Page 20 of One Night Rebellion
Addie laughs, her cheeks flushing pink as I spin her once before pulling her back against my chest. "Ignore him," I murmur against her ear, but she's already grinning at the crowd.
"Why would I ignore him? They're all right," she says, her voice carrying just enough for the nearby tables to hear. "Took us long enough, didn't it?"
A cheer goes up from the regulars, and I can't help but grin as I lead her into an easy two-step. This woman. She's going to be the death of me. The way she moves, the way she fits against me, the way she's not afraid to let everyone see exactly how she feels about me.
Other voices can be heard around us.
"Never thought we'd see the day she'd find herself a good man after all the hell her father put her through!"
"JT, you better treat her right, boy!"
I spin her again, slower this time, letting her dress flare out as she laughs. When I pull her back, her eyes are bright and happy—happier than I've seen them in years. "You hear that?" I ask, my voice low. "They're proud of you."
"They're proud of us," she corrects, her hand tightening on my shoulder. "For finally getting our heads out of our asses."
The song shifts to something a little faster, and I adjust our steps accordingly. Addie follows my lead perfectly, like we've been dancing together our whole lives. I pull her closer, close enough that I can feel the rapid beat of her heart against my chest. "They're right, you know," I say quietly, just for her. "I have been crazy about you from the start."
"Good thing," she whispers back, "because I've been crazy about you just as long. Thought I was gonna have to take charge."
The thought of Addie taking control like she does behind the bar sends heat shooting through me. I have to clear my throat and focus on the steps of the dance before I do something that'll really give the regulars something to talk about.
"Easy there, cowboy," she murmurs, noticing the shift in my expression. "We're in public."
"Don't remind me," I groan, but I keep us moving, keep us dancing while everyone watches and cheers and makes comments about how long it took us to get here.
"Look at them," I hear someone say. "Look how happy she is. When's the last time any of us saw Addie smile like that?"
I feel Addie tense slightly,and I adjust our dance, pulling her into a slower, closer hold. "Hey," I murmur. "You okay?"
She nods, but I can see the shadow that crosses her face. "Just thinking about how different things are now. How different I am."
"You're exactly who you've always been," I tell her firmly. "You just don't have anyone trying to dim your light anymore."
The song changes again, something slower and sweeter, and I adjust our steps to match. Around us, the conversations have shifted back to normal bar chatter, but I can still feel eyes on us,people happy to see their bartender—their friend—finally getting the happiness she deserves.
"Thank you," Addie says suddenly.
"For what?"
"For waiting. For being patient with me while I grew up."
I stop dancing, right there in the middle of a bar, and cup her face in my hands. "Addie, I would have waited forever for you. You know that, right?"
Her eyes fill with tears, but she's smiling. "I do now."
"Good." I press a soft kiss to her forehead, then pull her back into the dance. "Because I'm not going anywhere. Ever."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
We dance through two more songs, laughing and talking and soaking up all the love and support from the people who've watched us grow up in this little town. When the music finally slows to something soft and romantic, I pull her close, one hand on the small of her back, the other holding hers against my chest.
"This is nice," she sighs, resting her head on my shoulder.
"It is," I agree, breathing in the scent of her shampoo mixed with the faint smell of beer and old wood that always clings to this place. "I could do this all night."
"Me too, but I should probably get back to work soon. Betty's been eyeing the bar, and I think she's about ready to start mixing her own drinks."
