Page 121 of A Solid Guide to Surviving a Situationship

Then back at me.

“I didn’t think I’d meet anyone worth talking to.”

That… landed softer than I expected.

The chorus of the song blasted. My heart wanted to jump out of my chest.

I let out a small breath, looking away for a second just to break it.

“Well,” I said, “that’s a little offensive to your friends.”

He laughed.

“Present company excluded,” he added quickly.

“Good save.”

A beat passed between us, the song settling into its second verse.

“Look,” he said.

Out of nowhere, he shifted his weight… and did the most awkward, uncoordinated attempt at a butt shake I had ever seen in my life. His lips slightly pouted. Eyes closed.

It was subtle at first… then worse… then committed.

I stared at him, amused at the corniest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. “What the hell are you doing?”

“I’m dancing,” he said, completely serious.

“No, you’re not.”

“Yes, I am.” He did it again—off-beat, shoulders not matching his hips in any known rhythm.

I laughed, but not the nice kind or the controlled one I usually gave to strangers. I gave a real one.

It caught me off guard just as much as it did him.

“There it is,” he said, stopping his dance now. Smiling. “That’s better.”

“What?” I said. “Did I look sad before?”

He didn’t answer—probably to be polite.

“That laugh,” he said. “You’ve been holding that in.”

I tried to recover, shaking my head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yeah,” he said. “You do.”

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t help but smile.

He settled back into place, swaying with me… looking at me.

The noise of the party faded into something distant, something unimportant, as if the night narrowed down to this.

To him.

To the space between us that didn’t feel empty at all.