positioned the couple to learn the dance.
Frankie, the pro that she was, snapped pictures from a respectable distance, and soon I didn’t even realize she was there. These pics may or may not make it into any memorabilia package, but they’d be good to have to capture the pre-wedding days.
“Okay, Tommy, arms up.” I lifted my arms so he could mimic. “You’re the lead, so you will step forward into the box asI step back. Olivia, arms here. Let him take the lead, because if you push, it could knock you all off balance.”
I called out the instructions, which seemed simple enough. Step forward, right foot to the side, together. “On a count of one, two, three, okay? Right foot, step back for four, side five, and close six.”
Tommy stepped on Olivia’s toes at least twice, and Olivia nearly tripped over herself. “Wait, what? I’m not following.”
Oh boy. Fifty-five minutes would never be long enough. “This is a basic box step.” I air-sketched a box at the ground. “Literally, like you’re drawing a box.”
“But the box is drawn upside down for one of us,” Tommy said as he moved to step but froze before clanking into his fiancée. He tried again and started chuckling. “I feel the need to call out that I am top of my class. I’m not getting this, but if we need to talk about the cardiovascular system, I’m game.”
Olivia planted a fat kiss on his lips with a grin. “For the record, we could just rock side to side, and you’d still be the sexiest man alive.”
“God, I love you.” Tommy kissed her hand and took a step back.
Their love really was sweet to watch. Even though the couple was clearly under a tremendous amount of pressure, they made the time to laugh with each other. I’d bet good money that both of them would make excellent doctors, always cool under pressure.
I, on the other hand, was not nearly as calm on the inside. Yes, this worked out today to meet them and give a lesson, but we had zero time to spare. The urge to clap my hands and get them to focus burned through my arms, but I smiled instead. “Now, bend your legs, down, up, up, down, up, up. Slide, stay smooth. Oh… Ouch… Try again.”
Frankie released the camera and inched closer to us. “Tommy, lower your elbow. You’re blocking Olivia’s face,which is fine for today, but you don’t want that on wedding day.”
Oh, good call.They kept trying, but dear God, Tommy had two left feet and two left hands. “Huh?” he kept asking, over and over until finally I called a time out.
They were never going to learn this in time. I could pull up a video and show them a demo, but my screen was small, and that might not be efficient. “You know, you guys don’t have to do the formal dance if you don’t want to.”
“Sure do.” Olivia grabbed the water from Tommy and gulped. “My mother had a long list of requirements, and this was one of them. I swear each minute that passes, the more this day becomes for other people and less about us.”
Frankie put down the camera and joined them at the bench. “Well, I say you should add some touches to make it your day. Spice up the old waltz. Add a dip, like a good one.”
Tommy hopped up and held his hand out for Olivia. “Come on, let’s try.”
Jesus, how can he seriously be that terrible of a dancer?Olivia was petite, and it looked like he was about to drop her. I shot a glance at Frankie, who mouthed,Yikes.
“Okay, how about this,” Frankie said, setting the camera on the bench. “Morgan and I can demonstrate.”
Wait, what?I lifted a brow. “You know how to dance the waltz?”
Frankie grinned. “And the foxtrot, and the tango, and a little bit of the merengue, although I kind of suck at that one.”
Wow. Why? How? There really was so much that I didn’t know about Frankie. Sure, we went to prom and homecoming, but we danced like any other awkward seventeen-year-olds who had no clue what they were doing.
Frankie held out her hand, and I gripped it. I hated how easily my palm slid right into Frankie’s, and the warmth that slinked through my arm. Taking the leader position, Frankieheld me firmly around the small of my waist, and my breath stopped. In a snap, we were not in the middle of a college campus with a few uninterested bystanders tossing glances our way. Olivia and Tommy were nonexistent, and the only thing I heard was the soft thumping of my heart.
It was a silly dance, meaningless really, yet my body responded differently. I hated reading into everything, but I was closer than needed, snugger than needed, and Frankie’s thumb was gently gliding on the top of my dress. Maybe Frankie didn’t know she was doing it, maybe she did. No matter what it was, enveloped in strong arms, being supported, felt really freaking nice. For years, I was responsible for everything. But right now, for just for a moment, someone was taking the lead, and I could breathe.
