Another wedding, almost over. Another wedding spent explaining no, her date was not in the bathroom, she did not have a plus one. Another event spent agreeing, yes, it would happen when "the time is right", whatever that even meant.
"Let's slow it down now!" the dj's overly jazzed voice echoed, a tad too loud. Adele's smooth, smoky voice filled the room, the dj playing her song "Make you feel my love." Jess drank the last of her wine, tipping the glass straight up. She fumbled under the table for her shoes that she had taken off somewhere between the conga line and the chacha slide. Someone tapped her on the shoulder. She sat up to find Nick standing over her, his suit jacket off, his tie loose. He offered her a tan, masculine hand. "May I have this dance?"
Jess smiled. "why most certainly good sir." She placed her hand in his, and he led her to the dance floor. Nick placed his hand on the small of her back, Rough and callused against the delicate material of her dress. She wrapped her dainty arms around his neck, smiling up at him. "thanks for dancing with me."
"I know you love Adele." he replied.
Jess giggled, "Almost as much as you love Adele."
Their bodies began to sway together. "Are you having a good time tonight? How was the dinner?" Nick asked, pulling her slightly closer.
"pretty good. I had the Salmon. Not too fishy."
Nick turned almost elegantly, in tune with the slow music."Yeah, the steak wasn't bad." he replied. "Can't believe Marky Linnex is actually married."
"Crazy isnt it?" Jess replied, linking her fingers behind Nick's neck.
The small talk began to fade as the chorus began to build, but Jess was okay with it. That's just how it was with Nick sometimes, silence was ok. Jess snuggled her body closer to his, resting her head on his shoulder. Nick caught a whiff of her shampoo, Lavender with hints of Vanilla. He knew that scent very well, longed for it some nights. He had prolonged washing his pillows, until they no longer held this very smell, clinging to the last memory of he and Jess as a couple. He had seen the bottle in the shower many times, and had even contemplated opening the bottle to catch a sniff of memories.
Nick's embrace was snug but comfortable, as if all the harshness he usually carried had melted away as they began to dance. The warmth between them grew more powerful by the second, electricity radiating from their bodies. Jess's heartbeat was growing steady along with it. Their bodies just fit together, like a matching set. Everything from their breathing, to how their feet moved together in sync, was perfectly coordinated. Nick was a good lead, soft yet direct. He led Jess across the dance floor, Jess adapting her body to his movements. As uncoordinated, and clunky as they were in real life, they were equally graceful and smooth on the dance floor. Every step seemed to be planned in advance, nothing felt forced. Jess literally felt like she was floating. They became one with the song, the dance, each other, and nothing else mattering for those four minutes. As Adele's voice washed over them, they melted into each other. For a moment, it was just Nick and her, no fights or longing, no angst, or harsh words. Just two souls, tied together by a song.