Keep Me In | DR3 | BOOK 1

73 - Pretending

Daniel smiled, his hand tracing my jaw, oddly uncaring of the wildly public display he was putting on. "Do you have any more dancing left in you?"

"It takes two."

--

It frightened me how familiar this all was. Daniel kept a hand on me at all times as I navigated us through the crowd. Letting me take charge, but his contact remained in case I failed to be entirely capable myself.

How I didn't need a refresher. We weren't apart for long apart for me to forget the landscape that was Daniels body, and him mine. It all came naturally still, my fingers intertwined as I dangled my arms off the back of his neck, throwing my head back in pure joy. Letting my hair mess about the top of my head recklessly, bobbing with the rest of me to the song consuming the room around us.

The sultry platform created by Daniels hands placed together on the center of my back was substantial, covering enough of my body for me to feel safe. My movements were controlled. Even if I slipped, if someone bumped into me, even if the tectonic plates below us collided, sending the entire world around into shambles; he'd be there. His arms act as a cage. His watchful eyes were soothing, silently rhythmic, a soft landing pad for my own as I brought my head back up.

Was this all crazy? Yes.

Did it go against everything I told myself I'd do tonight? Also yes.

Did I care?

No. At least, not for right now.

There wasn't a part of me, from my head to my toes, that gave an ounce of care toward the fact that this was only temporary. I don't know about Daniel, but his actions spoke for themselves. We were in agreement; this felt good. It felt right. I knew this wouldn't last past tonight. There was a chance any second that he would snap to his senses, and drag himself out of my clutches, back into the night. Off to live two separate lives.

Or that I'd realize how horrible this would feel tomorrow morning, waking up alone. The repercussions would come to light with the break of dawn, I was sure.

I wouldn't be the first to snap to reality tonight. This momentary happiness ran through me, all I wanted was to soak in the present moment for the rest of my life. Wanting this to last forever. Memorizing the feeling, because who knew when I'd get the chance to feel this way with someone ever again?

I had never considered myself gravely unhappy. My life was filled with things to be grateful for; my Dad made every opportunity available that he could for my brothers and I. We had anything we wanted to do, right at our fingertips. Everything leading up to my success in motorsport, and even after that ended, I was able to build a thriving business. From essentially ground zero.

My mind was always able to see the bright side of things, even in a worst-case scenario; like being dumped by someone you love as deeply as I found myself loving Daniel.

Staying positive. Keeping my head up. It was a coping mechanism, one I had picked up from Dad. One I assumed he had been forced to pick up after Mom passed, leaving him widowed with three young kids.

We had so much, my brothers and I. There was never a reason to doubt ourselves, our ability to be happy no matter what. Because whatever downtrodden paths we accidentally fell down, nothing could ever be as bad as what Dad had to push through. Alone.