Lisa Desrochers - A Little Too Hot

“It’s nothing I can talk about, but I’m in good hands. Nothing is going to happen to me. I promise.”

I glance toward the door and see Blake and Greg coming back toward us. Greg doesn’t look happy, and I have no idea what Blake told him, but when he reaches us, he grasps Mom’s elbow and doesn’t ask anything else.

“This whole thing has just had us so worried and confused,” Mom says with a glance at him.

“I know, and I’m sorry.” I hug her. “It will be over soon. Please don’t worry.”

“Oh my God! Sam? ”

I spin out of Mom’s arms and find Katie gaping at me. I still can’t get over the change. She’s a shadow of her former self. She’s always been beautiful, but when she was heavy, she didn’t believe it, and her dark hair hung in her face so you couldn’t tell. Now she’s stunning. Her hair is up in a loose bun and she’s in a strapless silver dress that hugs her curves. Her fingers are twisted into the hand of a very easy-on-the-eyes guy in a dark suit. He looks familiar, but I’m having trouble placing him.

She lets go of his hand and launches herself into my arms. Over her shoulder, Greg is guiding Mom back toward their table, but his suspicious eyes are still pinned to Blake. “I can’t believe you’re here,” Katie says. “Lexie called me. She wanted you as a bridesmaid but she couldn’t get ahold of you. I told her you probably wouldn’t be able to answer the invitation.” She holds me at arm’s length and looks me over. “How are you? Is everything okay?”

“I’m fine. Everything’s good. It’s just so good to see you,” I say, pulling her into another hug. “You look amazing!”

“You too,” she says, then whispers, “Who’s your hottie?”

I pull back and smile at her. “I was going to ask you the same thing.”

She blushes a little as she turns to him. “Ethan, this is my best friend, Sam, and . . . ?” She glances at Blake.

“Harrison,” he says, holding his hand out to Ethan.

“This is Katie,” I tell Blake.

He reaches for her hand. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Katie.”

Katie’s eyes shift between us, and I can see a thousand questions dancing in them, but, unlike my parents, she seems to get that now might not be the time. “That dress is killer,” she says. “You look like something out of a fairy tale.”

I smile at her. “You look incredible. I’ve always known you were gorgeous. I’m glad you see it now too.”

She flicks a glance between her date and me and blushes a pale pink. “Does Lexie know you’re here?”

“No. Not yet.”

She takes my hand and starts towing me to where I see Lexie and Trent circulating between tables near the dance floor. “She’s going to die.”

Blake and Ethan follow us as Katie wends us through the thickening crowd up front and stops us behind Lexie, where she’s talking to a couple I don’t recognize—a tall black girl with kinky reddish hair, and a good-looking guy with black hair and olive skin.

Trent is on her other side, and when he looks at Lexie, his eyes catch on me and go momentarily wide. He skirts around his new bride and stops in front of me. “Sam. Wow.”

“Hey, Trent. Congratulations.”

He bends down and gives me a peck on the cheek. “It’s so great that you’re here. Lexie’s going to flip,” he says, caressing her back with his fingertips.

Lexie stretches up and kisses the tall guy’s cheek. “I’m so glad you came, Alessandro,” she says, squeezing his hand. “We’ll catch up later, okay?”

She turns and smiles at Trent, but then her face pulls into an O of surprise when she sees me. I’m not quite sure how this will go, considering I haven’t spoken to her in a year, but then her whole face smiles. “No way!”

I cringe a little, suddenly embarrassed that I’ve been so juvenile. “Way. I hope you’re not mad we crashed your reception.”

“You can’t crash if you were invited .” Her eyes get moist as she pulls me into a hug. “Thank you,” she whispers in my ear. She lets me go after a long minute and grabs Katie’s and my hands, towing us onto the dance floor.

I shoot a glance over my shoulder at Blake, who’s talking to Ethan. He gives me a secret smile.

As Lexie, Katie, and I dance, it’s like the last year melts away and we’re just best friends, with none of the drama or angst, and I’m sorry I ever let a guy come between us. We dance through at least three songs before the band segues into a slow song, and Trent comes up behind Lexie. “Mind if I cut in?” he asks us, taking her hand.

I smile at him and lean close. “Treat her right.”

He smiles back as he pulls her to the middle of the dance floor.

I’m still watching after them when there’s a hand on my shoulder, and when I turn, Blake and Ethan are there. Ethan sweeps Katie into his arms and kisses her hand as they barely move to the rhythm. I look up at Blake.

He holds out his hand with a question in his eyes. “If I’m supposed to be your date, shouldn’t we dance?”

I take his hand and he folds mine into his as he lays his other hand on my waist, careful to keep a respectable distance between us. And then he starts to sway us to the slow beat.

I look at everything but him, because if I get caught in his eyes, I’m not going to be able to hold back. I watch Lexie and Trent, in the middle of the dance floor moving together and looking as if they’ve forgotten the rest of the world exists. I watch the band and try not to cry when I think about how much I wish it was Jonathan. I think about anything but how much the electricity of Blake’s touch brings me alive, and how strong his hand is, clasping mine so gently. And, more than anything, I try not to notice how my whole being reacts to his scent and the heat of his body, so close to mine.

But then the music shifts into the Bruno Mars song that was playing the night I met Blake in the VIP room—and I melt inside. I don’t stop him when he steps into me and draws me against the curve of his body. I don’t stop him as his hand releases mine and his fingers weave into the hair on the back of my head, pulling me to his shoulder. I lay my face against his chest, listening to the beat of his heart as I sink into the music and melt into Blake, and forget everything else.

THREE DA NCES AND a weepy good-bye scene with Mom later, we’re driving home.

Blake reaches for my hand in my lap. “Did you have a good time?”

My eyes follow the strong lines of his face, illuminated by only the dashboard lights as he watches the road unfold. “I did. Thanks for doing this.”

His hand tightens around mine. “You deserve more. I wish I could turn back time and give you your life back.”

I tip my head into the headrest. “My life went to shit way before I met you, and it was no one’s fault but mine.” When I think about everything Blake has been through, it’s embarrassing to think how much I’ve taken for granted in my life. Maybe it’s seeing what he’s overcome to get where he is that’s made me regret some of my choices.

How to Ruin Your Life 101: When your mother pushes, you pull, and screw the consequences.

He shoots me a sideways glance. “Your life can be anything you want it to be, Sam. It’s far from over.”

“Maybe.” I turn my head and just stare at him. It’s all I want to do anymore. “What did you tell my stepdad, anyway?”

His jaw flexes as he twists his hand in mine and weaves our fingers together so we’re palm-to-palm. “I told him not to worry about you.”

I blow out a laugh. “And that shut him up?”

He turns the Escalade up the entrance ramp to the Bay Bridge and his eyes linger on mine for a second. “I told him I would die before I’d let anything happen to you.”