Chapter 7

Chapter 7

LANA AND SHAINA LEAN AGAINST each other in front of us as we wait in line.

“Yeah, and then these older couples were dancing and singing to each other and it was so sweet.” Lana sighs. She looks good in her, what did Shaina call it… romper. It’s gold and sparkly and these loose see through sleeves. Lana looks really good in gold, like an angel.

“You got a crowd of people to watch you and Lana dance in the park?” Alex backhands my shoulder.

“You proposed to Shaina.” I remind him.

“Shaina is going to dance in every park now trying to get a bunch of old couples to dance with her and people to applaud us.” Alex slaps his hand over his face and shakes his head. “How am I supposed to top that?”

“You purposed to Shaina.” I hiss at him, trying to keep my voice low so the girls don’t hear us. “You didn’t even give me a heads up.”

“Shaina wanted to be the one to tell Lana and you can’t keep secrets from Lana.” Alex laughs “You can’t even wait to give her her Christmas presents.”

“Lana doesn’t celebrate.” I roll my eyes at him “I just like getting her stuff, I give them to her early so she won’t get upset with me.”

“What’s that thing Lana’s wearing?” Alex asks.

“Shaina called it a romper.” I move closer to Lana as the line moves forward.

“I need to get Shaina one.” Alex nods appreciatively.

“Dude,” I elbow his arm back, missing his side. “Are you checking Lana out?”

“No.” He shakes his head “I’m imagining my girl in that outfit.” Alex smiles, I walk up behind Lana and wrap my arms around her anyway.

“Ready to dance?” Lana rests her hands on mine.

“With you?” I squeeze her to me. “Always.” She giggles and Shaina glances back at Alex, she’s pouting at him. Alex scowls at me.

“I.Ds.” The bouncer holds his hands out, he gives both girls an appreciative once over and I try not to let it get to me. There’s not much I can do about it. The girls grab their IDs from their tiny bags and flash them while Alex and I flip out our wallets.

“Go ahead.” He jerks his chin toward the door. I step between the bouncer and Lana and wrap my arm around her. I catch Alex doing the same thing as he leads Shaina past the guy and she giggles and tiptoes to kiss him. Alex lifts her off her feet to give her a boost.

“Come on!” Lana drags me forward, straight toward the center of the dance floor. She slides through the crowd, dodging elbows and drinks, I elbow my way through the crowd trying to stay on my feet. She stops almost as suddenly as she started and turns to me, her eyes sparkling in the multicolored strobe lights. She raises her arms and swings her hips and I let her lead because the best part of this for me, is just watching her. I love watching her dance.

“Dance.” She smiles and takes my arm and raises it over her head so she can spin under it. She sways and flips her hair and I don’t even know how she moves sometimes, so ethereal.

“You left us!” Shaina drags Alex and squeezes between the people dancing next to us, forcing them to move back. Shaina is a much more aggressive dancer, she and Alex actually dance together. Alex and Shaina look like a choreographed dance scene straight out of a movie.

Lana just watches me as I do a poor job of following the rhythm and she dances around me. She never makes fun of me or pushes me to learn, she just smiles and she dances and it’s good.

Alex and Shaina already have a few drinks in them, their dancing getting sloppier with every passing drink. Lana hasn’t had even a sip, she rarely does. She likes to be alert and happy on her own. I’ve had a beer or two but Lana doesn’t try to control that either. She just smiles and giggles and dances and my phone buzzes in my pocket.

Lana pulls it out and holds it for me.

WORK flashes in all caps on my phone screen. Lana pouts a little.

“Do you have to take it?”

“Yeah, I got to check it out.” I head toward the bathroom to get away from the noise. I glance over my shoulder and see Lana and Shaina dancing together. Alex must have gone to get another drink.

“Hey, Matt.” I walk to the far back of the bathroom and cover one ear.

“Hey, Theo.”

The restaurant sounds crazy.

“I really need you to come in, Amber, Josh and Pete are all no shows.” Matt barks orders at someone.

“I mean, I really had plans tonight.” I glance at the door as a man stumbles in and smacks his hand against the wall.

“I really need you here, Theo.” He sounds stressed.

“I’m already out with Lana and our friends.” I sigh. I really do need the money, especially since Alex already got Shaina a pretty big ring… I should know more about rings.

“Look can you come in at ten?” Matt barks something at someone else.

“I—”

“Thanks, Theo, I owe you one.” He hangs up.

“Dang, Lana was having fun.” I push my bangs back and head back out, better just rip the Band-Aid off.

I elbow my way through the crowd and dodge flailing arms, breaking through an especially thick cluster, I spot Lana and a guy reaching for her. He slides his hands onto her waist. She turns and her smile falls when she sees the guy is not me. I hesitate for just a second how am I gonna handle this? I’m not all that strong, I’ve never even been in a fight,

“No, I’m here with my boyfriend.” Lana offers a halfhearted smile and steps back. His hands fall away relaxing a hair, relieved, he’s not gonna bother her.

“I don’t see him.” He steps toward her again “I’ll just keep you company.” He puts his hands on her shoulders and she puts her hands on his chest. She’s trying to hold onto her smile. Lana is too kind.

Where are Shaina and Alex? I want to yell, how could they leave her alone like this.

“No, he’ll be back any minute.” She steps away again and bumps into someone else.

“Sorry.” She apologizes but the guy doesn’t even look at her.

Move you idiot! I order my feet forward. My hands are balled into fists and I don’t remember doing it.

“It’s okay, really.” Lana says.

“I don’t mind.” The guys’ hands slide down her arms.

“Hey!” I shout grabbing his shoulder.

“What do you want?” He snaps at me.

“Don’t put your hands on my girlfriend.” That sounded more intimidating in my head.

“Theo,” Lana smiles at me and wraps her arm around my arm. She offers a smile to the guy.

“Thank you for waiting with me but my boyfriend is back now.” She squeezes my arm, pressing into me more than usual.

“Yeah, how about some gratitude?” The guy moves closer to Lana again, Lana steps back hiding behind my arm.

“Knock it off.” I grab his wrist, his wrist is freakin thick.

Where are you Alex?

“I was talking to the lady.” The guy scowls at me. I push his hand back.

“She’s my lady and she doesn’t want to be talking to you.” I draw myself up to my full height, which is still not as tall as him.

“Let her tell me that.” The guy takes another step, Lana is half hidden behind me now and Alex is still nowhere to be seen.

“Please, I just want to have some time with my boyfriend.” Lana laughs her nervous laugh, her nails are digging into my arm.

“Come out here and tell me that.” The guy says. Lana shrinks behind me. I feel her chest fill with air as she sucks in a breath and starts to inch out from behind me. Her pulse beats in her wrist. She holds onto my hand, her eyes flashing over to me for just a second. She doesn’t want to fight but she wants this guy to leave.

“What’s wrong, you don’t think I’m good looking.” He smiles at her predatorily.

“Enough.” I snap pulling her back behind me. “You’re scaring her.” I step up to him this time, he’s several inches taller than me.

“Got yourself a big man here, huh?” The guy ignores me, his eyes still on Lana.

“Theo, don’t.” She whispers trying to keep her voice low enough for just me to hear.

“Sorry, sweetie.” The guy leans past my shoulder cupping his hand around his ear toward Lana, Lana ducks her head behind my back.

“Say that louder, I couldn’t hear you.” He sneers.

“I said back off.” I shove the guy back, he stumbles a few steps back but doesn’t fall.

“Theo!” Lana squeaks trying to trap me against her but I hold her back.

“Leave her alone, she’s good here.” My knees are shaking but I can’t let this guy bother her. I don’t care how big he is.

“Big man!” The guy hoots planting his hands against my chest. I fall back into Lana, Lana stumbles but catches herself and me.

“Do something, big man.” The guy shoves me again.

“Stop it!” Lana shrieks, her eyes wide. She hates conflict.

“Come on, do something!” The guy shoves me again, Lana grabs my arm and keeps me up.

“I thought you were gonna do something.” The guy advances on us, Lana’s breathing faster.

“Stop it!” She moves between us.

“Lana.” I grab her arm and pull her back with me. I hope I didn’t grab her too hard.

“Get back.” I nudge her, but she doesn’t budge, the guy grabs a fistful of my shirt and yanks me forward.

“Do something, come on!” He yells, my hand flies out of its own accord and cracks against the guy’s jaw. Pain shoots up my hand and the guy just stands there, as if I didn’t just hit him. He lets my shirt go and smiles.

“Theo!” Lana Shrieks.

My vision goes black and my ears are ringing. I’m on my back staring at the flashing lights and Lana’s face right above me.

“Theo?” She looks worried, she’s pushing my hair back.

“Alex, come on!” Shaina shouts laughing somewhere nearby.

“Don’t mess with my friends again.” Alex is angry.

“Come on, Lana.” Shaina appears above me, she’s smiling, her eyes wide with excitement. “We have to go, security’s coming.”

“Can you get up?” Lana slides her arm under my shoulders.

“Yeah…” I push myself up, Lana helps me. My left eye is starting to ache.

“You good?” Alex slaps me on the back, I glance around and find the guy that was bothering Lana on the ground.

“Good, cause we gotta go.” Alex grabs my arm and hauls me forward. We weave through the crowd, Alex keeps me on my feet, Shaina is laughing as she drags Lana with her through the crowd. Lana keeps glancing back at me with her big eyes. She’s so cute when she’s worried. I love that she worries about me. She’s always so considerate.

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Dear…,

I did it. I left and I feel empty. I feel like I have too much time even with a full-time job, even with spending time with Shaina, even with walking the dogs in the evenings and early mornings. I guess this is what freedom feels like. That or no purpose because that’s what I have now. I’m a ticking time bomb with no purpose.

Lana