Coming Home (Only Time Will Tell #1) (16 page)

As we dance in a slow rhythm to the music, my eyes lock onto the bitch herself.

She shakes her head and gets the death rays out. I can’t help myself, I smirk at her and raise the middle finger against Kyle’s shoulder, so she can see and he can’t. The movement doesn’t go unnoticed though.

Kyle leans back slightly to look down at me. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine, just feel like all the women are glaring at me.”

He looks around the room, because obviously they’ll hold their glare if he’s looking. “See, I only see men glaring. They must be jealous of me or something,” he smirks mischievously.

Like a tool I look too, but can’t see what he does. “Hardly. They’re probably jealous of me or are staring at my ass, which I’m sure they can all see thanks to you.”

“You’re welcome,” he smirks. “Can I ask you something?”

I’m not really in the mood for talking, but what the hell, it’s not like I’m walking away from his vice grip. “Fire away, we have time to kill.”

He readjusts his hands and pulls me closer and I can feel his firm body beneath his tux, making my mouth water and sending my senses haywire, which only makes me mad at myself. “Earlier, you said you weren’t my first choice, but you told me to make plans with Penelope. How is that my fault?”

Next question?
“It’s not just her though, is it? I was told that you asked someone you’d dated in the week to come too. To me, that makes me at least third choice.”
 

“Dated? In the week? I haven’t been on a date with anyone since you barged into my life, literally.”

A sarcastic laugh escapes my lips as I try to put a bit of distance between us, not wanting him to feel my heart hammering in my chest. “Don’t lie, Kyle. Her name was Rebecca, ring any bells?”

He looks lost in thought for far too long for my liking. “Rebecca? The only Rebecca I can think of going on a date with was weeks ago. And I mean weeks. I said I’d let her know if I was going but I never promised I’d bring her. The only person I can honestly say I’ve asked willingly is you.”

My head feels like a pinball machine but Little Miss Words of Wisdom drowns it all out as her words replay in my head. “
You’re so eager to take everything at face value and believe what’s being said rather than talking to him and listening to his side of the story.”
And it’s only because of that do I try and give him the benefit of the doubt. “Okay, I believe you and I’m sorry for jumping to conclusions,” I say, realizing at that point that my
one dance
is lasting longer than expected when I hear the bands rendition of “I Can’t Break it to My Heart.” Truthful words being sung and fitting my mood perfectly. It’s like they know.
 

He sighs and tries to smile, but I can see the hurt in his eyes from my accusation. “I know this isn’t easy, but I’ve told you a million times. I would never hurt you. I meant it then and I do now. Time hasn’t changed that. Jesus, if I had a ring I’d get down on my knees for you.”

The room seems to lose gravity as his words wash over me. “For God’s sake, don’t do that. As much as I love you, that’s the worst proposal ever. Besides it’s only one knee.” I almost laugh.

“One, I’m glad you admitted that you still love me,” he chuckles and my feet almost touch the ground again, even though I’d prefer it to be my face after declaring that unintentionally. “And two, I’d happily beg you to marry me in front of all these people.” Placing a finger under my chin he lifts it slightly, he eyes flickering to my lips. As much as I’d love for him to kiss me in front of all these women, and especially her, I don’t want him too. I’m tipsy, emotional and just had a marriage declaration of sorts. It sends me askew knowing that that proposal could be torn from underneath me once he knows the truth.

That one dance lasted two songs too many. It was a relief when the music stopped, just at that moment where he looked ready to lower his lips to mine.

I dart from the dance floor, leaving Kyle looking stunned, but not for long though. A couple of vultures—I mean women—slip up beside him with hopeful looks upon their faces. I, on the other hand, needed an ice-cold bath as I stand beside Nod.

“Did you really just do that?” Ryan asks, looking at me with his eyebrows shot up. “Did you just walk away from him, right as he was about to kiss you?”

“Looks that way, why?”

He gets a bemused smile and raises his hand in the air. “I want a high five for that. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that done before.”

It has me in stitches as I give him his high five but Nod is looking at me cautiously, which stops my laughter sooner than I want it too.

Leaving those two to go and dance, I head for the bar and grab a glass of something cold and bubbly, needing my shaking hands to, well, stop shaking.

Making my way back, I almost have a deja vu moment and walk into Kyle but thankfully I manage to catch myself and avoid any embarrassment or spillage. “I’m sure you like to walk in my path for a reason,” I say, looking up and tilting my head to find glaring eyes.

“What the hell was that? Why did you just walk off?” he grits out and hardens his stance.

“Because I wanted too. I don’t understand why you’re being like this, though.”

He snarls and shakes his head. “Because, I don’t get you any more. One minute you act like everything is okay and the next you’re running away. You’re too hot and cold these days and you’re messing with my head!”

“Your head?” I grit. “What you just said was a complete mind fuck! You can’t just throw that at someone and expect them to be okay. All of your other dates might have jumped for joy over that, but I’m not.”

“I can see,” he says as he backs away and I grip the glass tighter. His tone softens and replaces the anger with an even, steady tone. One that tells me that he’s losing his fight. “I just don’t understand why the one woman on this planet that I want would rather push me away than talk to me. I can see there is something holding you back in your eyes and I don’t know if its the stupid lies you’ve heard or something else. Maybe someone else but I wish you’d just tell me rather than this. The only person messing with us, is you. I’d give you everything in a heartbeat but I can’t say the same for you.”

If only it’s that simple. He’s right, though, there is something holding me back from him, but I can’t shake the way I want to do it and so far we haven’t been on the same page to talk about it. Too many factors have gotten in the way of me saying what I want to, telling him what I need to.

Nadine finally persuades me to get on the dance floor after the musicians stopped and it was replaced with real music—by real I mean music you can dance and have a good time too. It took a few glasses of wine to seal the deal, but she won eventually. With the room now darkened, it’s easier to let go of Kyle and his Mom. Maybe tomorrow, if he would talk to me, we could finally have that discussion that I’d been holding off.

I wouldn’t have had a drink, my emotions could be stable and for once an adult conversation might take place. No,
would
take place. To move forward, you have to deal with the past. We had to.
I
had to.
 

But for tonight, I’m going to pretend that I’m okay and just have a good time, which was one of my plans from the start, and decide to enjoy what’s left of the evening with my best friend. I drown out all the people around me except her and the music. Intent on letting go of the negativity that seems to engulf me.

We dance and laugh for the remainder of the evening, enjoying the upbeat tracks and mixing between the other guests, becoming invisible to the world, just the way I liked it.

As my feet begin to ache and my sides hurt, a slow song starts and I awkwardly glance around the room, ready to dart if I need to. But that’s not the case. Kyle isn’t in sight and the only person who grabs me to dance is a drunk Nadine who decides that we would together. “Come on, lover. I owe you a good time after you paid for dinner that night.” She winks making me giggle as we dance like the couples around us, trying to be serious but smiles playing at our mouths.

“That, you do, I almost forgot.”

“Woah, woah, woah,” Ryan interjects and grabs my wrist to remove my hand from hers, smiling at us both. “This woman hasn’t danced with me all night, I think I need to get at least the last one in.”

My shoulders slump on the spot. “What am I meant to do? I’ve just been dumped on the dance floor.”

Ryan looks behind me and I know that someone is there, but I can tell by the lack of spark, it isn’t Kyle. “I’m sure someone will offer.”

On cue, someone’s hand is placed against my back. Looking over my shoulder I smile at a good looking man with his blond hair slicked over like Kyle has his, and although good looking, isn’t lighting any fireworks. And that suits me to a “T.”

“Do you want to dance?” he asks in a smooth and charming voice, his eyes sparkling with interest.

Turning, I grab his hand. “Sure, why not?”

His hands rest against my back as I move mine to his shoulders. It feels strange. All evening I’ve had Kyle grabbing hold of me or touching me and he sends my pulse raising every time; to have someone touch me and for my body to do nothing, it feels surreal.

Swaying to the music, I enjoy this. Just dancing with a guy and no added complications. That task is saved for tomorrow.

As we slowly turn around in our little circle the dancing lights on the ceiling cast spotlights on the remaining guests. Just before he goes out of view, a light swings over Kyle’s face sat at the side of the dance floor, shrouded in darkness. The stare he shot my way gives me chills.

With each painstakingly slow step, I dread seeing his face again and seeing that look. Making our turn back around, it’s not his face I can see though, it was the back of Penelope, her unmistakably harsh blond bob shining in the light.

My gut clenches.

Watching them as I dance with a nobody.

Every time I’m turned and he falls out of view I am thankful, but at the same time, eager to see them again. I don’t know why, I just am. I don’t like that she is so close to him.

On one turn I watch in slow motion as Kyle placed his hands against her hips, his fingers digging into her skin. Looking up at him, I find him looking my way, he knows I’m watching and that I’d see it.

Bastard.

When the song finally ends I pull away and smile at the guy and feel awkward not knowing what to say, because I’ve said nothing the whole time. I was too busy watching. As casually as possible I look back at Penelope and Kyle and wish I hadn’t. Seeing her on her tiptoes, kissing the guy I love and the guy I want, tears chunks out of me.

Sucking in a breath I look back at dancing guy and say, “Thank you for the dance but I’m ready to leave. It was nice to meet you, though.”

He smiles down at me and replies, “My names, Roger. If you’d like I can drop you off.”

The quickest route out of here would be the best option. “Thanks. I’m Catalina, by the way. I would be grateful if you could. I’m just going to say goodbye to my friends.”

“No problem. I’ll see you in a minute.”

I nod and fight the urge to look back. I just need to walk.

I find Nadine and Ryan at the side, talking to each other rather intimately and it doesn’t feel right disturbing them so I rush to the bathroom to gather my senses. I hate this night. It was a bad idea. I shouldn’t have come. I shouldn’t have told him to go on another date. I shouldn’t have ran away from the dance floor. I shouldn’t have done a lot of things.

The stalls are locked as I enter, but it doesn’t matter, I just need air. Resting my hands against the sink I look at myself in the mirror and wonder what the hell is looking back at me. I doesn’t even look like me. I can see the strain in my eyes.

The door of the bathroom creaks as it opens and closes. I don’t look away from my own reflection but the teal flash of color was unmistakable behind me. “Catalina. I told you to stay away from Kyle, why can’t you do as I ask?”

“Where’s the fun in that? It’s a hell of a lot more fun to see the steam coming out your nose.”