“Oh, I love this song,” Larissa said as she set her drink down. “Come on, I’m not going alone.” She pulled on Zach’s arm, and he reluctantly stood up. “Please don’t give me that. I know it’s what you really want to do.”
“Fine, but we’re taking Christy with us.”
I looked up, suddenly terrified. I hadn’t danced in front of anyone except Devin and that was strictly for educational purposes. Before we came here, he had spent the past few hours teaching me a few moves. I can’t dance. He knew it, and I knew it. So I struck a deal with him, teach me how to dance and I would cook dinner and do some of his laundry. So when Larissa and Zach pulled me to my feet, I started freaking out. I mean what if I couldn’t dance with them? I could only dance because Devin knew how to lead a fumbling idiot.
“We’re not going unless you go too,” Zach told me again while Larissa looked over at me with desperate eyes.
My guilt suckered me into going. “Fine, but I’ll only go if Devin comes too.” I looked over at Devin and gave him a look of sheer terror.
He knew right away why I wanted him to come. “All right, you win, CJ.” Devin stood up and took hold of my hand and together we all walked out toward the crowd.
Larissa immediately began to dance with Zach and they looked amazing together.
“Don’t pay attention to what they’re doing, just follow me.” Devin’s voice focused me back on his face.
“Thanks, Dev,” I said and followed his movements in time with the music.
“You're getting better at this,” he said.
“Only because you spent more than an hour practicing with me. But really, thank you. I owe you one.”
We continued dancing. I looked over at Larissa, and she smiled. She held up her finger as if to tell me to wait. She whispered in Zach’s ear and he walked off while Larissa came to stand by us.
She pulled me aside. “You dance pretty well for a beginner.”
“Am I that obvious?” I asked, embarrassed.
“No, just to the professionals.” She smiled. “I asked Zach to request a song, so go back to Devin and just follow me, okay?”
“Do I know the song?”
“Yes, now go back to Devin, the song will be on in a second.”
I walked the short distance back to Devin and smiled as the song changed. The loud speakers blared, Wyclef Jean’s self-entitled song Your Favorite Song.
I shouted to be heard over the beat. “Yeah, I wonder how Larissa knew.”
Devin shrugged his shoulders. “It was probably a random choice. So I guess this means we’re staying for one more song?”
“Yeah, if you don’t mind.” I looked over to see Larissa pulling Zach toward her then giving me a knowing nod.
Devin looked over at Larissa then down at me. “What’s that about?”
“Larissa wants me to follow her lead. But I don’t think—”
“If Larissa told you to do something, you better do it. She’ll make you regret it if you don’t.” He smiled, trying to goad me into doing it.
I shook my head then looked over to see Larissa turning her back to Zach. I looked up at Devin. “Fine, but you asked for it. I may look dumb, but you’ll look dumber dancing with me.”
“I’m prepared to face the consequences, whatever they may be.”
I turned my head to see Larissa and began to copy her movements. She repeated them several times until I seemed to get it, then she’d do something else. I continued to copy her until I became distracted by the rhythm of the song. I wasn’t even thinking as my body slid up and down Devin’s.
It wasn’t until the music stopped and I was face to face with Devin, panting, that I realized what I had done and realized the effect it had on Devin. My mind was suddenly racing but the only coherent thought was how amazing Devin looked with his ruffled light brown hair and how good it felt to have his hands resting on my hips.
“Who do we have here? A slut and her prey?” A voice pierced through our haze, and I turned to see the one person I had hoped never to see again. “You actually looked good out there, Christy. For a moment there, I almost didn’t recognize you. So you’ve definitely learned a thing or two since high school. I might actually enjoy having you under me this time. How much are you selling for these days?” Eric Gunderson said.
I cringed at his words and opened my mouth to say something, but no words came out.
Instead Devin stepped forward. “I think you better leave, Gunderson.”
“Devin Malone, is that you? I wouldn’t have pictured you with this.” He pointed at me. “Though I have to ask, how is she? Much improved since I last had her, I’m guessing. ‘Cause I have to be honest, she was pretty lousy four years ago.”