Page 41 of His North Star
“Dancing or dessert?” Ty asked.
I rubbed my food-baby belly. “Let’s go dance for a bit. I’m stuffed.”
He held his hand out and pulled me up from the bench. “At your command.”
The field turned out to be a large, fenced-off paddock with cement serving as the dance floor. Outdoor string lights hung zigzag above us. Two large speakers were on the opposite side of where we stood.
A deep voice announced, “We like to start the evening off with a slow dance. Grab your sweetheart and a spot on the floor.”
“May I have this dance?” Ty asked, holding a hand out.
I smiled. “Yes, you may.”
I placed one hand on Ty’s strong shoulder, the other in his hand. His arm wrapped around my lower waist, tugging me in close. The circus reappeared in my belly. His warmth radiated around us.This isn’t real, I reminded myself. He was off-limits. James was the man I was supposed to be thinking of.
“I’m glad I came tonight.” Ty’s breath tickled my ear, making bumps rise on my skin.
“Me too. You’re kind of fun to be around. I think I’ll keep you.” As if he had a choice.
He pinched my waist.
I yelped. “What was that for?”
“You know exactly what it was for.”
Touché.
“Hey,” I said softly. “I really do mean it. You’re the only man who has stayed by my side all these years. Thank you, Ty. I appreciate it more than you know.”
We swayed to the beat of the song. “Do you remember what I said to you on our first day of middle school, when you were really nervous about going to a new school and not being able to find me at lunch?”
I racked my brain. “Something about always having my back?”
“Yep.” His breath tickled my neck. “I told you I’d never leave you. That I’d always be here for you. I meant it then, and I mean it now.”
I pulled my hand out of his, gliding it to rest around his neck like my other one. Ty pulled me closer, both of his arms around my waist. “You’ve kept your word.”
“You’re saying if you had to choose between me and the stars, you’d pick me?” he teased.
Ty won. Hands down. “Absolutely.”
“Aw, thanks. I’d choose you over the stars too.”
I laughed. “Of course you would.”
After a few dances, my belly finally had room again. “Want to grab dessert?” I asked.
“Yeah.”
He put his hand on my lower back as we walked to the pavilion. The gentle pressure of his warm hand was comforting.
“I’ll grab us a seat if you don’t mind getting me a plate,” I said.
“Sure. Do you want ice cream with it?”
“Like you even have to ask.”
His lips lifted up on one side. “Be right back.”
