Man of My Dreams(47)
Noah cocks his head back, laughing. The way his Adam’s apple vibrates...it makes me wish my lips had the chance to travel there once. “What? What’s so funny?”
“The Mrs. Matheson comment. I don’t have a wife. Never even came close. I guess you can call me the ultimate bachelor. Although, if the right woman came along...things could always change.”
I want to tell him that the right woman passed him by years ago, but that wouldn’t be fair. Not to him, not to me, not to Declan. While I loved the fantasy of being with Noah, I wouldn’t exchange the idea of him for what the reality of the last eight years of my life had given me.
“So what have you been up to, Mia Page?”
I smirk, loving how easy it is to talk to him. “It’s Mia Murphy now. And I’ve been raising two crazy daughters for the last four years.”
His eyes go wide. “You have kids? Daughters? Oh my god, your poor husband. If they look anything like you he’s screwed.”
Why hadn’t I ever thought about that? Cara and Charlie dating is so far off it seems unthinkable, but then again time flies by so damn quickly. High school doesn’t exactly seem like it happened ten years ago.
As we talk, I learn a bit about where Noah’s life has taken him and the construction company he owns two towns over. When he names some of the projects he’s worked on I’m impressed. I’ve seen some of them, even been in a few of them. The idea of walking through a building created by Noah’s masterful mind and creative hands has me in disbelief. He went to college on a baseball scholarship. I was sure that I’d turn on the TV one day and see him playing for the major leagues. I guess dreams change over time.
A crowd has formed on the dance floor. Rowdy classmates mouth the words to that annoying song by Chumbawamba. I hated this song back then and I still hate it now. When it ends, Daniel makes an announcement about slowing down the music. He even uses a cheesy deejay line, “grab that special someone and bring her on the dance floor.”
The beginning bars of Champagne Supernova somehow transform the luxurious Country Club into a dimly lit gymnasium. I danced with Chad Myers to this song during Homecoming. Noah waltzed around with Lila Peters. That night I wished I was Lila. I wonder if Noah wished he was Chad.
“Wanna dance?” His hand grazes mine and for the first time all night I worry about where this flirting might lead. I remind myself that there’s no harm in a dance. It’s not like he’s asking me out on a date.
I skip the words and my body takes over, letting my hand rest in his as he escorts me to the dance floor.
If you had told me ten years ago that I’d be swaying to these words wrapped in the arms of Noah Matheson at our reunion I would have laughed in your face. It’s all so effortless. His hand rests casually at my hips. Mine hang relaxed around his neck. How many times had I longed for a moment like this between us when we were in school? Oh, like a million. I hate thinking it’s a little too late for my dreams to be coming true.
Together we sing along to the song. I wonder about the significance of the words. Ten years ago they had none. It was just a cool bunch of words strung together to an even cooler guitar riff.
Tonight I find weight in the lyrics. Am I a dreamer? Yes, in the literal sense, I dream—very vibrant, colorful dreams. A lot of them involve the man dancing with me. But the word ‘dreamer’ also speaks of someone’s character. A romantic, a fantasist, an idealist. Do I encompass those qualities?
I want to believe I do. My love and my marriage to Declan is not a sham. Our love has always been the center of my universe, the power that could conquer all. But after so much distance and doubt, dancing with Noah feels pretty damn right too.
Noah interrupts my thoughts with a husky whisper, “I should have done this a long time ago, Mia. I was so dumb back then. I can’t believe I let you slip away.”
His admission makes me stagger; all of a sudden I have two left feet. I can’t just let his remark slide. “Yeah, you were pretty dumb. I practically followed you around like a puppy dog waiting on you to ask me out. But you never did.”
Our song is over, but he continues to hold me in his arms, surveying me and everything I just said. “Really? I swear I had no idea. You mean to tell me if I had played my cards right and stuck my head out of my baseball cap for a damn second I could be the one taking you home tonight?”
His words shock me. Does he mean it the way I’m thinking or is he being sweet? Like, take me home to screw me or take me home to our house, where we could have lived as a committed couple? I clench my eyes shut, trying to figure it out.