Chapter Nine
Morgan
All too soon, a man who looks to be in his early thirties stops by the table to tell the team that they need to make the rounds. I hear Simon tell Ruby that that was the team's coach and manager. Dex turns to me, moves in a little closer so he now is speaking into my ear, "Looks like we've been having too much fun, and now it's time for us to put in some work. This shouldn't take more than an hour. Please don't leave without finding me first."
I can feel his breath on my neck, and it takes every bit of strength in me to stifle the warm tingles shooting down my back. I turn my head slightly toward him, making this the closest we've been, and say with a slight pout, "I guess it wouldn't be fair for me to take up all your time tonight.” Then with a smile, “Don't worry. I won’t leave."
He smiles as he places his hand at the small of my back and replies, "Good. I'll see you later," and he follows the rest of his team to the far end of the loft.
Where just a few moments ago I was warm and surrounded by people, I now feel cold at their absence. The air is empty around our small table. I immediately feel the loss of Dex and the others.
"Morgan! Earth to Morgan," Ruby says from across the table.
"Oh sorry, what? That’s one fun group of people, right?" I ask her.
"Totally, but I'm more interested in you and what's going through that pretty little head of yours. You're totally into Dex, aren’t you? I can tell. Don't even try to deny it."
I giggle, mostly to myself. "I'm totally into him. Which makes no sense. I've just met him and well, I wasn't expecting this."
Ruby has this all-knowing look paired with a big toothy grin, "Well, let the record show that I called it from the get-go. Now, let’s use this time to get our groove on and shake what our mamas gave us out on the dance floor!"
I quickly drain the rest of my drink as liquid courage is the only kind of courage that gets me to dance. Unfortunately, I've only just finished my second, and I've been nursing it for almost an hour. So I'm going out there on the floor with really only the excitement of the night and the promise of passing the time before I get to talk to Dex again.
Ruby and I have probably spent a good forty minutes out on the dance floor. She is a much better dancer than I. She can indeed shake it like a Polaroid picture. I, on the other hand, look like I'm trying not to drop the Polaroid. But whatever, it’s fun, and I don't care tonight. Ruby and I laugh the whole time, as I feel the beat pulse through my veins. Even though I'm working up a sweat, I don't care. I don't even care if Dex sees me out here; though I'm sure if he looks hard enough out at the floor, he will, but it's better if he knows now that I'm not a good dancer. It will just save me from embarrassment later.
Ruby motions to me three songs later that she needs a drink. We make our way through the bar, but we both only order water. We are standing at the bar when Ruby elbows me and says, "We are being summoned," and she lifts her head in the direction of the loft. I look up to see the guys assembled around the table we left only an hour ago. Dex and Simon are leaning against the railing, looking down at us. Dex has a smile on his face as Simon says something that makes him laugh. Link, standing next to Dex, is waving his arms down at us to get our attention.
I slide a glance at Ruby, who is no longer looking up at the guys. "More like you're being summoned, Rube."
She rolls her eyes and replies with disdain, "I'm not interested," and I chuckle because she is totally interested. I can tell. She is always so sweet and funny and gets along with everyone. Yet she can't decide if she wants to laugh or argue with Link.
"Right," I say. I grab her hand and drag her back up to VIP.
As we ascend the stairs, I see Bernie has since joined the table's three occupants. As we approach, Dex slides off the stool and motions for me to sit. Ruby grabs the empty stool next to Simon, the farthest seat away from Link.
"You guys were having fun out there! Next time I want to go out dancing, I'm taking you two!" Bernie says over the music.
"When was the last time you went dancing, Bernie? And do you even know how to dance?" asks Simon. She elbows him, hard, and with an oomph, he says, "Jeez, Bern!"
"Yes, I know how to dance. And yeah, so what if it's been a while? They made it look like so much fun, I really want to go now." She turns to me and pleads, "Please tell me you guys will invite me with you next time you go dancing."
Ok. I'm ecstatic that she wants to hang out with us, even if it is doing one of my least favorite things. I'm such a nerd to get excited about a potential new girlfriend. "Yes! We will definitely take you with us. My roommate Gia always wants to go out dancing, so she would love the excuse."
"Totes," Ruby agrees.
Dex leans in. "You were definitely having fun out there. Made me want to dance, and I don't dance."
If my face wasn't already flushed from the dancing, it is now. So, he did see my dancing. Great. I giggle nervously. "Wonderful. You witnessed the most embarrassing thing I do: dance in public."
He laughs and replies, "No way. Don't be embarrassed. It was sexy."
I just about choke on my water in response, and I'm now coughing. Dex's low chuckle is in my ear as he lightly pats my back. The rest of the table is now staring at me. Once I calm down and tell them I'm all right, that the water went down the wrong pipe, they go back to their mixed conversations.
Sexy? He thought I was sexy when I danced? Maybe he was looking at someone else. Yeah, that had to have been it. Because I've never been described as sexy before. Not even by my past boyfriends. Cute, adorable, pretty. Check, check, check. But never sexy.
Now that my coughing has subsided, his hand that was once on my upper back, between my shoulder blades, is now sliding down to the small of my back. He leans in and says in a sexy growl, "I meant that, Morgan."
"Oh yeah? Because I've been called a lot of things when I dance, and sexy isn't one of them," I retort. I swear the grin on his face is contagious, because now, instead of being embarrassed, I'm smiling too.
"I want to take you out on a date. Next week. When we are back in Chicago. What do you think about that?"
Well, I think I'd do just about anything to keep him smiling, but I don't admit that. "I'd like that," I say breathlessly as I lean in slightly.
There is a gleam in his eyes when he leans into me and demands quietly in my ear, “Give me your number, Morgan."
I miraculously recite my number, and then I feel my phone vibrating from my clutch. I dig out my phone, and there is his number calling mine. I snatch up the phone and tell him to smile as I snap a picture of him.
It isn't long after we exchange numbers that Ruby and I say goodbye to the group. Ruby and Bernie haven't stopped talking since we joined them, so now that they hit it off I'm even more excited about hanging out with her again.
Dex walks me to the door as I follow Ruby out of the club. He wanted to walk us back to the hotel, but Ruby interrupts, "It’s ok, lover boy! We have like a five-minute walk, so we’ll be fine."
She’s right. We will be. There are so many people out and about, we have no need to worry about getting back to the hotel safely. He chuckles as I wave and say good night. I turn away, and he grabs my hand to pull me toward him. I'm taken a little off guard when I realize that he is pulling me in for a kiss. He leans down, looking into my eyes, and then at my lips, and then he kisses me. It's gentle but firm. It only lasts a few seconds, but it is amazing.
I want more, but he's already taken a step back, and I can hear Ruby whistle from behind me. He smiles genuinely at me and says, "Good night, Morgan."
He heads back into the club. Ruby loops her arm through mine and says with a laugh, "A good night indeed."
Ten minutes later, as we walk into our hotel room, I feel my phone vibrate. I pull it out and see that I have a text. It’s from Dex. My heartbeat hits double-time as I swipe at the text and read…
Dex: She did call me lover boy, so I had to make good on the name. See you soon.