During the two hours since we’d left it, the Beaumont dining hall had been transformed. The largest tables had been removed, making space for a five-piece band and a dance floor. Candlelight flickered on the remaining tables. Couples danced in the center of the room, or stood talking in clusters around the edges.
I couldn’t help but watch the door, so I didn’t see Bridger sneak up on me. Before I could protest, he grabbed me around the waist and whirled me around in a circle before setting me down again. “Who are you, and what have you done with Callahan?” he asked, handing back my crutches which had slid to the floor.
“Um, thanks?” I’d gotten versions of that compliment about a dozen times in half an hour. It was all very flattering, but I was starting to wonder if it didn’t mean that I should make a little more effort on a regular basis.
“Seriously, you look amazing,” he said. “Where the hell is Hartley? If he stood you up, I’ll break his balls.”
“No need,” I said. “He’s on his way. He’ll be here any minute.” Bridger frowned, but I didn’t offer any more details. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your date?” An unfamiliar buxom blond hovered behind him. I’d never seen Bridger with any girl more than one night in a row. He seemed to go through them like tissues.
“Of course! This is…” he cleared his throat.
“Tina,” she said.
“Hi Tina!” I offered my hand quickly, trying to cover Bridger’s gaffe. “Nice to meet you.”
“A pleasure,” she said stiffly.
“Don’t let me keep you two from dancing,” I said.
Tina tugged on Bridger’s hand, and he raised his eyebrows to me. I think he felt rude walking off to dance when I couldn’t really follow them. “Go on,” I whispered.
Bridger kissed me on the cheek before leading his date onto the dance floor. I watched them for a few minutes. Bridger was a good dancer, and it made me guess that Hartley probably was too. Neither one of them had many inhibitions, that was for sure.
I smiled to myself when Hartley finally skated through the door, his head swiveling left and right, looking for me. I could see that he’d run home to change, but hadn’t spent much time there. He’d donned khakis and a button-down shirt, but both could have used either an iron or at least a little of the old hang-in-the-steamy-bathroom-while-you-shower treatment. And his tie had been hastily tied.
No lie, he was still the most handsome guy in the room. By a long mile.
My smile grew as I watched him. Standing up a little straighter, I waited for him to find me in the crowded room. Unfortunately, Stacia found him first. I saw her sashay over to him. From his pocket he withdrew something that must have been her car keys. I watched him thank her, and then kiss her on the cheek quickly.
The whole time, his eyes never stopped sweeping the room. Looking for me.
Over here, I mentally coached him. Then his eyes flicked towards me, drifting past. Then he did a small double-take before his gaze landed on me. Even as his face lit with the most beautiful smile, he was weaving past bodies and chairs, rushing in my direction.
I expected him to sweep me into his arms, but instead he pulled up short. “Damn, Callahan,” he said, staring. “I mean…wow.” He took a step closer. “I’m so sorry to be late, I…”
“Shh,” I said, putting my fingers on his lips. “You’re not even very late.” I straightened his collar.
“Sure, but,” he looked down at himself and chuckled. “I talked you into coming to this thing, and I meant to do it right. I was supposed to pick up my suit at the dry cleaner’s. But they’re closed now.” He stepped closer to me, slipping his hands over the silk on my ribcage. “Damn, you’re beautiful,” he said. Then he kissed me on the lips, in front of God and everybody.
I let him.
The band began to play a slow song, and Hartley pulled back, smiling. “Here we go! Lose the crutches.” Hartley put his hands on my hips. I leaned forward on both feet, locking the knees of my new braces. Stashing the crutches on a chair behind me, I looked down, stepping carefully onto first one and then the other of Hartley’s shoes. “There you go,” he whispered in my ear. Taking small steps, he slid backwards into the crowd of dancers, my feet on his. Just like we’d practiced.
And there we were, slow dancing together, our arms around each other. If anyone had been watching us, they might not even have noticed that without Hartley stabilizing me, I couldn’t stand on my own.
“Now this is what I sped home for,” he said, kissing my hair.
“This is great,” I agreed. “But if you don’t tell me right now what happened with your father, I’m going to burst.”
He chuckled. “Yes ma’am. But it will take me hours to tell you everything.”
“I have the time.”