Part 28 (2/2)
”I'm getting tired, Trevor. Why don't we just go home afterwards? Okay?”
”No, but I'll take you home if you want.”
”Earlier tonight you said you didn't even think you'd go.”
”I changed my mind.”
”Why is this so important now?”
”It isn't. I just don't want to be the only one not out there.”
”It's a stupid idea and you're not even sober.”
”I'm sober enough. Don't bother to argue. I'm going.”
The trio of jazz musicians kicked it up a notch, and a few couples moved onto the area set aside for a dance floor. Though still angry at Trevor, I accepted his invitation to dance when the tempo again slowed.
”No talking,” he said.
”But-”
”No, if we don't talk, we won't argue.” He pulled me close, his fingers pressing lightly in at my waist, then moving upwards, rippling along my spine. I began to relax, feeling much more forgiving.
He looked down at me. ”Better now?”
”Yes.” Moments later, I spotted Sylvia watching us, and pulled Trevor closer still. ”Can I ask one favor?”
”What?”
”Don't dance with Sylvia if she asks.”
”What makes you think she'd do that?”
”That's easy, she hasn't let you out of her sight since we walked in. It's perverted the way she stares.”
He glanced at her, then laughed. ”She's not watching me. She's talking with Bob. You're imagining things.”
”Yeah, sure I am.”
As the music died away and Trevor led me off of the floor, Sylvia suddenly appeared in front of us.
”Oh, hi, you two. Glad I ran into you. Gwyn, could I borrow Trevor for a minute? Bob refuses to dance with me anymore. He says his feet hurt.”
I started to open my mouth, but before I could answer, Sylvia quickly pulled Trevor onto the dance floor.
He looked back at me, raising his brows as if to ask, What am I supposed to do?
I watched as Sylvia attempted to draw Trevor tightly into her arms. It was several seconds before I noticed Josh standing beside me.
”Aggressive lady,” he said.
”What?”
”Sylvia Breslin. Over there, the one practically wearing your husband.”
”She doesn't bother me.”
He chuckled. ”Oh really.”
I began to walk away.
He caught my arm. ”I'm sorry, Gwyn. I am. I shouldn't make fun.”
”You're right. I hate her.”
”Understandable.”
I glanced up at Josh, but he was watching Sylvia and Trevor.
”You know,” he said, ”she's planning to snowmobile after the party. She told me. Listen, I'll foil her plan, make sure she's not on the back of your husband's snowmobile. I'll take her on mine. Unless Trevor stops me. You'd like to know if he does, wouldn't you?”
”Yes, I would.”
”Want to dance?”
”Love to.” Though he held me at a comfortable distance, I purposely drew him closer. ”Not to be nosy,” I asked. ”But why didn't you bring a date tonight?”
”What you're really asking is, am I here alone because of you.”
”No.”
”Gwyn? Truth?”
”Well, no. It's just that I know lots of women who would have loved to be your date. Half the women in this town.”
”I'm here alone because I didn't know if I'd actually be able to make the party. I wouldn't want to cancel and break some woman's heart.”
”Yes, that's true.”
Josh brought his lips close to my ear. ”Trevor's watching us. I don't think he likes me right now.”
”So? That's his problem.”
”We'll teach him.”
I began to giggle in spite of myself. ”We've known each other a long time, haven't we, Josh?”
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