Page 96 of Chasing After You
“You could go find a pretty girl to talk to,” I say, and he gives me a perfectly slanted smile.
I know I’m in love with his best friend, but I’m also not blind. Andrew’s nice to look at with his perfectly coiffed blond hair and striking eyes. Factoring in his height and charming smile, he’s the total package if you’re into blond men—which I’m not. I prefer dark hair and tattoos, but I can still appreciate Andrew’s handsomeness. What is it about me that’s doomed to spend all my time with men who look like they belong in a Calvin Klein advertisement? Actually, I wonder if Stacey would be on board with the guys on the team posing for a sexy calendar and donating the proceeds to charity?
I take a sip of my second vodka cranberry, feeling a happy buzz already.
“I’m already talking to a pretty girl.”
Again, I can still be totally in love with Henry and be flattered that his hot best friend thinks I’m pretty. “You’re sweet,” I say, my cheeks flushing. Andrew leans closer to me to whisper in my ear, and my curiosity is piqued.
“I have a theory I want to test. Are you in?” he asks, leaning back with the same playful smile on his face.
I nod my head, interested to see where this is going to go, and Andrew stands up from his seat, drawing both Wilson and Henry’s attention.
“Are you getting another round?” Henry asks and Andrew holds out his hand to me instead.
“Nope. I’m asking a pretty girl to dance with me. Mira, want to dance?” I blink in surprise at him, but he winks back at me.What exactly is this theory of his?
“Yeah, that definitely sounds more fun than debating the 1998 Cyclones and the 2007 Serpents,” I say, standing up to slide out of my chair. Henry catches my wrist, stopping me.
“Que fais-tu?”31 he asks, and I shrug, because I’m not sure what Andrew has up his sleeve.
“Je dance,”32 I answer simply, leaning in to kiss his cheek.“J’ai hâte de t’offrir ton cadeau.”33
“Qu’est-ce que c’est?”34 Henry asks, raising his eyebrows, dropping my wrist.
“Viens me retrouver plus tard pour que je te le donne,”35 I tease, winking at him. My plan is to bring the birthday boy to his knees figuratively, and be on mine literally. I guess that all depends on when—or where—he finds me.
I take Andrew’s hand, letting him lead me to the dance floor, and I’m keenly aware of Henry watching every move we make. His crystal eyes are sparkling mischievously, and I wonder if I should be worried. “So do I get to know your theory?”
Andrew spins me, the unexpectedness of it causing me to laugh. “While you’re beautiful, you’re also off-limits in more than one way, but I’m trying to see how long it takes Henry to come over here and interrupt. I figured he’d have a better reaction to me asking you to dance than Mackie,” he explains, and Andrew rotates us to where I can see Quinn watching us too. “Do you know how to salsa?”
“I was a gymnast, not a dancer. I can follow if you lead, but Andrew, we’re literally in the middle of a trendy bar, and this is the wrong music,” I point out as he positions me how he needs me. “How do you know how to salsa?”
“Honestly? My high school football coach made all of us sign up for dance classes, and salsa sounded a lot more fun than ballet. I ended up losing my virginity to my dance partner after we won a competition,” he says sheepishly, before slowly walking me through it.
“Don’t look at our feet, but count in your head,” Andrew instructs, moving us a little faster. “You’re light on your feet.”
“Had to be,” I say, noting the faster we go, the easier it is to follow. “So what’s your plan if he doesn’t come over here and interrupt?”
“I think you seriously underestimate the effect you have on a room, Mirabelle,” he says, pulling me closer as I relax and follow Andrew’s lead.
I roll my eyes because that’s ridiculous. “Okay, then explain your comment about Quinn. He’s been talking to that girl all night,” I point out, and Andrew twirls me, dipping me after.
“He has been talking to her, but he’s been watching you all night. I would have put money on Mackie coming over to ask you to dance the second Henry got up to get you another drink. What did you tell him when he asked you out last week? I never did hear.”
“How do you know about that?” I ask, my feet stumbling underneath me. I didn’t even tell JJ about that, so how does Andrew know?
“Wilson told Henry about it,” he says, and I had no idea Henry knew.
“He didn’t say anything to me about it.”
“Hence, my theory tonight.” Andrew chuckles, but I can tell he’s waiting for my answer.
“I told Quinn no.” I wouldn’t do that to Henry. My life would probably be a lot easier if I could.
He smiles again before looking to see who predictably appeared by our side. Henry has a smile painted on, but it sure doesn’t reach his eyes. Oh fuck, I just thought we were going to mess with him, not piss him off on his birthday. “I was starting to wonder what was taking you so long,” Andrew says. He’s poking the bear—big time.
I choke on my laugh, shaking my head as Henry rolls his eyes. “Go find your own girlfriend, she’s mine,” Henry says, and instead of getting irritated he’s going all caveman again after yesterday’s argument, I feel like I’m the luckiest girl in the world.
