Page 50 of Roar for Me
Duncan led her into the crowded ballroom. The lights blinded them from the DJ booth. She gave a curtsy, and he bowed quickly. He led her toward the table for committee members and pulled out her chair.
“And last but not least, your reunion committee chair, Jennifer Smith!”
Everyone clapped, grateful someone had taken the initiative to plan this. The DJ handed Jen the microphone.
“Thank you all for coming. And thank you for sending me your fond memories of our time at Riverton Park High School. I’ve tried to cram as many of your photos as I could into tonight’s presentation. Please turn your attention to the screen on the dance floor.”
Duncan shifted in his seat. The photos scrolled by while the DJ played their class graduation song. Jen had added plenty of musical and choir photos, along with whatever else the guests had sent. When a photo of him as the Tin Man with his trees behind him came on the screen, he slipped an arm around Aurora. Laying her head on his shoulder, she fit like a puzzle piece he hadn’t realized he was missing. Not until now.
Shall We Dance?
Aurora held back the urge to pinch herself. She was under Duncan’s arm with her head on his shoulder. He’d been charming and unabashedly wooing her in front of everyone, and she was doing her best not to swoon. If this was a dream, she never wanted to wake up.
The stuffed chicken was delicious. The ballroom was the perfect backdrop with its soft lighting and elegant red draping on the walls. Her classmates were delightful. And Duncan was, well, Duncan. He looked incredible in the black tuxedo, his red silk tie shimmering. Their eyes met during dinner more than once. No one had looked at her like that since Jeff.
The DJ started with the line dances of her childhood. Aurora jumped up and headed straight to the dance floor. “The Electric Slide,” the “Macarena,” “Cha Cha Slide”—they rocked them all. *NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye” filtered through the speakers to an eager group of forty-something women. What was impressive was that they remembered the choreography from the music video as if they’d seen it that morning. After that, the DJ played a slow song. She made her way back to the table to rest. Duncan followed her from his place on the dance floor, sliding into his chair next to hers.
“My ex didn’t like to dance much,” he said, leaning over to talk into her ear.
“Jeff loved to try,” Aurora laughed. “He loved to dance with me, but he wasn’t very good.”
When the song changed to another fast-paced one, Jen ran by. “Why aren’t you dancing?”
“I’m just catching my breath,” Aurora fanned her face. “I need another minute.”
Jen just shook her head and ran back to the dance floor.
“I’m going to get a drink. Can I get you anything?” Duncan asked.
“Water would be great.”
“I’ll be back.” When Duncan returned, he had a glass of water for her and what looked like Coke for himself. As she sipped the water, Duncan leaned in so she could hear him. “I made a song request; will you dance to it with me?”
She gazed into his eyes—widened and clear. Aurora inhaled. “I’d love to.” His megawatt smile in response made the butterflies flutter again in her stomach.
Mike sought Duncan’s eyes from the dance floor and raised an eyebrow at him, as if to say, “Why are you not dancing with her?”Duncan held up one finger and smirked at him. Catching the secret conversation and sly looks, Aurora tugged on Duncan’s sleeve.
“What are you two communicating about?”
“Mike is impatient. That’s all.”
“Impatient for what?” As the words left her lips, a new song started—a familiar song.
Duncan stood and offered her his hand.
“May I?”
She put her hand in his and smiled. “Yes.”
As he led her into the crowd, the keyboard line echoed through the ballroom. He’d requested “Lady in Red.” He pulled her gently into his strong arms as soon as they reached the parquet. When the vocals started, that was when her heart caught in her throat.
Dipping down so only she could hear, Duncan sang the lyrics. His melodic tenor crooned softly in her ear as he pressed his cheek to hers like the song said. The room, the other dancers, everything faded away, until all that existed was his hand on her waist and his breath in her ear. Her pulse beat in time with the music, and she was sure he could feel her heart thumping against his chest. The notes were perfect. Had he actually rehearsed this in the weeks leading up to the gala?
As if that wasn’t enough, when the song ended, he whispered, “I love you, Aurora.”
Every last wall she’d built crumbled into dust. She shuddered with emotion that threatened to break the dams of her eyelashes. Duncan pulled back to look at her; she turned her face up to him.
“Do … do you mean that?”
