Page 58 of Just My Puck
She takes a step toward me, but Beth leans into her ear to ask her something. Next thing I know, all the girls are taking selfies together.
“You should go for it, Cap,”Miles whispers, and I jerk my head toward him.
“What did you just say?”
He pulls me from the bar and takes me aside. “Listen, I know that look. I wore the same one for the longest time with Marissa. My advice? Just go for it. My biggest regret will always be not admitting my feelings earlier.”
I swallow hard and give him a curt nod. What am I supposed to say? He’s right. And it’s not like I can keep my feelings to myself much longer anyway.
Aria is finally free, and she walks toward me. “Hey.”
“You look absolutely amazing. Just wow,” I marvel, shaking my head. “Happy birthday, Aria.” I lean forward to embrace her, and she lingers in my arms—just a little too long for it to be considered a friendly hug.
“Thank you.” She blushes, her fingers grazing the fabric of her dress as though she’s still trying to process the compliment. “The girls picked it and put all this together. I can’t believe how lucky I am to have friends like you guys.”
“You deserve nothing less.” I smile, but when our eyes lock, her gaze holds me captive. The air between us feels charged, almost electric. I clear my throat, trying to ground myself. “How about a drink?”
I grab Aria an iced tea, and we start chatting. The conversation flows easily, upbeat music blaring in the background. Everyone is enjoying themselves. And honestly, it’s the perfect time to have a party and decompress before we return to work tomorrow.
Someone cranks up the volume, and it’s not long before dance moves fill the space. My gaze falls on Aria, and I nod toward the middle of the room, but she just winces. Breathing a low chuckle, I walk up to her.
“Come on, dance with me,” I say, extending my hand.
“I don’t know. It’s not a big enough crowd for me to hide in,” she says, glancing around the room as she grasps for any reason not to dance. “Besides, I’m probably awful at it.”
“What if you’re a Rockette? You never know. Plus, you’ve got me to help you out, and I’m a great dancer,” I say, moving my shoulders to the beat, trying to get her to smile. I extend my hand again, and this time, she takes it.
I twirl her once, and the way her laugh fills the space makes my heart soar. I guide her into a smooth sway, our bodies moving in sync with the rhythm. When the tempo quickens, we pick up the pace. I can feel her excitement matching mine, echoing in her every footstep.
I smile. “See? Told you. You’re excellent.”
“The music is too fast,” she giggles, but there’s a sparkle in her eyes that makes me want to keep her in my arms forever.
The next song is a slow salsa, and I pull her closer, our hurried movements relaxing to match the slower pace. We glide across the floor, and I can’t take my eyes off her. There’s a new glow in her features that makes me lose track of everything else.
“You’re so beautiful,” I breathe out before I can stop myself. The words slip from my mouth like they’ve been waiting for the right moment, and the weight of them hangs between us.
She freezes, just for a beat, and her lips press together in a way that makes my heart race. “Thanks.”
I want to say something, anything, but the words get jumbled in my throat, and nothing comes out.
Suddenly, the music fades out. “Should we do cake and presents?” Marissa calls over the crowd, and her question is met with a collective “yes!” mostly from the guys, despite their having devoured half the buffet already.
“Presents?” Aria asks, glancing at me with panic in her eyes.
A grin pulls at my lips. “Don’t worry. You’re going to love them.”
Aria
After all the effort they put into throwing me this party, I definitely wasn’t expecting presents. Between this surprise and the heated moment I just shared with Caleb, I’m dealing with emotional overload. The way he spoke, like a precious whisper, not to mention the words themselves.You’re so beautiful.I was two seconds away from kissing him right there on the dance floor, and I’m almost mad at Marissa for interrupting that perfect moment.
But when she brings out the cake, that flicker of resentment is snuffed out. The towering cake, which holds a single candle on top, is slathered in a smooth layer of creamy frosting and tastefully decorated with delicate swirls and a dusting of colorful sprinkles. Everyone starts singingHappy Birthdayto me, and my heart swells. I don’t know if I’ve had many birthdays like this one, but as I glance around the group of friends singing their hearts out for me, my eyes blur with unexpected tears. I can’t believe how lucky I am to have ended up here, with all these amazing people. I have this weird sensation of belonging, like it was always meant to be this way. Maybe I lost my memory for my own good. Maybe it’s fate, because I’m pretty sure I’ve never been this happy before.
I blow out my candle, and they all applaud, cheer, and whistle.
“Speech,” someone booms—I’m pretty sure it’s James.
All eyes settle on me, but I don’t think words could ever express what I’m feeling in this moment, or how grateful I am for their kindness.
