“Why don’t you just ask her out?”
“Well someone’s obviously on your mind.” He shifts, peering through the scope of the sniper rifle he’s holding. He could play it off as being focused on the mission, but he knows she would see right through the lie.
“She’s way out of my league. She would never give a guy like me a second look.”
“You know.. clumsy, awkward, talks too much, hair never lays the right way, always spilling coffee on stuff.. on myself.” A steady heat creeps up into his cheeks as he talks.
“You’re not giving yourself enough credit.” He opens his mouth but before he can say anything she points. “There he is, got the shot?”
“Of course.” He pulls the trigger and they run into the night.
“Drooling over her and getting all distant.”
“I am not.” Absently, he pokes at his chocolate cake and she reaches over to steal a piece, licking icing from her lips. He takes a sip of coffee. His mouth is suddenly dry.
“Amazing,” he replies, his gaze quickly turning out the window. “Beautiful. Smart. Funny.” She bites her lip, tapping her nails nervously on the table.
“What’s your favorite thing about her?”
“She’s a good person.” He meets her eyes as he says it. Instantly, her stomach drops. It’s definitely not her that he’s been thinking about, because no one with common sense would ever refer to her as a good person.
“She sounds nice,” she manages. Something flashes in his eyes, but it’s gone before she can decipher it.
“Is it worse to get rejected, or be in love forever and keep it to yourself?” She shrugs, thoughtfully chewing a piece of popcorn.
“I’ve never been in love or rejected.” Disappointment at the answer shows briefly on his face, and she reaches for another handful of popcorn. “But I think if you want something you should go for it. Take the chance. Are you really afraid of her rejecting you?”
“I guess more of ruining what we have now.”
“But what if she feels the same way and what you have gets even better?”
“You’re just the relationship expert tonight.” She laughs, tossing him a piece of popcorn, which he easily catches in his mouth.
“I am probably the last person you should be asking for advice.”
“So no one special in your life?” A flush she can’t control creeps up in her cheeks. “There is! I knew it!”
“Shut up,” she warns, no threat behind the words. “It doesn’t matter. He doesn’t feel the same way.”
Why is his tie perpetually crooked? He tries, and fails, to straighten it. His hair isn’t cooperating either and he wets his hand, smoothing it down. It immediately sticks back up. He groans. With one last look in the mirror, he exits and heads towards the ballroom.
“Clint.” He spins around at the sound of her voice.
“Pick your jaw off the floor,” she remarks with a soft laugh, stepping closer. He clears his throat.
“You um.. wow, you look beautiful.”
“Not sure if this is really my color.” His eyes rake over the navy blue dress that just dusts the floor. By her height, he knows she’s wearing heels, her breath warm on his neck as she moves to adjust his tie. “You really need to get a tie clip.”
“Yeah.. a tie clip.” She’s close, too close. He’s five seconds away from screwing this up.
“Come on, let’s go get a seat.” Pulling him through the crowd, all he can focus on is how sweaty his hand is in hers. Maybe she won’t notice. He makes it through dinner without any obvious blunders. She seems to be having a good time and he finds himself starting to relax.
“I’m from the circus, remember? I’m actually a very good dancer.”
“I love dancing,” she admits, taking his offered hand. She fits against him perfectly. They dance to several slow songs, gradually moving closer, slower, his fingers brushing her hips.
“I’m taking the chance.” She draws back to look at him and he suddenly can’t think of anything except how beautiful she is, how soft her lips are as he kisses her, how her hand curls into the back of his suit jacket to pull him closer. Breathless, she meets his eyes, biting back a smile.
“I was hoping it was me.”
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