Chapter 6
Lucky about spit out his drink. "Dance class?"
"Hey – real men can tango. Didn't you see True Lies?" Patrick turned to Robin. "I can't believe you told them."
"Hush." Robin giggled, the effects of the tequila starting to hit her. She had been spending most of her nights with Rylee and Michelle and the strongest stuff they drank was hot chocolate. "It was spring semester of our junior year. I was needing one more elective…"
Patrick interrupted her. "I suggested a film class."
Robin playfully punched him in the arm. "We had already taken one and I wanted to learn some new moves for the wedding." She smiled at Liz. "Roger and I were married the summer between my junior and senior years. He had graduated and was working as a paramedic for the local hospital while I finished up my bachelor's degree."
"Want another beer?" Patrick flagged down a waitress. "Another round please and four shots of tequila."
"And a glass of water." Robin added. She looked at her table mates and shrugged her shoulders. "I don't drink very often so I want to be careful."
"Don't worry Robin – I'll make sure you get home okay." The waitress came back with their drinks and Patrick paid the woman. "Go on with the story before Liz goes crazy."
Robin stuck her tongue out at him. "Be nice. Anyway, as Patrick's wing woman of a year and a half, I convinced him to take the class with me so that he could dazzle the women with his dance moves. After all, women love a man who can twirl them around the dance floor."
Liz watched Patrick closely as Robin spoke. The look in his eyes as Robin told the story made it clear that she had no clue the real reason he took the class with her – it was to be with her. The only woman he had wanted to twirl around the dance floor was Robin. Liz watched as Patrick subtly shifted a little closer to Robin and moved her empty bottle out of her way. "You tend to gesture when you talk – wouldn't want you making a mess for the nice waitress."
"Thank you." Robin took a drink from her water and returned to the story. "I'll never forget learning to waltz…"
"Patrick can waltz?" Liz shook her head at her friend, surprised at this news.
Robin nodded her head. "Patrick can waltz. We picked it up so well that the teacher had us demonstrate for the rest of class."
Flashback
"Class." Ms. Pope gathered her students together. "I have asked Mr. Drake and Ms. Scorpio to demonstrate the proper waltz."
Patrick took Robin's hand and led her to the middle of the floor. "Ready to do this Scorpio?"
Robin laughed. "Are you?"
He didn't get a chance to answer her before the music started. He held her hand in his, placed his hand on her waist and waited for her to get into position before taking their first steps together, moving in time to the music. He instantly recognized the song - it was one of his mother's favorites, a classic called 'You Don't Know Me.' Patrick couldn't stop himself from staring into Robin's eyes as they danced together. The song the teacher had chosen couldn't have been more appropriate. The song was about a man in love with his best friend who was in love with someone else. It was taking every ounce of willpower he had not to pull her closer to him.
Robin found herself absolutely mesmerized by Patrick as he waltzed her around the room. His hand slipped and she stepped in a bit closer to him. Following his lead, she let him turn her around and she ended up back in his arms, closer to him than she had ever been. She looked back up at him and a small smile came to her face. Neither one noticed that Roger had walked into the room to pick up Robin and was watching the two of them dance together.
Patrick gently dipped Robin and then slowly brought her back up to him, ending the song with her close in his arms. Both of them were breathing hard and just staring at each other, unsure what had just happened. Patrick was about to speak when the class broke out in applause.
"Bravo! Beautiful dancing!" Ms. Pope walked over to them and they quickly separated. "That's all for today class – I will see you next week."
"Robin, I…" Patrick was trying to find the right words but stopped when he saw Roger walking up behind her. He thought about his next words for only a moment before he made his decision and gave Robin his best smirk. "I think you are right – I am going to get so many girls with these moves."
Robin swallowed hard but nodded her head. "Of course I am." She felt an arm slip around her waist and leaned into her fiancée's embrace. "Right dear?"
"Always dear." Roger kissed her cheek and pulled her close. "Just keep those moves away from my girl Drake."
"I would never steal Robin from you." Patrick looked around. "In fact, I have a date in about an hour. I will see you at the tux fitting tomorrow?"
"You got it buddy." Roger turned Robin around in his arms. "Ready to go? We need to pick up Michelle from her friend's house."
Robin smiled at the man she was going to marry, the father of the little girl she now considered her own. "Yes and Patrick?" Robin addressed the man one last time. "Study session for our advanced chem class tomorrow night at our place."
"Sure thing short stuff." Patrick was glad Robin hadn't said anything about what had just happened. "See you guys later."
Robin grabbed her bag and followed Roger out to the car. She loved him and the family they had created. They were her future and she knew it.
She watched Patrick pull out of the parking lot and shook her head. After all, it was just a dance.
End Flashback
"Are we done embarrassing me yet?" Patrick had dreamed about that dance many times over the past 15 years.
"How many woman have you wooed with your mad dancing skills?" Robin had danced with him once more at the wedding and never again.
Patrick was caught off guard by the question but answered without hesitation. "No one – never could find the right partner. Everyone else was too tall." The truth was that no one had fit in his arms as perfectly as Robin had.
"Oh." Robin didn't know why this confession affected her but it did. She downed her shot of tequila and smiled at him. "Then I expect you to save me a dance at the Nurse's Ball Dr. Drake."
Patrick did his shot and smirked back at her. "Count on it short stuff."
