Fix You by Mari Carr Read Free Book Online Page B

of the tour I loved, but there was even more that I didn’t like at all.”
    “Like what?”
    “We were in constant motion when we traveled around. There was no time to stop and enjoy anything. All those sights I mentioned were seen from the window of the bus. We ate takeout twenty-four-seven and trying to sleep while riding down the highway at seventy miles an hour wasn’t exactly restful. Chip snores something fierce. I swear to God it’s like a chainsaw was rumbling in my ear for hours on end.”
    Zoey laughed. “I guess that would get old.”
    “It all got old.”
    She tilted her head, confused by his last, softly spoken words. “I don’t understand.”
    Robbie leaned back. His gaze drifted to the dance floor where a few couples had partnered up for a slow song. “Dance with me.”
    She took her napkin off her lap, but made no move to rise. “I’m pretty sure the statute of limitations on that dancing promise has expired. You don’t have to—”
    “I want to dance with you.” Robbie stood as he spoke, reaching to grasp her hand and pull her up as well.
    She followed him to the floor. She loved dancing. When he turned, she stepped into his arms, relishing the feeling of his hands as they touched the small of her back and pulled her close. Zoey rested her head against his chest, sniffing his shirt. He smelled of soap from his recent shower, and wine. The combination was surprisingly attractive. His heart beat slow and steady beneath her ear, the gentle rhythm luring her even further down the path to complete and utter bliss.
    Zoey closed her eyes and recalled the first time they’d danced together. They’d been juniors in high school and Zoey had convinced him they should attend the Homecoming dance at school. They’d agreed to go with a big group of friends since neither of them had dates. Before they arrived at the school gym, Zoey pulled Robbie aside and made him promise he would slow dance with her if no one else asked because she didn’t want to look like a loser standing alone. As always, Robbie had made the vow.
     
    Nineteen years earlier
    The air in the gym was stifling. Obviously the school was trying to save money by not cranking up the air. Unfortunately they hadn’t anticipated just how much heat five hundred dancing teenagers could produce. Zoey swiped at the tiny line of sweat running down her face. At least she was in a lightweight dress. She felt sorry for the boys in long sleeve shirts and dress pants. Most of them—Robbie included—had shed their jackets and ties within moments of arriving. Even so, Robbie’s hair was matted to his head from all the crazy dancing their group was doing.
    Zoey laughed when a couple of the guys tried to do the moonwalk as Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” blared from the deejay’s huge speakers. The gym was fairly dark despite the strands of white Christmas lights Mrs. Duvall had draped along the bleachers.
    It had been a fun night so far and Zoey was glad she’d talked Robbie into coming. He’d been pretty quiet lately at school. She knew something was bothering him, but no matter how much she tried to coax the answer out of him, he wouldn’t talk about it. She smiled as she watched him dance and play air guitar, laughing with his friends.
    “You want to get some water?” Robbie yelled over the music.
    She nodded and together they walked to the refreshment table.
    “Damn it’s hot.” Robbie rubbed the icy plastic bottle over his forehead.
    “You would think they’d turn on the AC or bring in some fans or something.”
    “Yeah. At least the deejay is good. He’s doing an awesome mix of new and old stuff. Did I tell you my band is learning some Aerosmith songs?”
    Robbie had started a band last winter, his love of music overshadowing almost everything else in his life. She’d actually been jealous for a while because the hours he used to spend with her were now given to practicing with the guys in his garage. With time, she’d