“Losing him.” I shake off the lingering effects of her words and Klaus’s seeing expression. “Don’t marry Daniel. You’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”
She shrugs sadly. “Not all of us have options. Not like I can do a whole lot with the women’s studies degree I got.”
“You can do it. And if you ever need a place to stay, my home is open to you.”
“Thanks, honey.” She kisses my cheek and pulls back. “I need to go play the part for now, though. In the future, stop ignoring my calls, would you?”
“Only if you promise me to do what’s best for you and not your family.”
She swigs back the rest of her champagne and grimaces. “Easier said than done.”
She tips her glass in my direction and flounces off, once again playing the part she’s expected to and I now know hates, leaving me frowning and wanting to whisk her away with me.
But we all have to make our own choices in life, much like Julianna has done, despite the costs.
Ironic, since I’m not willing to do the same.
It feels like it’s been hours by the time Klaus and I find each other again. Much like last night, he’s been surrounded by men. I’ve walked by overhearing them talk of stats and playoff potential this year, if it’s possible they’ll make another run for the Stanley Cup.
Klaus seems pretty confident they will. For my part, I’m thrumming with the excitement for the season to start. Seeing Klaus fly across the ice in full gear and ripping off his helmet after every victory game is practically orgasmic.
Women have tried to drag him to the dance floor, but he’s played the part of doting boyfriend perfectly. The only one he managed to allow to dance with him was Nana. And within minutes, they were leading a conga line through the dance floor and weaving in and out of tables, much to my mother’s chagrin.
Although, admittedly, my dad and I joined in near the end when we were standing close to each other and Adrianna happened to snag both of our hands.
“Having fun?” Klaus asks me, handing me a fresh glass of wine.
Perspiration dots his hairline, and he’s long since ditched his suit coat like so many of the other men.
My cheeks are warm in a way I know it has nothing to do with all the dancing I’ve done myself.
“Some. The party doesn’t suck if I forget what we’re celebrating.”
“I get that. Come on.” He takes my hand and pulls me toward the dance floor without giving me the chance to decline.
Not that I would.
Being wrapped in Klaus’s arms is becoming one of my favorite things. He leads me into the throng on the dance floor right as a slow song hits. The band has been playing instrumental classics all night and thankfully, my mother never forced me to take music lessons like so many other girls in my class, so while I can appreciate the flow of the music, I have no idea what famous composer I’m dancing to.
Klaus, on the other hand, has seemed to master the waltz and takes my hands, steadies our frames, and glides me across the dance floor like he’s getting ready to compete in a dancing show on national television. I shouldn’t be surprised.
“You even dance well,” I mutter, almost unhappy about all the ways in which he excels.
He laughs, grinning down at me. “I can step on your toes once or twice if it’ll make you happy.”
I stick my tongue out at him like the mature adult I am. “Not necessary.”
“Come here.” He pulls me to him closer, dropping the formal waltz and instead, we’re swaying together where it’s so easy to rest my cheek on his shoulder and feel the beat of his heart.
“This is better,” he says, kissing the top of my head.
We sway like this, seamlessly moving together as if we were built as one and at the mere thought, tears beckon. I should tell him. Now is the perfect time to tell Klaus everything I want, everything I feel for him.
It’s Klaus, for crying out loud. My friend. Even if he truly doesn’t feel the same there’s no way he’d hurt me, no way we won’t recover.
I open my mouth to do that as the song winds to its conclusion when suddenly, Klaus begins laughing. His shoulders and chest shake first, and as I glance up at him, all my emotion and feelings for him having to be so evident in my gaze, I find his not on me at all… but on my nana.
She’s swaying back and forth with a broomstick in her hand she’s managed to find somewhere, raised in the air.
“You might still have issues to work through with your nana, but I swear she’s one of my favorite people in the world.”
“Yeah.” I choke down all my words, everything I want to express because Klaus is already pulling back, guiding me to the edge of the dance floor where my mom is, hand clutching her chest. He’s completely oblivious to everything I’ve just been feeling and maybe it’s for the best.
Tonight must not be the right time.
“It’s limbo time!” Nana shouts. Everyone under the age of thirty, outside Klaus and I, cheer.
“Oh dear heavens,” my mom mutters, clutching her hand to her chest.
“You ladies going to join in?” Klaus asks, already heading toward the line. Leave it to him to be as nutty as Nana.
“In a minute,” I tell him and wave him off. With a smile stretching his face, he blows me a kiss, full of sass and playfulness before getting in line.
My mom and I watch the crowd gather in a line, bridal party first in line with Victoria, Julianna’s sister, and her younger friends jumping in. At the head table, Julianna appears bored and alone. I only now realize I haven’t even seen Roman in hours. And Julianna hasn’t once left her chair.
I turn back to my mom, ready to enjoy myself and stop thinking about them. “It’s okay to have fun, too, you know?”
“She is something else, isn’t she? She used to make me do this in the living room with her.”
“She did? And you liked it?”
“I was probably seven. Maybe younger.” A far-off smile curls at the edges of her lips. “I used to be pretty good.”
I bump my hip into hers. “Maybe you should go join her. See if you’ve still got it.”
It’s foreign, teasing my mom, her smiling at me, us both looking at Nana like she’s batshit crazy but in a good way instead of the disdainful looks Mom usually gives.
For a moment, it seems like she will, but then she scans the crowd and shakes her head. As if she can’t be seen acting so improperly around her friends.
“I think I’ll pass. But you should go.” She winks and shows me a full-fledged smile. It catches me by surprise. “See if good limbo genes run in the family.”
“I will. And Mom?” I ask, stepping away and looking back at her. “You’re even more beautiful when you smile like that.”
Her smile slips and then if possible, widens even more so.
By the time I reach the dance floor, lining up with the rest of the fools willing to embarrass themselves in front of hundreds, my smile stretches from ear to ear, cheeks aching from it.
“Hey.” I grab Klaus and pull him to the back of the line with me.
“I was wondering how long it’d take you to get out here. Good talk with your mom?”
“You know? Possibly the best we’ve ever had. Now” —I wave him on ahead of me— “show me how helpful all those years of yoga have improved that flexibility of yours.”