please…Nurse Nina."
The place erupts into cheers for Nina. All I can think is thank God it's her and not me. Nina graciously accepts her cash prize, adding the sash and crown to her costume. She plays to the crowd as she takes her victory lap. Brett has made his way to the front of the stage, clapping and cheering louder than anyone. He reaches up, helping Nina get off the stage and right into his arms. Brett simply stares at her, in complete awe and with an intense love. I watch him bring her tighter into his arms, lean in, and kiss her with such reference. My heart swells and aches at the same time. Brett and Nina have found and redefined that elusive four-letter word. They are among the rare and lucky few. I let out a deep breath, make my way down the stairs, and find Griffin waiting for me.
His smile widens as I walk closer to him. "You were amazing, Zoey."
"Thanks." My eyes never leave his.
Griffin reaches out his hand to me. I take it without hesitation. A warming sensation spreads out from the contact. Butterflies attack my stomach.
"Just amazing," he reiterates.
Before I can respond, he pulls me into his arms, his face inching closer and closer. As if he is a magnet, I find myself inching closer as well until his lips tenderly touch mine. He starts to pull away, but I stop him, my hands finding their place around his neck. I seek out his lips this time, and our kiss deepens—sweetly, tenderly. I am the first to break the kiss—oxygen was kind of needed. For some odd reason, his kiss makes me I feel like I just won first prize, not Nina.
Griffin rests his forehead against mine. "Come dance with me."
I don't answer with words; instead, I lace my fingers in his and pull him away from the stage and toward the dance floor. The closer we get, the vibration of the music starts to pulsate through my body, and I can't help but react to it. "Don't Wanna to Go Home" thumps through the speakers; its steady dance rhythm finding its way into my core. I start to sway my hips, arms stretched above my head, losing myself. I suddenly feel a pair of hands grasp my hips—Griffin. A smile spreads across my lips, and I lean my back against his chest, the rise and fall of it moving me. We continue to move, in sync—two bodies becoming one. The song slowly fades and changes to something slower, something I don't recognize. Griffin turns me so I am facing him, his left hand finding its way to the small of my back, his right intertwining with mine. He pulls me closer, and I rest my head against his chest. The butterflies return for round two. We slowly sway to the song, and I easily get lost in the sensation of being wrapped in his arms. I feel…safe. The song seems to fade into the background, as do the other dancing couples around us. It's just me and Griffin—it's just us, and no one else.
"May I cut in?" a familiar voice asks from behind me.
I straighten up and notice Griffin's eyes lose their shine. "Sure."
Griffin releases me, and my body wants to protest. I'm about to protest. Griffin leans in and whispers in my ear, "I'll wait for you by the bar, okay?" His lips brush my cheek. Griffin turns to Evan. The two stare intently at each other—hazel versus blue—it's almost as if they're playing "Who's gonna flinch first." Neither one of them wants to be the first to back down it seems. Griffin nods and Evan returns it with one of his own—silent words exchanged between them.
Men.
I smile at Griffin, and I then watch him get lost in a sea of people. I turn, and I am staring into a pair of pleading hazel eyes.
Yeah, you should be pleading and begging for my forgiveness for interrupting, you jackass.
"Shall we?" Evan smirks, taking my hand in his, while his other hand finds the small of my back. He starts leading, and all I can do is follow—Evan is a wonderful dancer.
No he's not. You're pissed at him, remember?
"Relax, Zoey, I'll have you back with Mr. Gladiator soon enough." Evan's voice drips with sarcasm.
I
The place erupts into cheers for Nina. All I can think is thank God it's her and not me. Nina graciously accepts her cash prize, adding the sash and crown to her costume. She plays to the crowd as she takes her victory lap. Brett has made his way to the front of the stage, clapping and cheering louder than anyone. He reaches up, helping Nina get off the stage and right into his arms. Brett simply stares at her, in complete awe and with an intense love. I watch him bring her tighter into his arms, lean in, and kiss her with such reference. My heart swells and aches at the same time. Brett and Nina have found and redefined that elusive four-letter word. They are among the rare and lucky few. I let out a deep breath, make my way down the stairs, and find Griffin waiting for me.
His smile widens as I walk closer to him. "You were amazing, Zoey."
"Thanks." My eyes never leave his.
Griffin reaches out his hand to me. I take it without hesitation. A warming sensation spreads out from the contact. Butterflies attack my stomach.
"Just amazing," he reiterates.
Before I can respond, he pulls me into his arms, his face inching closer and closer. As if he is a magnet, I find myself inching closer as well until his lips tenderly touch mine. He starts to pull away, but I stop him, my hands finding their place around his neck. I seek out his lips this time, and our kiss deepens—sweetly, tenderly. I am the first to break the kiss—oxygen was kind of needed. For some odd reason, his kiss makes me I feel like I just won first prize, not Nina.
Griffin rests his forehead against mine. "Come dance with me."
I don't answer with words; instead, I lace my fingers in his and pull him away from the stage and toward the dance floor. The closer we get, the vibration of the music starts to pulsate through my body, and I can't help but react to it. "Don't Wanna to Go Home" thumps through the speakers; its steady dance rhythm finding its way into my core. I start to sway my hips, arms stretched above my head, losing myself. I suddenly feel a pair of hands grasp my hips—Griffin. A smile spreads across my lips, and I lean my back against his chest, the rise and fall of it moving me. We continue to move, in sync—two bodies becoming one. The song slowly fades and changes to something slower, something I don't recognize. Griffin turns me so I am facing him, his left hand finding its way to the small of my back, his right intertwining with mine. He pulls me closer, and I rest my head against his chest. The butterflies return for round two. We slowly sway to the song, and I easily get lost in the sensation of being wrapped in his arms. I feel…safe. The song seems to fade into the background, as do the other dancing couples around us. It's just me and Griffin—it's just us, and no one else.
"May I cut in?" a familiar voice asks from behind me.
I straighten up and notice Griffin's eyes lose their shine. "Sure."
Griffin releases me, and my body wants to protest. I'm about to protest. Griffin leans in and whispers in my ear, "I'll wait for you by the bar, okay?" His lips brush my cheek. Griffin turns to Evan. The two stare intently at each other—hazel versus blue—it's almost as if they're playing "Who's gonna flinch first." Neither one of them wants to be the first to back down it seems. Griffin nods and Evan returns it with one of his own—silent words exchanged between them.
Men.
I smile at Griffin, and I then watch him get lost in a sea of people. I turn, and I am staring into a pair of pleading hazel eyes.
Yeah, you should be pleading and begging for my forgiveness for interrupting, you jackass.
"Shall we?" Evan smirks, taking my hand in his, while his other hand finds the small of my back. He starts leading, and all I can do is follow—Evan is a wonderful dancer.
No he's not. You're pissed at him, remember?
"Relax, Zoey, I'll have you back with Mr. Gladiator soon enough." Evan's voice drips with sarcasm.
I
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