AD
Only a few heads turn when Nathan and I walk back into the ballroom, and I’m grateful that it seems nobody caught my little dramatic
exit.
My eyes instantly search the room for June. She’s at the back of the ballroom, dancing with Eliza, and a surge of gratefulness runs through me for my friend.
Nathan tugs me along gently, and I follow him to the dance floor, my heart jumping like a bunny on crack.
As we go, my gaze shifts and catches Lucas‘. He’s dancing with Valerie, and he shoots me a subtle wink over her shoulder that sends revulsion crawling all over my skin.
“April?” Nathan’s voice pulls my gaze away from Lucas.
I turn to face him and, forcing a smile, slip my hand into his.
We start to move then, and the thoughts of Lucas fall from my mind.
Suddenly, the feeling of familiarity and camaraderie we somehow developed in the hallway fades away when I realize I’m in Nathan freaking Ashford’s arms.
It’s like I forgot for a second who he is and what he does to me. My body goes on autopilot to remember the dance steps, but all the neurons in my brain are running around in a chaotic circle, screaming and bumping into each other and throwing up.
“…gorgeous.”
My eyes widen when I catch the end of Nathan’s statement. “Huh?” I ask dumbly, willing my goddamn neurons to stop and listen.
“Your dress,” Nathan clarifies, looking down at me softly. “It was gorgeous then; it’s gorgeous now.”
If not for the makeup on my face, Nathan would be shocked to see how red it becomes at his words. “Thank you,” I whisper.
He smiles, stepping back as he spins me around. When he catches me back in his arms, his hand rests on the bare skin of my back, and it’s not revolting like Lucas‘.
On the contrary, it makes me lean forward, craving more of his warmth. The scent of his heady cologne wraps around me like a hug. adding to the sensation overload.
“So, I’m guessing this means you’re staying?” he asks, tone hopeful,
“I never hated you,” I say suddenly,
Nathan blinks. “What?”
“Back in the hallway,” I explain, “you said, ‘Now that you don’t hate me anymore.“” I shake my head. “I never hated you. And I owe you an apology, too.”
Nathan shakes his head, but I continue. “No one likes being lied to, and I shouldn’t have disregarded your feelings about the brace–or been such a bitch about it. I also shouldn’t have been so hostile to you about my dress; you didn’t wreck it, and you were only trying to
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Chapter 53
keep the peace.”
:
Nathan’s lips twitch. “You’re not bad yourself with apologies.”
I laugh softly.
“While we’re on the topic,” he continues. “I’m not indifferent to you, April.” His eyes catch mine, and my breath hitches at their sadden intensity. “I’ve never been indifferent to you.”
Before I can say anything, the music reaches its peak, and Nathan dips me–the final move–before we straighten up.
He bows slightly while I curtsey, wishing the song didn’t end and I could dance with Nathan forever.
When he raises his head, the intensity is gone, and he smiles softly. “It was an absolute pleasure.”
Oh, thank God for blush–hiding–makeup.
I return Nathan’s smile with a nervous one of my own as I turn away from him and head towards June and Eliza, feeling done.
Already, I’ve danced with two Ashford brothers–one incredibly awful and the other incredibly wonderful.
I feel Nathan’s presence behind me, and before I can wonder which girl he’ll dance with next, he moves ahead of me.
“Will you honor me with the next dance?” he asks, leaning down with a hand stretched out to June.
My little sister’s eyes widen as a hesitant giggle falls from her lips. She glances at me, and I smile at her encouragingly, feeling my heart swell with affection for Nathan.
Shyly, she places her dainty hand in his. Grinning, he pulls her towards the dance floor, shooting me a smile on the way.
I can’t help the fat grin on my face as I watch June and Nathan on the dance floor.
He’s smiling widely at my sister as he twirls her around to the melody. June giggles, her eyes bright with excitement. She’s dancing flawlessly according to how we practiced, and I see people glancing at the two of them affectionately.
I’d figured when we were practicing that June joining us was just a formality. After all, I’m pretty sure her invitation was an offhand apology for the allergy incident. I didn’t think any of the brothers would actually deign to dance with her.
Warm fuzzies erupt in my chest as I watch them. Even if he didn’t apologize, even if we didn’t have this strange new truce between us, I would always be grateful to Nathan for the affection he’s shown June and how much he’s cared for my sister.
Eliza intertwines her arm with mine, “Now, isn’t that just the sweetest thing you’ve ever seen,” she sighs, watching Nathan and June.
I nod. “Definitely.”
My friend nudges me, her eyes glinting mischievously, “Your dance with him seemed pretty sweet, too,” she says teasingly.
Before I can reply with a teasing comment of my own about her dance with Peter, I hear a voice that saps all the mirth out of me.
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Chapter 53
“April.” I turn and sigh at the sight of Valerie.
គូ
Eliza hisses, and I’m shocked when my shy friend moves, standing between me and Valerie. “We’re having a nice night, Valerie. Walk away and don’t ruin it.”
Valerie raises a brow, clearly unaffected by Eliza’s antagonism.
“I’m just having a conversation with friends, Liza, why so hostile?”
1 squeeze Eliza’s arm, and she relaxes a bit when she turns to me and I shoot her a reassuring smile.
Valerie folds her arms, eyeing me up and down.
“Nice save, April,” she says, waving her hand in the general direction of my dress. “It’s like from rags to…” She shrugs, a mocking smirk on her face. “Well, rags.”
“Au contraire,” another voice joins in, and my eyes widen when Lily Ellington appears next to Valerie. She eyes my dress appreciatively, her eyes glinting.
“I must say, dear, your outfit is absolutely stunning.”
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