Page 13 of Head Over Wheels
I turn back to Jace and Alex and see Jace looking at where Jeff’s hand was on my forearm. I can’t believe he’s just casually hanging out with us right now. I’m going to live off the excitement of this weekend for months.
As I tune back into the conversation around me, Lisa, Alicia, and Tara are talking about calling it a night. Jeff looks at me and raises his eyebrows in question. Classes do start early tomorrow morning, but I’m not sure if I’m ready to go. Before I can answer, Alex leans over.
“Oh, are you all leaving already?” He puts an arm around me. “Please tell me you’re sticking around, Sweet Ella. I still have to get this afternoon’s story out of you. Jace only told us the bare minimum.”
I look over at my friends, but they’re standing now and saying good night. Even Jeff has pushed his chair back.
“I’m happy to stay if you want me to,” he says.
Alex waves him off. “She’ll be just fine. We’ll take good care of her, won’t we, Jace?”
Jace nods at my group. “Alex and I will make sure she gets back to her room safely.”
I get waves and see you tomorrows from my friends as they leave our table. Jeff looks reluctant to leave, but Alex shoos him off playfully.
“She’ll be fine, I promise!” Alex waits until they’re out of earshot to lean over. “Is that your boyfriend?”
“Jeff? No, not at all. We just met this weekend.” I can’t help but notice Jace’s expression relax when he hears my answer.
“Well, if he’s not your guy, he definitely wants to be.” Alex smirks, and I can’t help but laugh back.
“You’re ridiculous.” I shake my head at him and pick up my drink to take a sip.
Before I can get too comfortable, Alex grabs my and Jace’s wrists. “Do you want to go dancing? No one ever goes dancing anymore!”
Jace looks across at the other instructors. “Anyone up for dancing?”
Everyone nods, and before I know it, I’m being swept up with the group and towed out of the bar. I guess Alex didn’t really want to hear the elevator story after all. Alia mentions that she’s heard there’s a good spot for dancing in the hotel, and we follow her.
The club is on the main floor, off the lobby. I hear music pumping well before I see the entrance. There’s an EDM mix playing—I think it’s Avicii—and I’m suddenly so happy with this change of plans. Jayenne grabs my hand, and the three of us girls hit the dance floor while the guys go to find us drinks. I want to pinch myself. It’s hard to believe that I’m in the middle of a club, dancing with the Elevate instructors. I try not to think about the fact that the women are all professional dancers and just get my groove on. Although I may not be the most rhythmic dancer, I love to move. I throw my hands up in the air and sway happily as the song moves into Rüfüs Du Sol.
The boys are back and setting our drinks on a nearby table. Raj and John sit down while Jace and Alex join us. We move to the music, flowing from one song to the next. And then it happens. Jace grabs my hand. It seems so natural—one minute we’re dancing beside each other, and the next our fingers are intertwined. He twirls me around, and those dimples are making me weak. My head spins. Now we’re dancing together, the rest of our group standing apart from us. I can almost see the electricity zipping between us. It’s like the rest of the club has just faded away. It’s just us. Dancing. Twirling. Staring into each other’s eyes. Jace moves a little closer, and we both slow down. He’s swaying gently, coming closer. I close my eyes. Is he going to kiss me?
A new voice rings out, snapping me back to the present.
CHAPTER 10
“Hey! I was wondering where you all went. I was at the bar, but no one was there.”
Deb’s voice acts like a repellant, and Jace and I spring apart. My brain is jumbled now from all the emotion and tension of the day. All the blood rushes from my head.
“Are you feeling okay?” Jace’s deep voice rumbles in my ear, doing absolutely nothing to clear my head.
“Yeah, I think I’m just tired, actually. I’m going to head back to my room.” I push my hair off my forehead, trying to get some more air.
“You’ve gotten really pale. And that’s saying a lot considering the lighting in here. Is it okay if I walk you up to make sure you get there safely? Alex and I did promise your friends.”
I wave him off. “I’m fine, really. You can stay with your friends.”
Jace makes a show of checking his watch. “It’s late. I’m tired too. Let’s go.”
We say goodbye to everyone, and Jace grabs onto my hand again as we leave the dance floor. I purposefully don’t look at Deb to see if she’s watching because the last time she looked at me she didn’t look pleased.
Once we’re out of the club, he keeps my hand in his as we walk right past the elevator bay, straight to the stairwell.
“Thank goodness the stairwells are all so easily accessible in this hotel.” He says this over his shoulder as he reaches for the door. He holds it open for me, and I immediately miss the touch of his hand. I cannot be getting this attached already. I’ll never see him again after Sunday, and there’s no way he’s interested in me like that. It’s just the night and the people and the vibe.
His hand snakes out to grab mine again. “Is this okay?” He lifts our joined hands.