The community center was packed, and the night had already begun with the instructors teaching the moves. Audrey had decided to skip that portion of the evening since she’d already learned them when she’d danced with Josh.
“It looks like a great turnout,” Audrey commented.
“We sold out of eighty percent of our events. Next year, I’m going to try for a hundred.”
“Next year?”
“Yeah, I loved doing this.” Viv beamed. “I think I found my calling as an event planner.”
Audrey had always known that her sister’s dream was not to own and operate a coffee shop. She was so grateful that her sister had dedicated eight years of her life to help fulfill Audrey’s dream, but now it was time for Viv to fly.
“Don’t worry, I’m not bailing on Brewed, I just…I think I might want to start doing this on the side.”
“I think that’s a great idea!”
Viv’s eyes widened. “Really? I thought you’d freak out.”
Audrey just stared at her; she’d never freaked out in her life. Actually, that wasn’t true. A couple months back she’d freaked out on her sister Grace but that was because she was going to make the biggest mistake of her life by letting a man who loved her and who she loved just walk away, but Viv didn’t know that.
“Okay, not freak out,” Viv corrected. “But be disappointed, which would be worse than freaking you out.”
“I’m not disappointed. I’m so proud of you! This week has been a huge success. You’re like the real-life Alexis.”
In the show that had inspired the singles week Schitt’s Creek, Alexis finds her calling in public relations.
“I am.” Viv smiled widely.
“And I love this journey for you,” Audrey referenced one of Alexis’s famous lines from the show.
Viv pulled her into a bear hug and when she stepped back she said, “And I am still going to be at Brewed. Just maybe not as much.”
“Brewed will be fine. I will be fine. I promise.” Audrey knew that she would be, right after she mended her currently broken heart.
The door to the community room opened and both Viv and Audrey glanced over. When Audrey saw Mayor Walker come in, she smiled hoping to disguise her disappointment. She knew that Josh wasn’t going to show up tonight. Just like she knew he wasn’t going to come into Brewed Awakenings. But that didn’t stop her from subconsciously hoping that every time a door opened, he’d walk through it. Or every time her phone rang or a text message came through, it would be from him.
This week had been one of the longest of her life. She used to think that pining after Josh was miserable, and it was. But this was worse. They say it’s better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all, but Audrey strongly disagreed.
In the back of her mind, she’d always thought that someday, somehow, just like Luke and Lorelai, they’d end up together.
Obviously, she’d romanticized the fictional relationship since even Luke and Lorelai’s road to happily-ever-after was paved with a whole lotta drama, breakups, and heartbreak. But this wasn’t a TV show. This was real life, and the reality was she and Josh had had their chance. For all intents and purposes, they’d spent the last month dating. They’d had sex, and spent two nights together, and he’d basically told her to go be with other men, which she knew wasn’t going to happen. She’d been tempted to do just that, but she knew it wouldn’t solve anything. Just like Lorelai sleeping with Christopher at the end of season six hadn’t solved anything.
Audrey wasn’t going to make that same mistake. If she dated someone else, she was going to be completely over Josh first. Which might never happen considering she’d been in love with him since she was four. So basically, for nearly thirty years.
“Okay, folks. Now that you’ve got the moves down, we want the ladies on one side of the dance floor and the fellas on the other.”
“Are you going out there?” Audrey asked Viv.
She shook her head. “Nope. Have fun,” Viv swatted Audrey’s backside playfully as she walked away.
When she got out on the dance floor, she tried not to think about the last time she’d been there. Or how amazing it had felt to be in Josh’s arms. Or about the motorcycle ride that had followed and the admission she’d made when he’d dropped her off.
The music started and she was paired with a guy named Jeremy. She’d seen him around town during the week and thought he was cute, but she didn’t feel anything close to the way she’d felt when she’d danced with Josh.
The next song was with a guy named Locke, she was pretty sure that was his last name. He was a dentist from Palo Alto and told her she had good teeth, which was one she’d never heard before.
Then there was Steve. They were all nice guys, who were very complimentary, and Steve even had a good sense of humor. But by her third dance partner, she realized as much as she enjoyed dancing, she really didn’t like strangers touching her.
So, when the song ended she tried to sneak off the dance floor. She was proud of herself for giving it the old college try and not just staying home and baking, but she knew when it was time to admit defeat.
“Okay, now it’s time to switch partners,” the MC announced.
She smiled up at Steve, thanked him for the dance, and started walking off the dance floor when she felt someone grab her wrist. She turned around to explain that she was leaving but then she saw who was holding her.
Josh, who was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt that highlighted his broad chest and sculpted arms. He’d shaven leaving only a five o’clock shadow covering his chiseled jaw. And he was wearing jeans that didn’t have any grease stains on them and shoes that didn’t have the word tennis in front of them. For Josh that was practically black tie.
Before she could ask him what he was doing there, the next song started and he pulled her into his arms.
Neither of them said a word as he gracefully led her around the room. There was so much to be said. He’d hurt her. Badly. And she wasn’t going to let him off the hook just because he’d shown up looking sexier than anyone had a right to look.
But one dance couldn’t hurt.
Audrey hadn’t slapped him in his face when she saw him and had allowed herself to be pulled into his arms which were all wins in his book. But she wasn’t smiling. Her back was stiff as they moved together. This was nothing like the first night that they’d danced together. She didn’t look happy at all. She looked upset. Confused. Angry.
And it was his fault.
“You look beautiful.” She looked fucking hot but he didn’t think she’d appreciate him pointing that out when people were in earshot. She was the epitome of a freak in the sheets and a lady in the streets and she wouldn’t want him to draw any attention to her, even if it was positive.
“Thank you,” her response sounded distant and formal which he deserved.
He knew that he owed her an apology, and as much as he didn’t think this was the place to give it to her, he also didn’t think he could let another second go by without telling her what an ass he was.
“I’m sorry, Audrey.”
“For what exactly?” she asked in a clipped tone she’d never had with him before.