Jackson patted Darius’s back. “Imagine your life without her.”
Darius’s blood ran cold at Jackson’s words. Ms. Helen’s voice sounded in his ears. You were afraid you couldn’t fall in love. Now you’re afraid to be in love. Which do you fear less?”
Pink’s song came to an end, blending into Bruno Mars’s “Locked Out of Heaven.” Darius saw a young man—one of Peyton’s students?—making his way to her. Enough was enough.
“Here.” Darius handed his paper cup to Quincy, then fought his way through the crowded dance floor to Peyton. The student had gotten there before him. Darius gripped the young man’s shoulder and spoke into his ear. “Not tonight, pal.”
The student had the decency to leave with a smile.
Ignoring Vaughn completely, Darius reached out for Peyton’s hand and drew her away. In the middle of the crowded space, packed with moving, shaking, bouncing bodies, Darius just stared at Peyton, still holding her hand. Her caramel eyes were guarded.
Now what?
“Locked Out of Heaven” came to an abrupt end mid-lyric to be replaced by Ne-Yo’s “Because of You.” Peyton frowned, looking in the direction of Wesley Hayes, the event’s disc jockey. Darius doubted she could see the high school senior, but from Darius’s vantage point, he had a line of sight to the young man, surrounded by Audra, Megan, Ramona, Doreen, and Ms. Helen. Well, he couldn’t fault their choice of song. As the lyrics said, Peyton had become his addiction.
He held her eyes. Darius offered Peyton his free hand. “May I?” She hesitated and his heart stopped. “Please?”
Peyton took his hand and stepped closer. Darius rested her right hand on his shoulder and released her other hand to place both of his palms on her waist. He began moving with her in a small space on the packed floor. Her scent—talcum powder and lily of the valley—filled his head. Darius bit back a groan. Her body was warm and soft against him. He’d missed her so badly the past two weeks. Darius drew her closer.
“I don’t want to dance with you.” Peyton’s words, barely audible above the music, stopped Darius in his tracks. “I’d rather talk.”
He stepped back and looked down into the heart-shaped face that had haunted his dreams. He searched her bright eyes and noted the confident angle of her pointed chin. Darius took her hand. He led her past the dancers and into the hall. It wasn’t the most private of locations for the discussion Peyton apparently wanted, but it would have to do.
Peyton drew her hand free of his. “You wouldn’t return any of my calls. Now you want to hold me in your arms like nothing happened?”
Darius brought them to a stop near the rear exit to the parking lot. “I’m sorry. I should have returned your calls, but I didn’t know what to say.”
“You didn’t have to say anything.” Peyton spread her arms. “I just wanted you to listen.”
Darius shook his head. “You don’t have to explain or apologize—”
“I know.”
Darius’s words stumbled to a stop. “What?”
“While I waited, hoping you would call, I realized this wasn’t about my parents or my engagement. It’s about you and me, and whether you trust me.”
“I was surprised.” He was a reporter. Still he struggled to find the words to tell his own story.
“I understand that. But I wasn’t keeping secrets. I wasn’t lying by omission.” Peyton drew a deep breath. “I came to Trinity Falls to find myself and I’d hoped to do that with you.”
“Peyton—” Darius stepped forward.
Peyton stepped back. “But I agree that we can’t have a relationship without trust.”
Darius’s lips parted in surprise as she hurried
from him. His muscles were frozen in shock. He forced them to move, rushing after her. There was a roaring in his ears. His heart had returned to gallop in his chest. Darius couldn’t breathe.
He caught her mere steps from the entrance to the center’s activity room. He turned her toward him, shackling her forearms with his hands. Darius drew Peyton with him as he backed into the first door he came to.
“What are you doing?” Peyton tried to pull free of his grasp.
“You think I don’t trust you?”
“This is a restroom.” She continued to struggle against him.
“If I didn’t trust you, I couldn’t have let my guard down with you.”