The Game Changer by Marie Landry

She stepped back a foot or so, and saw one corner of Olivia’s mouth lift in a smile as she did the same. The guy moved into the opening, grinning first at Olivia, then Melody, seemingly pleased to be dancing with two beautiful women.
    “I’m Ed,” he shouted. He was a pretty good dancer, despite the fact that Melody could tell by his slightly glassy eyes that he’d had quite a few drinks already. He managed to keep his hands to himself, which was always a plus in Melody’s mind.
    “Nice to meet you,” Olivia said with a sexy smile. Melody wondered if Ed noticed neither of them told him their names.
    They spent the length of two songs dancing with Ed, allowing him to be part of their little world for a brief time. When Melody gave Olivia the signal they’d arranged in their college days—scratching behind her ear—Olivia flashed Ed a dimpled grin, gave him a little wave, and took Melody’s hand, spinning her away to another part of the floor.
    They continued to dance, occasionally allowing a new man to join them before smiling and spinning away again. It was like a game; the guys who weren’t too pushy were allowed to dance with them for a few minutes, but the guys who tried to take control or get grabby were promptly left behind.
    The only time they rested was when they went to get fresh cocktails; they would lean against the bar, breathing heavily and wiping their foreheads while the bartender mixed their drinks, then the minute the glasses were in their hands, they’d be heading back to the dance floor.
    Time ceased to have meaning to them. Melody had no idea if minutes or hours passed, nor did she care. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had this much fun. She wondered if part of the reason she felt so relaxed was because the dance floor was sunken, so not everyone in the entire place could watch them. Usually the dance floor was the showpiece of any club—elevated, wide open, or spotlighted—and people would stand around and watch the dancers. It always made her uncomfortable because she felt like she was on display.
    Her gaze swept over the people standing at or near the counter that ran around the dance floor. A few people watched the dancers with passing interest, but most of them were engaged in conversation—talking, laughing, and drinking. Melody scanned the club-goers until her eyes caught someone else’s, a man who appeared to be watching her. When their gazes held for a beat, then two, he cocked an eyebrow, smiling slightly. He raised his glass in a silent salute, then turned and was almost instantly swallowed into the crowd.
    Melody glanced at Olivia to see if she had noticed the hot stranger, but Olivia was staring past her with a strange look on her face.
    “What’s wrong?   Melody asked, catching Olivia’s attention.
    Olivia shook her head slightly, looking past Melody again before meeting her eyes. “Nothing. I just thought I saw someone I knew.” She shook her head again and smiled. “Hey, I’ve been watching people go through that archway over there. Wanna check it out?”
    “Sure,” Melody agreed with a shrug. She was glad for an excuse to take a break; the crowd on the floor was getting thicker, so it was harder to dance without bumping into people. Off to their left, she saw a girl take her friend’s hand and pull her close so she could lead her away without getting separated, and Olivia and Melody did the same.
    They made their way through the crowd toward the far side of the club. Passing under the archway, they found themselves in a large room dotted with tables and chairs, along with more couches lining the walls. The mood in this area was more relaxed than the rest of the club; the music wasn’t as loud in here, and the people sitting at tables or lounging on the couches seemed to be having animated conversations without having to yell to be heard.
    “Food!” Olivia cried, startling Melody. Olivia shot her a rueful grin, and pointed toward a waiter in