The Funny Thing about Love: Feel Good Sweet Romance stories

by Laura Burton

  He opened the car door for me. “I know you didn’t but it’s still my treat. I want to.”

  We drove the five minutes to the coffee shop and spent the time catching up out our week.

  When we returned, he parked in front of the door to the studio, but continued talking not paying attention to the time.

  Bang, bang.

  I jerked my head to face the front of the car.

  Enrique hurried to the driver side and waited until it was half way down before he said, “We’ve signed you in but class is about to start. Are you almost done now with your coffee?” he asked with raised both eyebrows.

  “Yes, we were just about to go in.”

  “Okay, because we don’t want to keep them waiting. See you inside.”

  “Yikes, I feel like a teen that just missed curfew because I was out having too much fun with my…uhm friends.” I giggled.

  He winked. “Well, we were having a lot of fun but now the real work begins. Are you ready?”

  “I guess I have to be now since I don’t want another demerit.”

  We both laughed.

  “Don’t worry, because I’ll do all the work, you just need to follow my lead and be your beautiful self.”

  My heart lost a beat because he called me beautiful and that he would help me through the dance. For seconds I remained without moving as I watched him exit the car and come around to my side.

  I quickly reached for my bag as he opened and held my door.

  We waved at everyone once we entered the large room and joined the straight line to listen to Doreen give us our instructions for the ChaCha.

  He leaned over and whispered in my ear, “Let’s promise each other to do our best since we may be in the dog house for barely making it in time.”

  I nodded. “Sounds good.”

  The same sensations, which I remembered all week continued as he held me.

  The forty minutes flew by and before I knew it, Doreen was announcing the last song to practice all the moves they had taught us.

  The first instrumental beats of Mark Anthony’s I Need to Know sounded overhead and Brenken led me to the dance floor as he had been instructed.

  I remembered the lyrics when my mom’s family used to hang out together. Could he tell that I liked him? That despite my high school grudge my heart was being pulled to him? Did like me? Did he feel the same things?

  We continued dancing but something had changed, my body craved the closeness, more so than the previous Friday.

  When he pulled me in for a cuddle that wasn’t part of the routine, I held my breath and looked up to him with surprise and maybe with whatever else brewed inside me.

  He grinned, released me, and brought me back in again never losing the cha-cha beat.

  I wasn’t sure if my feet moved the right way or if my arms were positioned correctly because my waist tingled at his touch. I relied on my feet remember when I used to dance with my cousins.

  His smile at the next turn was my undoing. I missed a beat and lost my step. His strong arms held on to me.

  “You okay? Are you hurt? You want to sit down?” He kneeled down and touched my ankle. “Does it hurt?” He raised his head to look up at me.

  “No, it doesn’t hurt. I’ll keep dancing as I don’t want to embarrass you.”

  He stood and touched my cheek. “If you’re hurt we can sit down. Forget about embarrassing me. I don’t want you feeling any pain or force yourself to dance through pain. It’s not worth it”

  He’s so sweet.

  I smiled as our gazes locked.

  It was at that moment that my heart melted and my grudge disappeared.

  The song ended and he held my hand.

  “I think I should be fine.”

  “Let’s take it easy since I don’t want you to hurt your ankle.”

  We ambled toward the rest of the wedding party.

  I don’t want these feelings to end.

  8. Matthew

  My heart thumped and exertion had nothing to do with it.

  After the cuddle, which I threw in because I wanted her closer to me, Lilliana’s beautiful amber eyes focused on me as if she liked me. I fought my desire to lower my head and kiss her.

  My heart screamed that she liked me but my logical side wondered if she was merely being nice only because of the wedding.

  The entire time we had danced, her body inching closer to mine, allowed me to smell a mixture of strawberry and vanilla scent. It was a different scent than in high school but still a unique smell to her.

  I waited for her to respond to the group’s decision to stay for the after party or head out to eat.

  “I twisted my ankle so I have to bail.”

  Everyone decided to grab something to eat.

  Dinner ended too quickly for me.

  Should I ask for her number? Use the excuse of her ankle? As a friend?

  But we weren’t really friends and I decided it was too soon.

  After we strolled to her car, I said “Goodnight” and entered my car.

  The entire time that I followed her car until she turned toward Newton, I thought about her and the possibility that her feelings had softened toward me.

  When can I tell her that I like her so she doesn’t revert back to ignoring me?

  9. Lilliana

  Butterflies fluttered around as I drove to our third dance lesson. It would be our final unless my sister decided to add another one.

  I grinned like a teen seeing her crush as he paced.

  His scanned the parking lot and his smile lit up his face. He picked up his pace, and said, “So glad you’re here early. I waited to see if you want to grab our coffee.”

  I returned his smile. “Of course.”

  We headed to his car and traded stories about our week.

  While he placed our order, my phone binged and I grabbed it to read a message from a coworker. I sighed. “Sorry, its work and I need to answer a couple of emails before my direct reports leave the office.”

  “No worries, I’ll be pulling up to the window in a minute.”

  I quickly responded to two emails and scrolled through the rest of the messages, while I thought about what my sister had told me over the last two years about him.

  She’s not wrong, he is a perfect gentleman.

  No wonder his ex-girlfriends didn’t want to lose him. Most men hadn’t been taught to be gentlemen and treated women as if they were unworthy of proper treatment. Unfortunately, some women did the same thing to men.

  Sadly, we had lost the ability to show the opposite sex respect.

  And it hit me that I still hadn’t apologized for not respecting him as a person at the dinner.

  He handed me my coffee but stayed silent as he drove back.

  I wasn’t sure if my face reflected my deep train of thought or he thought I needed more time answering emails

  Whatever I was feeling for him confused me but being in the car with him felt right. As if despite what my head kept screaming at me not to forget the past, my heart wanted to spend more time with him.

  My soul yearned to learn more about him, what he liked and disliked, his interests, and who he was as a person besides what I had observed.

  As he pulled into an empty parking space, he unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned against the door. He asked me about work and our conversation flowed until we ended up discussing what we both wanted in our futures.

  The more we talked the more I realized that my sister was right.

  Our values aligned, our work ethic aligned, how we wanted to raise a family aligned.

  And I loved how he acted like any normal guy with a lot of humility for someone entering his residency.

  He was perfect for me.

  I moved my body so my neck wouldn’t get a kink but a couple of strands caught on something and I said, “Ouch.”

  “Don’t worry I’ll get it.”

  He smiled and my heart fluttered.

  His hand unhooked the strand from the
seat buckle but he didn’t release it. “Now you can move.”

  “Thanks.” I leaned against the door, facing him, ecstatic to see his gorgeous face.

  “Are you looking forward to dancing tonight or dreading it?”

  “Definitely, want to go in there and dance the night away. Last week was so much fun. Do you think we’ll continue with our merengue lessons?”

  “Enrique said we’ll learn the cha-cha tonight. They have a list of songs they want us to learn so the wedding party won’t fall flat on our faces at the wedding.” He laughed. “They don’t want us to be wallflowers either.”

  “Yikes, wait until the Rodriguez family sees my Dad’s family dancing. They have two left feet, and absolutely no rhythm.”

  “I don’t believe it because you dance well and Ginny seemed to do well last week.”

  “My mom’s side of the family is Dominican but we no longer have the gathers we used to so we’re out of practice. It’s why Ginny bought a bundle deal. She doesn’t want to embarrass herself at the wedding.”

  I allowed my fingers to smooth out the kinks in my cloth bag. “The Rodriguez’s will be showing off at the wedding. They can dance. By the way, how did you learn to dance so well? I just needed to follow your lead and you were awesome.”

  He placed a hand over the side of his mouth and whispered, “Enrique’s cousins have been teaching me for the last three years. Whenever I hang out at their family they crank out the music and force me to dance.”

  “You cheated?” My hands went up to my heart. “And Ginny told me you were the perfect gentleman.”

  His shoulders rose slightly. “Yep, sorry. I didn’t want to say anything last week so you wouldn’t be nervous but you actually did so well. I was impressed and so was Doreen.”

  “Thank you. I don’t think it made a difference but the gesture was sweet. But I was shocked when she said that we did really well.” I giggled. “And she didn’t say I did well but that we did well. You did all the work, I just followed.”

  “It takes a lot of effort to follow. Some women just can’t. They want to go their own way and we end up in different directions.”

  “Really?”

  “Enrique’s youngest cousin loves to dance but she doesn’t like to follow. None of the guys ever want to dance with her so I end up making sure she doesn’t end up sitting alone.”

  “How old is she?”

  “Fifteen but she thinks she’s thirty. Her mom is constantly harping about her learning to follow.”

  “I can’t believe she won’t let you lead because you dance so well and you don’t step on any toes.”

  He laughed. “Not yet but I keep hoping she’ll let me lead. It’s as though we’re fighting on the dance floor instead of dancing.”

  A tinge of jealous rushed by as I thought about him with another woman, even she a teen.

  How much do I like him? I didn’t want to hear the truth.

  10. Matthew

  The fear stayed with me like a gigantic boulder on the bottom of the ocean.

  Unshakeable.

  Could this moment be the breakthrough of our past interactions?

  As I thought about high school where she hadn't been overly friendly, occasionally I had managed to make her laugh.

  Sometimes there had been a glimmer of hope that she didn't despise me by the way she dropped her guard and spoke to me without her cold tone.

  And then there were times when I caught her staring at me.

  These were the instances when I believed I had a chance.

  Unfortunately they were shot down because she would erect her wall, higher than before. She never really allowed me to get any closer then as classmates. No matter how much I tried. No matter how much I wanted it she always put up her barrier.

  But tonight it seemed as though the barrier crumbled around us with each step we had taken during our dance.

  It might have been just my imagination or my heart making my mind think differently but as we danced she drew closer than the previous two Fridays.

  I thought about admitting what was within my heart after a song.

  But my emotions were tied up in knots because her possible rejection placed an unwelcomed fear in me.

  Would she turn down my proposal to meet up without the group?

  Could I handle it?

  My heart wanted to believe that she wouldn't reject me if I asked her out.

  The instructor looked at us and said, "You two dance well together. Maybe after the wedding you should continue dancing with us because I think you would make a beautiful couple on the competition stage."

  I grinned and my thumb rubbed the back of her hand.

  Her cheeks turned slightly pink.

  I didn't just wanna be a couple on the dance floor I wanted to be a couple in real life.

  The group decided to skip the after party after and grab a meal. We all walked together and somehow she didn't release my hand.

  Our joined hands felt natural, as if we should have always been a couple.

  After dinner everybody split up but Lilliana and I walked to our cars that were parked farther from the others.

  While we strolled at a slow pace our arms brushed against each other. When we reached her car, she clicked the button and I opened her car door.

  She turned to face me and said, "Thanks for being a perfect gentleman."

  "Always." My heart thumped as I decided to give her a hint of my feelings. “It’s been fun getting to know you. And I love dancing with you. I think we make great partners.”

  “We certainly seem to dance well as long as I don’t miss a step.”

  “No, you dance well and we’ll be the only ones who know if we miss a step or two. I think I need to make sure I give you the cues for our turns and cuddles earlier.”

  “Maybe.” She stared at my eyes before she said, “I better go but thank you for being a great dance partner and a gentleman.”

  “Anytime.”

  As I followed her car again, I wondered when I would have the courage to ask her out.

  I have to ask her out before it’s too late and she disappears from my life.

  11. Lilliana

  We both arrive before five but I decided that I preferred to talk to him than watch him from afar.

  We were waiting for our coffee, when my phone rang. Ginny’s name flashed on the screen and I turned to him. “They didn’t change the time and we’re now late?”

  “No, they said six like normal.”

  I shrugged as I said, “Hey, Ginny we’ll be there in five minutes.”

  “Didn’t you get my text? Enrique’s brothers got into a car accident and were rushed to the hospital so we cancelled the dance lesson. Enrique and I are waiting to take them home as they said it’s only minor cuts and bruises.”

  I turned to Matt, while my sister explained, and mouthed, “Car accident.”

  “Ginny, oh no. Should we meet you at the hospital?”

  “No, because they told us they should be released in the next fifteen minutes and we’re at Stonehaven Hospital so by the time you reach here we’ll be gone.”

  “Oh, okay. Please give my love to the Rodriguez’s.”

  Matt mouthed, “Me too,” and pointed at himself.

  “And Matt also says that he is sending his love as well.”

  “You’re with Matt?” she asked with a bit of a suspicious tone.

  “Yes, we just picked up our coffee and are entering the plaza.”

  “We’ll see if everyone can make it two weeks and maybe we’ll do a double lesson. I’ll send a group text once we talk to Doreen and see when everyone can make it again, but I need to go. Love you and please be careful.”

  “Love you too.” I disconnected in a bit of a shock.

  “Are they okay?”

  “Yes, the doctor told them just minor bruises and cuts. She’ll send us a group text to see if we can all make it in two weeks.” I blew air out of my mouth. “She must be freaking out as it will put a dent i
n all her plans.”

  “Is there anything I can do?”

  I face him as he parked next to my car. “Not sure but I’ll let her know that you’re willing to help. It’s considerate of you.”

  “Of course I want to help. She’s marrying my best friend and she’s your sister.”

  “That is so sweet.”

  “Not really.” He took a strand of my hair and twirled his finger around it. “I’m just sweet on you.”

  The blood pumped blood through my veins as he said the words and my body grew warm.

  “Are you, really?”

  “Of course I am. I’ve always liked you. All four years of school and now. Can’t you tell?”

  I shook my head. “Not really.”

  “It’s true. It’s why I always tried to talk to you.” He leaned in closer and lowered his voice. “And now I arrive an hour early just so I can be here before you because your sister once told me you’re an early bird.” He touched my cheek. “Didn’t you wonder about all the times I pulled you into a cuddle when I wasn’t supposed to?”

  My cheek burned up as he continued to stroke it.

  “You like me?”

  “Never stopped. But the real question is do you like me now?” His beautiful green eyes stared at me.

  “Can’t you tell? I like to arrive early but an hour is super early for me.”

  “So we both like each other?” He grinned. “Are you sure?”

  I nodded with a knot in my throat as he leaned in closer.

  An explosion of butterflies burst in my stomach as he came within two inches of my mouth. I tilted my head and closed my eyes.

  His fingers followed the curve of my cheek. “I’m going to kiss you like I’ve wanted to do since the first time I saw you in that cafeteria.”

  Matt’s lips touched mine and all the emotions met together and formed a party. I never wanted his lips to leave mine.

  The kiss was perfect.

  More perfect than the guy I had named the ultimate kisser back in college. Matt’s kiss beat his by a long shot.

  He didn’t push me further but kissed me with a gentleness that made my heart sing.