"No." I said, firmly sitting down in my seat, taking back my hand.
My heartbeat was pounding in my ears, I hadn't been this nervous in years. Hopefully Jake couldn't read me like an open book.
"No? Come on why not?" Jake groaned, "Live a little Zoey." He offered his hand out again.
I loved the way he said my name.
"I don't dance." I said.
"So the high and mighty Avalanche admits she's not perfect at everything." He presses.
My eyes harden, "At least I'm closer to perfection than you."
"Prove it." Challenge glinted in his eyes, and I couldn't back down.
I grabbed Jake's hand, and he pulled me out of my seat, and lead me to the dance floor.
And we danced.
We weren't the only ones dancing, the floor was covered in couples, and I spotted Phoenix with Payback.
I wasn't perfect at dancing, and neither was he, but Jake managed to spin me, and I managed to not to slip and fall.
I was way out of my comfort zone.
Hangman talked over the loud music, "You're better than I thought you were Zoe."
I had to raise my voice too, "What did you expect, Jake?"
Jake doesn't hesitate when he whispers into my ear, "I don't know." I can feel his hot breath on my ear for a second, until he stands up straight like nothing ever happened.
I didn't expect such an honest answer from him.
I clear my throat, trying to break the tension. "I was never a dancer or cheerleader type. I did sports from the time I could run to the end of high school. Luckily, I have just enough coordination for this."
Hangman chuckles as we move to the beat, his hands in mine slowly pushing me away, before pulling me closer.
"Speaking of soft, what's this other side of you for?" I ask jokingly.
"What do you mean?"
He was honest with me, I should be with him. "When you're around me, you don't act the same. You're a little more open. Less cocky? Actually you're not really, but—"
Jake apologized, "Zoe, I'm sorry if I..."
A fire blazed in my eyes as I corrected him, "No, I like our little rivalry."
"So do I. Sweetheart," Jake tacked onto the end, just to annoy me.
"Okay Bagman." I retorted.
Hotman.
Two could play at this game. I just hope I didn't read his intentions wrong.
The song comes to an end, and Jake says, "Thanks for dancing with me."
"Anytime." I say, and we both walk back to our unattended drinks. I look down at my watch and frown, it's late.
"Do you need a ride?" Jake offers.
"Yes she does," Phoenix popped out from behind me.
"Jeez Tasha, you can't sneak up on me like that. Wait, I thought you were driving?" I panicked, the last time I was taken home by Jake was only bearable because I was slightly drunk.
I only had one drink tonight and so did he.
"Because you have to get up early for that meeting with Commander Metcalf. And I'm not going back to our dorm until later."
"Then it's settled." Jake said, "As long as it's okay with you?"
"Yeah, thank you. You really don't have to." I said.
"What kind of a guy would I be if I didn't make sure you didn't make it home safely?"
I blushed, and coughed to cover it up.
"Thank you Jake." I said sincerely.
Jake got up, and paid his tab, while I sent a glare to Phoenix saying, you owe me.
Phoenix stuck out her tongue in return.
"You ready?" Jake asked.
"Lead the way."
He led us to the parking lot, and he opened my door. I said a small thank you, unused to the idea of someone doing something so... gentlemanly for me.
He came in the other side, and drove off into the hot summer night. "Thank you for tonight, Jake." I said, breaking the silence.
"I had fun." He said, and I nodded, my eyes focused on the scenery outside my window. "You okay?" Jake asked, "Did you talk to Phoenix about your thingy?"
"Oh yeah, we're good."
"Good."
"I shouldn't had given you attitude that day." I apologized.
Jake shrugged like it was no biggy. "It's fine."
"No, it's not." I need to tell someone.
"Zoey, it's fine. You know how many times I've said something I've regretted. We're even."
Did I trust him?
"I have something to tell you, but if you tell anyone, and I mean anyone, I will personally make sure you don't come back from training someday."
"Okay?" He questions, unused to my sudden coldness.
"The reason I didn't want to talk about my Dad tonight... it's because he has cancer. That's why I passed out in the office that day and I snapped at Phoenix. It's moving fast, and the doctors don't know how much radiation and chemo will help."
Jake looks lost. "Zoe, I— I'm so sorry. If I'd known—"
"You would've treated me like broken glass. I don't want that. But that's why everyone thinks I've been 'off'." I look up from my lap to see Jake staring right at me. "You better not treat or see me any differently because I told you."
"I can't." He says under his breath, but not quiet enough.
"Can't?"
"Won't. Won't." Jake corrects. He pulls up to my dorm building.
"Thank you for the ride, Jake." I said, grabbing his hand that was on the center console, and sweeping across it with my thumb.
He paused to look down at where our hands connected and then back at my face. "Of course Zoe. Thanks for trusting me." He answered.
"I'll see you tomorrow." I promised, opening the car door, and retracting my hand.
"Goodnight," Jake said softly, right before I closed the door.
I replied back, "Goodnight."
I fisted my hand, trying to hold onto and memorize the warmth and shape of Jake's hand, and then flexed my fingers, trying to shake the increased beating of my heart.
But I knew that tomorrow, we'd probably go back to being Hangman and Avalanche, not Jake and Zoe.
And I had been so distracted by his presence, I forgot my leather jacket in the front seat of his car.
❅
3rd pov...
Bradley Bradshaw tried to approach Zoe at the Hard Deck, to talk, to dance, maybe to ask her out on a date.
Bradley had always thought that Zoe was pretty when they were kids, and still thought the same. But was worried that she'd shoot him down, like every other guy in her life. But with a little bit of liquid luck, Brad was seriously considering it.
Little did Rooster know, and to a greater extent, Zoe, is that Hangman had slid Coyote a 20 dollar bill that night.
Why?
To keep Rooster distracted, and away from Zoe Kazansky.
❅