OLIVIA TAPPED HER WINE GLASS WITH A KNIFE TO DRAW ATTENTION.

The tavern's hall was packed with people, familiar and unfamiliar, creating a loud hum of laughter and voices. I picked a corner table to stay far from the party but watch everything from a great view. Nursing a glass of red wine, my gaze turned to Uncle Joe with everyone else: standing before his birthday cake with a beam of a smile that reminded me of a kid. His smile was infectious, so I matched it, hiding it behind the rim of my glass. Olivia was standing beside him with a grin, too, looking too proud and cheerful.

Uncle Joe's deep voice echoed in the hall, with everyone surprisingly quiet after the warning. "Thanks for coming, everyone," he started off, removing his hat and running his palm over his white hair. He looked a bit nervous about giving out a public speech, and I couldn't relate more. Some of us didn't like to be the center of attention; hence I was lurking in the corner, away from the eyes, in my ironically attention-seeking dress that resembled a disco ball.

I went through all the clothes I'd taken with me and decided this mini dress would be interesting to wear. I imagined wearing it in a nightclub, sipping on my Margarita, or a wild custom cocktail. Not in a small tavern in a coastal town, but Uncle Joe's birthday deserved this particular dress.

"I don't know what to say," he continued with a low chuckle. "You get to have many birthdays when you are sixty-one, but what matters is the people you're with on these days. And I am a lucky old man, surrounded by wonderful people like you." He threw his arm on Olivia's shoulder and smiled down at her. "Including a nosy granddaughter who likes parties too much."

A wave of envy and yearning filled my heart, remembering how much I missed Pops. I wish I could hug him and tell him how much I missed him.

I turned my gaze on them when Cam captured their pose several times, grinning at them. He volunteered to take photos tonight. I had been avoiding him since earlier, so we didn't interact the whole night. He was busy being the photographer, and I was standing too far from his zone. I quickly prepared and went to Tuesday's house to help her with her hair so I didn't run into him in the room.

I knew we would eventually be in the same room, but I was afraid of him understanding what bothered me or worse, asking what bothered me. I didn't want to give him an explanation, especially if I was misreading things. What if he was just being friendly, not flirty? And if he was being flirty, why was he leading Olivia on?

Uncle Joe's speech was done by the time I blinked into the present, missing the rest of his speech. Everyone started clapping, so I joined them with a smile. My eyes found Tuesday at the other corner of the room afterward and beelined toward her.

"I like the playlist."

She rolled her eyes with a wide grin. "You know I've got taste."

I stood beside her as she changed the song on the computer. "You do."

"Guys can't take their eyes off you," she said next. "I don't blame them."

I didn't run my eyes around the place to see for myself, but I could feel people's gaze on me. I didn't think they were enjoying the view. I looked plain weird, and when you were weird in a small community like this, it attracted more curious gazes. "I don't think so," I huffed. "I wish I had brought some flat shoes with me. These heels suck."

"Take them off."

"And draw more attention as a barefoot girl? No, thank you."

Then, she took a 180 turn. "Are you avoiding Cameron?"

"No," I lied.

"He's done taking pictures, I think." I looked toward the bar and saw him asking for a drink. He was wearing a soft blue cotton shirt and worn jeans. "Go and mingle with him."

"Pass."

She raised her eyebrows. "This doesn't sound like your usual dismissal. Are you genuinely mad at him? You almost sound heartbroken."

I sighed, closing my eyes momentarily. "Tues, I'm not in get-my-emotional-analysis mood right now."

"Okay, okay," she said, backing off. She punched a few keys and changed the song. Photograph by Ed Sheeran. A slow song filled with subliminal messages. I sighed, glaring at her but she just shrugged with a knowing glint in her eyes.

I looked toward the small stage, filling with couples. I spotted Uncle Joe and Olivia taking place at the center of the stage, slowly swaying to the rhythm. Uncle Joe looked so happy with his granddaughter in his arms, so I couldn't help but smile at the view.

Then, I returned to Tuesday as I remembered all the dancing lessons I'd taken with Marcus for our wedding dance. Tuesday thought Cam would ask me to dance, and I was waiting for it. However, Photograph was one of the songs we danced to with Marcus during our practice, and it was the first thing that crossed my mind once I heard it.

Though Marcus sucked at following the rhythm and said he hated every second of it, I was grateful he cooperated with me and joined the classes. I was always fine with the bare minimum of what he'd given me as long as he was there.

Whereas he wasn't there. Not with his heart.

"Bestie," Tues said with a sad tone. "Are you okay?"

I wiped the single drop of a tear falling off my eye. "Yeah," I replied with a forced grin. "This song reminds me of weddings, though."

Tues looked guilty after my comment, but her eyes flickered behind me. I simultaneously felt a light touch on my bare shoulder and twirled back to see Cam. He held my confused glance with a smile and extended his hand out.

"Will you dance with me, Amber?"

I heard Tuesday's muffled gasp and rolled my eyes. She was like the voice effects in comics, amplifying the impact of a scene.

I looked between Cam's eyes and his hand, then took it. His hand felt soft and warm against mine. We beelined toward the empty spot among the crowd on the stage, then Cam halted and pulled me close, placing his free hand on my small back. Though he was still a bit taller, our eyes leveled as I put my hand on his shoulder.

At that moment, his eyes on mine, I remembered our high school prom. When he smiled at me, I knew he was thinking the same thing. As we swayed, I realized what a good dancer Cameron actually was. He had been shaky and shy, and I remembered how he had stepped on my foot twice. We had been young. But now, he was holding me strong and leading the dance like a pro.

"I didn't know you're a great dancer," I whispered to his ear, using this opportunity to release his hand and wrap both arms around his neck.

"Keep your praises to the end, Amberoni," he whispered back with a chuckle that vibrated against my skin. "I might still step on your foot."

I looked up a little to look at his face, but I didn't expect him to stand so close. My eyes flickered on his lips, but I forced them back to his eyes. The panic in my eyes dissolved against his warm gaze at me, and my lips curled into a smile. "I have no right to be mad at you for it when I was your charity work."

His eyebrows furrowed. "Charity work?"

I shrugged, widening the gap between us by putting my right hand on his chest. "You'll make me say it." Cam continued swaying as he waited for me to continue. "You came with me because my date ditched me last minute."

He rolled his eyes with a faint smile. "It wasn't like people were lining up to be my date."

"You had told me you didn't want to go to the prom. So, it wasn't like you came because you wanted to—Aunt Annie forced you to take me. I technically forced you to come."

I hadn't thought of this back when we went to the prom. I was so embarrassed and annoyed by the situation that I didn't consider Cam's feelings. He was there, having to suffer the night because of me. I was a selfish brat. I guess I was too focused on sympathizing with people who asked for it, and I missed those who suffered in silence.

"I actually enjoyed my time there with you, Amberoni," Cam said. "And it was our last time together. Last time before..." Something familiar flickered in his eyes, but I didn't want to jump to conclusions. He twirled me around and held my gaze as his hand found my small back again. "It wasn't charity work."

I held my breath.

"You are the best date I can ever have."

My eyes filled with tears, and my lips twitched, trying to hold them back. I shouldn't have felt so much from this, but this was the most meaningful thing someone ever told me. It didn't help that he said it in the present tense. I ducked my head, watching our feet move together to suppress the tears.

"Cam," I breathed, looking at him again. "Thank you." His lips tilted as his eyes found mine with a warm glance. With my heart full of emotions, I hugged him. I held him tightly, my chin on his shoulder, my cheek against his.

Cam enjoyed his time with me even though he was forced to do it when all the men willingly barged into my life and ran at the last exit. This thought rendered the dance more than it was meant to be, fluttering my heart.

Suddenly, nothing else in the room mattered. Just my breaths, his pulse against my chest, and the warmth between our bodies.

His hands lingered on my back as I eased my arms but kept them around his neck.

"Let's be honest, if that dumbass didn't rain check on you, you'd never go to prom with me."

True. I didn't want to voice it, but I didn't see Cam in that light back then. I didn't think he saw me as a girl either; I was more like the annoying acquaintance he was forced to be with and save her ass from time to time. I wasn't known for my good choices in boys—a trait that stuck with me throughout my life.

His laugh tickled my skin. "You don't even deny it."

"We hated each other, Cammybear. It was a mutual feeling. If you weren't forced into it, you wouldn't spend a single second with me."

"False." I pulled slightly to send him an are-you-kidding-me look. "I enjoyed our creative fights. Most of the time, I crammed for exams to kick your ass and drive you crazy."

I shook my head in disbelief. "You're crazy." But I related to what he'd just said.

"Only for you."

My heart skipped a beat.

I replayed what he'd just said to ensure I heard it right. Only for you. I eyed him, searching for a trace of a prank in his expression. However, his warm eyes and faint smile didn't waver like he meant it.

What are we doing? I wanted to ask him. Where do we stand?

Because I didn't know at this point. There was a massive gap between what I should have felt and what I felt in reality. I was losing control of my own feelings—and I didn't know where this road went.

I rested my chin on his shoulder as I scooted closer to him. As his hand on my back splayed and pressed our bodies flush, the sigh out of his lips proved that I wasn't the only one feeling the shift between us.

I jerked a little when Olivia touched my shoulder. I looked back at her as her fake grin plastered on her face. It didn't take a genius to see the jealousy in her eyes, and she just confirmed my thoughts by asking to change partners.

I looked between her and Uncle Joe and realized I couldn't say no. I pulled back from Cam without a glance and took Uncle Joe's hand.

"Hey, old man," I said, trying to cheer up as we danced. "Happy birthday."

"Thanks, Amber. Glad to see you here. You look so beautiful tonight."

"Always so charming," I replied laughingly.

"You learn how to charm a lady when you live for so long, Amber."

"Bet you were always charming, Uncle Joe."

"I wasn't. My wife, Colleen, used to tell me I didn't understand women at all." He must've missed her; it was evident from his teary eyes that he still loved her.

"She sounds fierce," I commented. "What was she like?"

His eyes moved behind me with a bittersweet grin. "Olivia takes after her. The same ambitious spirit, somewhat mean, but a kind girl at heart." Then, he laughed. "She was an expert at reading people, though. She would know what's going through your mind at one glance. She had mesmerizing eyes—kind of intimidating, too."

"Like psychic powers?" He laughed again at my comment. "Where did you meet her?" I remembered that he mentioned that he moved here after he met her, but I didn't ask where they met and how.

"Texas," he replied. "She was visiting her aunt. I still remember the first time I laid my eyes on her; it was love at first sight." That sounded so sweet. "I didn't introduce myself, then. I didn't know how to. Her friend was working at the diner I frequented, so I asked her to give my letter to Colleen."

I gasped. "You wrote a letter to her? What did you say?"

"I mostly talked about myself to impress her...and my feelings. I wanted to get to know her better. I asked her to meet me if she was interested." That sounded so naive and romantic, but I guess I would never show up after receiving a letter from an anonymous man. "I waited for an hour in the place."

"Didn't she come?"

"She did," he said with a grin. "An hour later. She said she was testing me."

"What a woman she was," I replied with a laugh. "Wow."

Uncle Joe's eyes welled with tears as a knowing smile planted on his lips. "I know."

I wanted to cry along with him since my pent-up feelings threatened to surface. But we smiled at each other, and I breathed deeply. There was no room for crying at this party.

Then, we were finally back to pop. I hugged Uncle Joe one more time before I walked to Tuesday. "You're so paying for this."

"I think you should pay me for this favor, bestie. You looked like lovers dancing—"

"If you say lover once more—"

"Oh, shit," she whispered, her eyes growing wide, looking at somewhere behind me. Once I turned, I noticed Cam and Olivia having a heated conversation; Olivia was angry while Cam listened to her patiently with folded arms. Then, she suddenly left him on stage and stormed outside. We weren't the only ones watching them, but everyone turned back to his business in a beat as Cam walked toward the bar.

"What happened?" Tuesday asked beside me, voicing my thoughts. "Olivia seems pissed with him."

"No idea," I murmured, worrying about Cam. I wondered what he must've done to piss Olivia off in the middle of the party. I thought of reaching out to him and asking, then remembered about our dance and stopped.

My mind was a pool of loud, tough questions with no solid answers. Some questions I wanted to ask him, some I didn't dare answer. Maybe I should've been honest with myself and resolved my own problems first, but tonight didn't feel like the right time to do it.

Cam grabbed a few bottles of beer and walked toward me. I looked at him in question as his eyes found me, and he pointed outside with his head. I walked to him and caught up in the middle.

"Will you come with me?"

He didn't look sad, just tired. A soft grin shimmered on his lips after he extended his hand; I had no choice but to hold it when he looked at me with those eyes: fireworks at midnight.

A special thanks to my lovely beta reader takanorikarlyn for helping me edit this chapter 💗 I love you so much.

I wrote this dance scene with The Joker and The Queen playing in the background. What do you think of the chapter, the dance? And what's your guess about the reason Olivia got mad?

Thank you so much for 7K reads! 💗

Drop here a color that reminds you of Amber.

See you next Friday,
Sev xx

CHAPTER SIXTEEN SNEAK PEEK:

"Sometimes life shakes things up for you and you end up in...Land's End with your childhood nemesis."

"Oh, childhood nemesis? That's what I am?"

I shrugged, sipping on my beer. "It's beyond my wildest dreams."

"Mine, too," he said, looking at me. "I didn't think I would see you ever again."