He shook his head, “Nothing for you to be sorry for.”
I shook my head, “No, but still. To have to go through that. To see all of that. And she was only thirteen.”
“You feel for others, don’t you?” he asked.
I nodded, “For the ones who mean a lot to me, yeah.”
He stared at me, taking in my words, then he swallowed. Words so full of meaning fell from his lips, “You're one of a kind, you know that?”
I grinned, “Sure do.”
He winked.
We had just finished eating our food when he said, “Can I ask you something?”
I nodded, “Anything.”
“Your birthday is tomorrow, right? Do you have anything you want?”
I bit my lip.
He chuckled. “What is it?”
“To go back out there, have them play my favorite song, and dance to it with you.”
He stared at me, then he tilted his head to the side, “Really? Anything you want, and that’s it?”
I shrugged, “I’m a simple girl.”
He seemed to think about that for a moment, and then he nodded, “Let’s go.”
I giggled as he stood up, then offered me his hand to help me up.
And then... for some reason, he held onto my hand as we walked through the clubhouse, out to the courtyard, and over to Eric, one of the prospects who was managing the speaker.
Eric looked at Alexander, then at me, and smiled, “Hey.”
I smiled, “Hey, can you playNight Moves?”
He winked, “Sure can.”
Then Alexander led me to the area that was the designated dance floor, placed his hand on the small of my back, took my right hand in his left one, and then... we danced.
And as the stars shone down on us, our family gathered around us, time seemed to slow.
Just as it always did when I was with him.
Alexander
I always heard that a man should keep his cards close to his chest.
But if I knew anything, it was that I couldn’t do that—not with the woman who was currently in my arms.
I had a wish: to have a single moment in time where I was well and truly happy.
My wish was granted with Creedence in my arms.
Chapter 8