I’ve been leaning against the kitchen island for..I don’t even know how long I keep looking at her. I don’t know what it is. I really don’t.

There’s just something about her. Maybe it’s the way she moves. Maybe it’s the way she carries herself. Confident without trying. Like she doesn’t care who’s watching.

Which is funny because I can’t stop watching.

“Yo, Lando, can you do me a favor and take one of these off my hands?” Max’s voice snaps me out of it.

I blink and turn my head.

He’s standing next to me, with two red plastic cups, in the exact same Top Gun costume, except his patch says Goose while mine says Maverick.

I look between the cups for a second before chuckling quietly. “Of course.” I take one, and we both take a big sip.

A second later, Ed appears beside us, dressed as an oversized bee. His phone is already in his hand, connected to the speakers.

I swallow my drink and casually point my cup toward the dance floor. “Who is that?”

Max follows my gaze. “Whoa…I don’t know her personally, but I’m pretty sure that’s J.Lo.”

I stare at him. “That’s really helpful. Yeah.”

He just nods and we both look back at her. Ed glances between us. Then he grins. “I got an idea.” He starts tapping on his phone.

The song that’s playing suddenly cuts off. A second later On the Floor starts blasting through the house.

I immediately look at her.

She freezes. “Oh my God! Wait, this is me! Ah!” She jumps into the air before continuing to dance.

I can’t help smiling.

Max and Ed nod at each other like two idiots who just solved world hunger. I finish my drink in one go before setting the empty cup down.

Turning to Ed, I grab both of his shoulders and shake him dramatically.

“Who says you’re struggling with your assists, huh?” I press a quick kiss on his cheek before letting him go.

He glares at me. “I can still change the song, dick!”

I don’t answer. I don’t think.

I just move.

The crowd shifts as I weave my way through it, people stepping aside without either of us noticing. She’s completely lost in the music.

She has no idea I’m behind her. Not until I’m close enough to catch the scent of her perfume.

My hand finds her waist first. Lightly. Just enough for her to know someone’s there. The second follows, settling on the opposite side.

She could shrug me off. Turn around. Walk away. Instead her shoulders relax. She doesn’t stop dancing. She simply lets me fall into her rhythm.

A smile pulls at the corner of my mouth.

My forehead brushes against the back of her head as the bass rolls through the room. She’s leading. I’m following.

Her hips sway slowly, effortlessly, and I match them without thinking. Like we’ve danced together before.

We haven’t.

She turns her head. Just enough to look at me over her shoulder. There’s a spark in her eyes.

Curious. Amused. Then she turns completely in my arms. Now she’s facing me.

The room disappears. People keep dancing around us, brushing past us, singing along to the lyrics, but it all feels strangely distant.

She raises her arms above her head with the confidence of someone who knows exactly who she is. Every movement is unhurried, perfectly in time with the music.

Without thinking, I mirror her movement.

Her hands glide slowly down her body, and somehow I find myself following her rhythm instead of my own.

Before I even realize what I’m doing, I’m lowering myself onto my knees in front of her. I don’t care how ridiculous I probably look. I can’t take my eyes off her.

She smiles down at me. Playful.

I shake my head to myself with a quiet laugh before pushing myself back to my feet.

Before I realize what I’m doing, I step closer. She doesn’t move away. Just keeps looking at me.

For a second, I think she’s about to meet me halfway, instead she turns her head away, with a teasing grin.

Leaving me kissing nothing but air.

She lifts a single finger.

Nope.

I chuckle, take one step back and run my tongue along the inside of my cheek before biting lightly on my lower lip.