Page 44 of Offside Rules

"Oh shit… really? Then you know how well that would go."

"With him or with her?"

"Both."

Baylor moves with the music, one hand lifting her hair off her neck. I look away before Luka can make another observation.

"She’s using my kitchen until hers is finished. That’s it."

"Is that why you came over here instead of staying home?"

"I came with everybody else."

"Sure."

I pick up my water. Beau already hates me. His parents hate me. Baylor has spent years agreeing with them, and I can’t blame her for that. A couple of laughs over a drink don’t erase what happened to her brother.

Still, when she turns toward the booth and catches me looking, she smiles again.

Then she curls two fingers at me.

I get up and make my way over. Ellie sees me coming, says something to Natalia, and the two of them move a few feet away.

"You inviting me to dance?" I ask.

"I wanted to see if you could."

"That’s an interesting challenge." I step closer, putting my right hand at her waist. "Any rules I should know about?"

"Just keep your clothes on."

"Are you sure? You seem to like it when I don’t."

She laughs, and I move with her. I’m not winning any awards for this, but she doesn’t seem to care. Her hand settles on my chest, and she looks up when I bring her a little closer.

Not close enough to give her a reason to pull away.

Close enough that I can smell that vanilla sugar she always smells like. Like a freshly frosted cupcake.

"You okay? Tonight was rough out there," she says, glancing at my shoulder.

"Yeah."

She keeps her hand on my good side. I notice. Then I spend the next few minutes trying not to think too much about her fingers resting against my shirt or how easily she fits in front of me.

I’m used to her moving away when I get too close to the counter.

Tonight, she stays.

We last longer than Ellie’s promised hour, but Baylor checks her phone twice before finally saying she needs to go.

"I’ll get a cab," I tell her.

"You don’t have to leave. Stay with your friends. You get to sleep in tomorrow. I don’t want to ruin it for you."

"I’ve had enough. You’re not ruining anything."

Ellie hugs her goodbye, then looks at me over Baylor’s shoulder.