Page 95 of If You Claim Me
When the song is over, our friends surround us in a bubble of protection. I loop my arms over Connor’s shoulders, while he links his at my low back, improper and casually affectionate.
“This reminds me of high school dances,” I muse.
“Did you go to many?” Connor sweeps a lock of hair off my cheek.
“Enough to know they were fun, but awkward. How about you?”
He shakes his head. “I usually had my privileges revoked for those kinds of things.”
I can picture him as a sullen teen, angry at the world, lashing out and putting up a fight every step of the way, his arrogance a shield for the acceptance he couldn’t find.
“For creating trouble so other people could stay out of it?” I arch a brow.
“You make me sound altruistic.”
“Aren’t you, though? The hero disguised as the villain,” I muse.
“I’m not sure that’s true, but I like that you think so.”
The song changes, ending the moment, and Flip steps in to dance with me. Connor grabs Callie and spins her around the dance floor.
“That was some speech Connor gave,” Flip says, eyes on mine, assessing, questioning.
“It was,” I agree.
“His Meems loves you, eh?”
“Yeah, and I love her.”
“Kodiak might have mentioned that her health isn’t the best.”
“She’s doing okay.”
“Connor’s close to her though, yeah?”
“Stop fishing and just enjoy my wedding, Flip.”
He laughs. “Okay. I’ll leave it alone. At least until you get back from your honeymoon.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
Tally and Fee twirl past us, giggling and smiling.
Flip’s gaze follows them for a moment before he returns his attention to me. “Tally wants me to save her a dance.”
I smile. “I’m sure she does.”
His brow furrows. “You don’t seem surprised.”
I pat his chest. “I’m not. I don’t think anyone in our friend group would be, to be honest.”
“What do you mean?” His gaze darts over my shoulder for a moment, before returning to me.
I arch a brow.
“It’s just a crush.”
“A few years ago it was a crush, Flip. She’s not a teenager anymore. She’s an adult. She’s in university, and before long, she’ll be graduating and living life.”
