Page 44 of Don't Forget Me
“Nick,” Liz called. “Can you come help me for a moment?”
He’d have done anything she asked. Setting the book aside, he crossed the room, stopping at the kitchen island to watch her sprinkle parmesan onto the vegetable dish she slid into the oven.
When she straightened and turned, the smile she gave him had his feet moving again. He reached her and snagged her around the waist, pulling her in for a long kiss as he lifted her off her feet.
She laughed when he set her down and reached for the stereo to turn the music up. “Dance with me.”
One brow lifted. “I don’t dance.”
“Everyone dances.”
“Not true.”
Her smile widened. “Of course it is. I never said everyone was good at it, just that we’re all capable. You don’t have do perfect pirouettes, Nick.” She took his hand. “Just dance. With me.” Tilting her head back, she stared up at him with those sparkling eyes. “Please.”
Powerless to refuse her, he sighed. “Just remember, you asked for this, so you aren’t allowed to laugh at me.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” She stepped back, reaching her hand out.
He took it and spun her toward him before pushing her back out.
The beat of the music pulsed through him, and he couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually enjoyed dancing or doing it for any reason other than for cameras pointed at him. Hollywood was all about image, but he got the impression Liz didn’t care about that.
Because as bad as she was at singing, her dancing was even worse.
Nick couldn’t hold back the laugh as she did a scuba diver move.
“Hey,” she protested, poking him in the chest. “I promised not to laugh at you.”
“Yeah, but I wouldn’t look even a fraction as silly as you.”
“That’s it.” She advanced on him, lifting up on her toes to look him in the eye. “Let’s see what you’ve got, Mr. Jacobs.” Her gaze hardened. “Dance off.”
“What?” He laughed. “We aren’t in a cheesy romcom dance movie.”
“I know. It’s sad, right? But you aren’t getting out of this. Show me what you’ve got, bruh.” She crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes narrowing.
It was so ridiculous Nick shook his head with another laugh.
“I’m serious.”
He believed she was, which was sort of… endearing. There was a youth to Liz that was missing from his life. She didn’t carefully consider every action or how they’d make her appear.
Seeing he wasn’t going to start moving, Liz dropped her arms. “Guess I’m first.” Her foot tapped to the music before she turned on her heel and gave her butt an exaggerated shake, flinging her arms out to the side awkwardly.
Lifting up on one foot, she tried to spin, using her sock to propel her, but she only ended up making it halfway before losing her balance. Not to be deterred, she straightened, a serious set to her mouth, and launched into a series of what could only be described as hyper toe bounces and wiggles.
Nick bit his fist to keep from laughing as she backed up and took a running start, jumping into the air for what she probably thought was a graceful leap. When she landed, her knee buckled. The song ended as she pitched forward onto her hands and knees and stretched one arm out in a pose as if she’d meant to end up just like that.
Her chest heaved, and she grinned up at him. “Rocked it.”
Holding a hand down, he helped her up, wanting nothing more than to feel the confidence in her gaze, to be able to act like a fool, knowing it wouldn’t ruin how the world saw him.
“Okay.” He looked to her in challenge. “You’re on.”
Confession time. Nick had to take a few dance classes for roles over the years. He enjoyed movies where he got to sing, and dancing was usually also a requirement. He wasn’t sure if she’d seen any of those because they were indies at the beginning of his career. Since then, he’d tried creating a different kind of image for himself.
Visions of dancing with Sherrie at the gala hours before his accident tried to push in at him, but he forced them away. This was only about Liz.
