Best Dating Rules, Tamie Dearen [literature books to read txt] 📗

eyes. He’d thought she was beautiful before, but he’d never seen her in a dress with her hair down. His breath caught in his throat whenever he looked at her. His eyes drank her in as his chest constricted so tightly he was certain his heart wasn’t beating.

He’d hoped when they saw each other on the wedding weekend, Charlie would... What had he hoped for? That she would suddenly decide she was in love with him? That she would decide to transfer to NYU in the spring so they could be together? No, he hadn’t really even hoped she would start accepting his phone calls. He’d hoped when they were together, he could talk to her. That he could convince her to give him an opportunity to prove himself. That he could show her how much he’d changed. That she would see how different he was. That she would give him a fighting chance.

The band was playing, and guests, young and old, were having fun on the dance floor. When Bohemian Rhapsody played, even Anne Gherring was dancing, swearing she couldn’t possibly sit down for this one. There was a variety of music, including oldies, current songs, waltzes, salsas, and tangos. Spencer and Emily had taken more dance classes together, and were showing off their talents to the guests. Josh noticed Charlie was sitting down during a waltz, with a wistful expression, and he moved to stand in front of her.

He held out his hand. “May I have the pleasure of this dance, my fair lady?” He tried to appear confident and suave, but his heart was hammering in his chest. He knew she would turn him down.

His twinkling eyes dimmed as she hesitated. “Josh, I really don’t think it’s a good idea—”

“Please? It’s a waltz. You barely have to touch me.”

“I’m really not that graceful.”

He laughed. “I’m graceful enough for both of us.” He could see her waffling in her refusal. “Come on, you know you want to dance. It’ll be fun, even with me.”

With a sigh, she took his proffered hand. Regrettably, he noted it was probably sweaty, since he was incredibly nervous in her company. What was it about this girl that made him so uncomfortable in his own skin?

They twirled smoothly around the dance floor. He’d intended to keep up a merry banter to entertain her, but the scent of her hair and the movement of her waist beneath his fingers distracted him. Her right hand trembled slightly in his grasp, but her face remained serene. He pulled her close to him when they turned so she brushed lightly against his chest. He enjoyed the contact so much he turned them as often as possible, until they were both stumbling a bit from dizziness.

Forced to abandon the wild spinning, he smiled unrepentantly. “Sorry. I got a little vertiginous, but it was worth it.”

“Vertiginous?”

“Like vertigo—it means dizzy. But turning is fun, don’t you agree?” When she didn’t respond, he tried a new approach. “Spencer and Emily look very happy together, don’t you think?”

She pressed her lips together in a firm line, refusing to engage. He decided to bait her a bit. “It’s nice to see you in a dress. You look like a real woman.”

“I beg your pardon! Wearing a dress has nothing to do with being a woman. I happen to think it’s demeaning to insist women wear dresses.”

“Oh, I would never insist you wear a dress. Au contraire. I’d be perfectly happy if you wore nothing at all.”

“And I’d be perfectly happy if you wore nothing. In fact, I wouldn’t even notice.”

“Ow! That hurt.” He grinned, glad for any attention, even if it was negative.

The song switched to a slow dance, and Charlie moved as if to leave. But he held onto her hand. “Please... Can’t we talk, only for a minute?”

“There’s no use, Josh. Why do you keep pursuing me?”

He pulled her back to him, lifting her hands and placing them on his shoulders, and setting his at her waist. “See, nothing indecent—just a dance and some conversation. Tell me about school.”

“It’s fine.”

He waited for further comment, but none came. “Charlie, I don’t understand why you won’t even give me a chance.”

She was silent for a moment, and he thought she wouldn’t respond. But then the deluge came.

“We’re too different, Josh. We live in different states, we have different dreams, and we have different beliefs and values. You believe in casual sex, and that’s fine for you. But I’m the absolute opposite of that. Can’t you see? There’s no hope.”

“There’s no hope because you refuse to allow it. I’m changing. I’ve already changed. I’m not the same man you met six months ago, but you won’t give me an opportunity to prove it.”

“Why are you trying to change into something different to please me? You were fine and happy before you met me. There were obviously lots and lots of women who liked you just the way you were. Why try to change into something you’re not?”

“But that’s the thing. I wasn’t fine and happy before I met you. I was miserable, and I didn’t even know it. And now I’ve met you, so I know I could be really happy if I changed and you loved me. But, you won’t give me a chance, so I’m still miserable.”

“So, you’re saying meeting me took you from being blissfully ignorant about how miserable you were to consciously aware of how miserable you are.”

“You’re twisting my words.” He ground his teeth together, searching for something to say, anything to break through her barriers. “Charlie... Don’t you miss me, even a little? Don’t you ever think about that kiss?”

She was quiet for a moment. “Josh... Okay, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t physically attracted to you. There. Are you happy? But, that’s not enough to build a relationship on.”

His mind was spinning. This was his moment, his only opportunity. She’d finally at least admitted to an attraction. If that attraction was all he had to