Page 234 of Modern Romance January 2025 5-8

He stepped down from the stage just as someone else knocked into her, and Susie realised she’d drifted towards the exit again.

She wasn’t okay, Susie knew.

And she felt a tear splash down her cheek.

She didn’t want to leave.

Ever.

She loved this man who was now talking to an elderly couple, who were congratulating him on his speech.

And then she saw him talking to Sev, and they didn’t seem quite so hostile.

She felt another tear splash out, and quickly wiped it away with her thumb.

It was time to go, Susie decided.

But Dante caught her hand.

‘Dance?’

One more...

His hand was close to the small of her back, the other was holding her hand, but they were too far apart. His cologne was light, heavenly...

‘I just spoke to Cucou,’ Dante said. ‘He tells me I am dancing with his new apprentice.’

She gulped. ‘I haven’t accepted yet,’ she said.

‘Why wouldn’t you accept? It’s everything you wanted?’

‘I’m not so sure,’ she attempted, but her voiced faded. It was all too new and too raw to attempt to sound dismissive as she farewelled long held dreams and so she hurriedly changed the topic. ‘I know this piece...’ she said, referring to the music. ‘Juliet stuffs it up every time.’

He smiled, and she looked up at his unshaven jaw. Dante was tense—perhaps because his brother had arrived.

He pulled her in a little closer and she rested her head on his chest, so she could peek at the orchestra. It would seem Juliet had nailed it.

‘Perfect...’ Susie smiled as the music soared.

‘Yes,’ Dante said. ‘Perfect.’

And they were flirting with their bodies now.

His hand was a little firmer on her back, the other rested on her waist, and her hand, left to its own devices, was now on his chest.

‘Susie,’ he said, as the clock inched forward and the crowd on the dance floor thinned. ‘When I called—’

‘Please don’t, Dante.’

‘I didn’t think to ask you to the ball tonight because—’

‘Dante!’ He’d said enough already. ‘Please don’t.’ She pulled back. ‘I’m going to go to the ladies’ room.’

She did so, and she topped up her lipstick and looked at her glittering eyes, and his words stung.

‘I didn’t think to ask you...’

Have some pride, Susie!