- Listen, Tiff! We have soda water, Blood Mary and gin and tonic. - I mean by suggesting, when the bartender fills both trays with drinks... That was a sign that my pause moment was over. - Which one do you choose?
- Two waters! - Tiffany says she's still looking at Jane. Then pull a fifty note from inside the neckline and place it in the pouch I'm carrying around my waist. - Like putting money in a stripper's cleavage!
She smiles with disdain at me.
- You can keep the change as a tip and share it with your friend to kill the hunger.
Still smiling, she turns around with two bottles of water in her hand, while Jane growls threatening to jump on her.
- Forget it! - I mean holding Jane by the shoulders. - It's not worth it!
Jane sighs when she sees Tiffany grab Aron on the dance floor. She gives me a debauched smile and starts scrubbing on Aron again. I shake my head disgustingly and turn to the bar to get the tray.
- Let's get to work!
Turning my back on Jane and when I return I see that she left mumbling with the tray without waiting for me. I sigh when I see Jane go against what Tiffany was doing, leaving that area for me to serve. Frustrated, I turn my eyes and get ready to move on to the dance floor. Putting a smile on my face, I take the first step, but an enormous hand grabs my wrists and takes the tray, putting it back on the counter.
- What do you think you're doing? - I say when Ryder drags me to the dance floor.
I try to pull my wrists and let go of Ryder's hands, but I can't, so much is his strength and determination.
- You'll owe me one. - he says, stopping and turning me into his arms.
- What do you mean by that? - I say confused.
- Let's piss off Carter and whoever else we can. - he answers. - Now do what you know best than the people here and move, Evans!
Ryder whispers in my ear when the song Boom Clap (Charli XCX) starts playing.
At first, I just look at Ryder, but when he starts leading me around the salon, I put into practice everything I've learned in the last three and a half years from Leon. I was impressed with Ryder's movements and couldn't explain how he could lead me, using contemporary dance steps. All I could observe were his eyes always fixed on mine, seeming to read and anticipating each movement. I didn't mind having Ryder's hands walking around my body while we danced.
- You look beautiful! - he whispers between one step and another. - I suppose it's one of your new clothes.
- No, not yet! - I say breathless. - I thought you were going out with your mother.
- She had an appointment, and since it was late, I decided to come here.
- You didn't have a fight today?
- There's a fight every week. - he says spinning me around. - But I chose to breathe other airs tonight.
Ryder holds his eye to mine and smiles.
- I seem to have done very well!
Without understanding, I frown. When music reaches its last stanza, the unexpected, or rather, the improbable happens. Stopping at the end of the song, Ryder takes my lips in a long kiss, taking all my breath away. Ryder holds me with his arms at my waist, keeping me suspended. Without making a big deal, I return the kiss with the same fervor and enjoy the moment, which seems frozen in time. When he puts me back on my feet, I lean my head against his chest to catch my breath. I feel Ryder's breath in my ear, while he whispers and makes me shiver.
- You're welcome!
I move my face away from his chest and pisco looking at Ryder, who smiles in a way I've never seen before. Understanding what he had done, I look around and everyone forms a circle around us, applauding our performance.
- Thank you. Thank you. - I say confused.
- You bitch! - I blink when I see Aron crossing the dance floor and coming towards us. - What do you think you're doing hanging on to this son of a bitch among all these people? Is that why you didn't take my calls?
- Calls? - says Tiffany, meddling. - Are you calling this cow?
Before Aron said anything or I defended myself, Ryder stood in front of me.
- Watch your mouth, Carter! - Ryder warns him in a threatening way. - As far as I know, you're the one who threw her out because of some hooker. Then Brooke's life is none of your business anymore.
- Fuck you, Taylor! - Aron rebounds. - Stay out of this! Can't you see we're having a couple fight?
Ryder lets out a loud laugh.
- Couple? - I say it with disdain. - As far as I know, we haven't been a couple in a week. As for calls, forget my number because I will not answer it, so do not insist.
- Brooke, try to understand that...
- That I'm frigid and not funny? - I mean in an ironic way. - No matter what you use as a justification to betray me with this inflatable doll, badly designed. I don't give a damn about you, Aron. Like I said before, it's over!
I take a break from sighing.
- To be honest, there's nothing to make me want to come back to you
