by MJ Duncan
While Bryn knew that Memorial’s Halloween Charity Auction and Gala was a big event, she was still surprised by the sheer number of people that had crammed themselves into the Astaire Ballroom at the Wellington Hotel. The folding divider wall between the hotel’s two ballrooms had been pushed out of the way, creating a large space capable of seating over four hundred people. A large dance floor took up a large chunk of the center of the room, and a zombie surgeon stood behind a stand decorated with paper cutouts of tombstones and skeletons manning the DJ equipment. Large round tables covered in black tablecloths sprinkled with orange glitter were spread around the room, and there was a full bar at either end to keep the gala’s attendees swimming in alcohol to help coax them into spending large amounts of money on stuff they did not need.
Their group attracted quite a bit of attention as they made their way across the ballroom to an unclaimed table near the dance floor, and Bryn forced herself to smile as more and more eyes turned toward them. She was suddenly grateful for Anna’s suggestion of a group costume theme, because at least she had the small comfort of knowing that everybody was not looking at her so much as they were looking at them. It was a small distinction, but a reassuring one.
“Sorry guys,” Mitch apologized as they reached the table. He tossed his head like he was a hair model and added, “It’s my fault. I just look too damn good tonight.”
“You just go on believing that, Holloway.” Anna rolled her eyes at him as she plucked an intricately folded orange cloth napkin from a plate and dropped it onto a chair. She turned toward Bryn and smiled as she leaned in to whisper against her ear, “You okay?”
Bryn nodded. “Fine.”
“Please. They’re all looking at me,” Di declared, waving a hand at herself. She and Thom had coordinated their costumes to match within the group’s theme. She was wearing a sleek black cocktail dress and heels that did not look like much of a costume at all until she picked up a metal clipboard and stood next to Thom, who was in a full Iron Man getup that looked more than a little uncomfortable. “Everybody knows Pepper Potts is a million times hotter than Captain America.”
“No way,” Mitch argued.
“Guys, just stop,” Anna chuckled. She winked at Bryn and added, “They’re all looking at Erica.”
The group turned as one to look at Mitch’s girlfriend, who was wearing black, knee-high heeled boots, skintight leather pants, and an equally fitted leather vest that was zipped to the middle of her breasts and showed off an impressive amount of cleavage. Her long blond hair was pulled back in a french braid, she had a black bow slung over her back, and a pair of black sunglasses pushed up onto her head.
“I’m okay with that,” Mitch murmured, nodding.
Erica blushed and shook her head. “You guys are insane.”
“Absolutely,” Mitch agreed with a roguish wink. “And you, dear Hawkeye, are insanely sexy. Wanna get a drink?”
Anna looped an arm around Bryn’s waist as Mitch and Erica made their way toward the bar. “He is so smooth. We should all take notes on how it’s done.”
“Right?” Di chuckled, turning to her husband. “Hey, you insanely sexy man you. Wanna get a drink?”
Thom grinned and offered her his arm. “We’ll catch up to you guys later,” he said, waving Anna and Bryn as he and Di walked off.
“And then there were two lone Avengers,” Anna murmured. She brushed a kiss over Bryn’s ear and whispered, “Can I apologize now for their behavior tonight?”
Bryn’s eyes fluttered shut as Anna’s breath cascaded lightly over her ear. “If you think it’s necessary.”
Anna chuckled and nuzzled Bryn’s cheek affectionately. “I am very, very sorry for anything they do or say tonight, and I promise I will help you seek your revenge for their embarrassing behavior later.”
“That is not at all reassuring,” Bryn muttered.
“And aren’t you two nauseatingly adorable,” a lilting voice with a rich English accent called out.
Bryn’s heart leapt into her throat at the interruption, and she immediately sought the owner of the voice. Her eyes landed on a willowy blonde in a short plaid skirt and white button-down, who was approaching their table. The woman’s eyes twinkled with laughter, and her smile showed no hint of malice. Bryn looked to Anna to try and see what her reaction should be to this woman’s approach, and was reassured to see Anna grinning at the new arrival.
“Channeling our inner Bradshaw tonight, are we Jules?” Anna greeted the new arrival.
Bryn nodded to herself as she placed the name with all the stories Anna had told her about the anesthesiologist.
Jules grinned. “Jess has a thing for the skirt,” she shared in a mock whisper.
“And Jules is going to sleep on the couch tonight for sharing that information,” a woman dressed in tight black pants and a black tank declared with a smirk. She had rich bronze skin, and her sharp brown eyes were narrowed playfully at her wife. “Hiya, Fitz.”
“Hey, Diamond,” Anna said. “Bryn, I’d like to introduce you to the infamous Jess and Jules Monroe. Jess, Jules, this is Bryn. ”
Bryn nodded and gave the couple a small wave. “It’s so nice to finally meet you both.”
“Likewise, I assure you,” Jules said. “And, ‘infamous’, huh?” she added, looking at Anna. “I like that.”
Anna winked. “I thought you might.”
Jules laughed and looked around the room. “So, where are the rest of your Avenger cohorts?”
“At the bar,” Anna said, hooking a thumb over her shoulder. “We hired a driver for the night, so they’re all planning on getting stupid-drunk.”
“Ah, now I see them,” Jules said with a smile. “And, that’s where we were heading when we saw you two looking all lovey-dovey. Can we get you anything?”
Anna looked at Bryn. “You want to just go up with them?”
Bryn looked around the ballroom that was rapidly reaching maximum capacity. She hated events like this, where there would be so many people looking to make polite small-talk that utterly exhausted her. It spoke volumes as to how much she cared for Anna that she had agreed to attend the event with her without a second thought. “A drink sounds wonderful.”
Anna smiled and turned back to Jules. “You guys want to sit with us? We can give Holloway a hard time about his padded muscle suit…”
Jules cackled and arched a hopeful brow at Jess. “Babe?”
“Sounds great,” Jess agreed.
“Awesome,” Anna said, finally releasing her hold on Bryn’s waist as she turned toward the bar. “After you, Doctor Monroe.”
“Why thank you, Doctor Fitzpatrick,” Jules drawled, winking at Bryn as she took Jess’s hand and led the way.
Bryn fell into step beside Anna as they followed the couple through the crowded ballroom. Random people called to Jules and Anna and waved as they passed by, and Bryn was relieved that Anna seemed content to simply wave back with a hollered, “Hey, how’s it going?” as they continued to make their way toward the bar. She knew that later on such avoidance would be impossible, but she also knew that after a couple of drinks she would be better prepared to pretend that she was not itching to escape.
They finally reached the line for the bar, which had grown exponentially in the time it took them to get there, and Bryn glanced over at Anna as their hands brushed together. They were standing so close together that it could have been an accident, but when it happened a second time she smiled as she looked over at Anna.
“Yes?” she murmured, slipping her hand into Anna’s and threading their fingers together. Her smile widened when Anna looked at her, pure joy shining in her expression, and she gave her hand a light squeeze. “Hi.”
“Hey,” Anna breathed.
“Bloody hell. Are you two always like this?” Jules grumbled as she turned to look at them.
Bryn blushed and tried to pull her hand away, but relented with Anna refused to let it go.
“Behave, Monroe,” Jess warned, shoot
ing Anna and Bryn an apologetic look. “We used to be like that too, once upon a time.”
“Yeah, but we were kids,” Jules argued, shooting Anna a playful smirk.
“Yeah, well, we can’t all be as lucky as you guys,” Anna said as she looked at Bryn. “Some of us have to wait a little longer to find the girl of our dreams.”
Bryn’s pulse began to race and her heart flew up into her throat as she processed what Anna had just said. She was barely aware of the activity happening around them as she stared into Anna’s eyes. Surely Anna did not mean…
Di chose that exact moment to bound up to them and announce, “Come on! We’re doing shots!”
“Brilliant!” Jules crowed, clapping her hands.
Anna rolled her eyes at her friends and leaned in to brush a tender kiss over Bryn’s lips. “Later,” she promised softly as she pulled away.
Bryn nodded as her thoughts tried to catch up with her racing heartbeat, and allowed Anna to lead her over to their small group of friends that were huddled together holding a small glass of clear alcohol in each hand. She did not look away from Anna’s face as she took the two glasses Mitch handed her.
“To good friends and one hellava fun night,” Mitch said, holding one of his glasses aloft.
Bryn’s gaze was locked on Anna’s as they lifted their glasses, and that connection held even as they threw back their first drink. She licked her lips as the smooth, silver tequila warmed her throat, and smiled at the way Anna’s eyes dropped to follow the movement.
“Trouble,” Anna teased as she chinked her second shot glass against Bryn’s. She grinned and tossed it back. “Come on, Nakamura. Catch up.”
Bryn arched a brow in playful challenge and lifted the glass to her lips. The alcohol went down even more smoothly the second time around, and she smirked as she handed her empty glasses to Anna. “Better?”
“Fifty bucks says they end up dirty dancing before the night is over,” Di said, pointing at Anna and Bryn with her empty glass as she waggled her eyebrows at Mitch and Jules.
Anna just smiled and looped an arm around Bryn’s shoulders as she turned to her friend. “Fifty says you end up puking by the end of the night.”
Thom groaned. “Please, no. Last time you guys got her that drunk she didn’t move off the couch for two days afterward.”
“That was a pretty awesome night,” Mitch said, looking at Anna for support. “Remember the look on that stripper’s face when she jumped up on stage and took over the pole?”
“I will never forget it,” Anna said, slapping his hand in a high five.
Bryn looked from Mitch to Anna and said, “I’m afraid to ask.”
Di’s face was on fire as she muttered, “Fucking whisky.”
The PA system crackled to life and they all turned to the stage as a deep baritone announced, “If everyone could please take their seats, we have a few announcements before we begin our evening.”
“Shall we?” Anna smiled and she tilted her head toward their table.
Bryn nodded. “Absolutely.”
Forty-Five
Once the dinner and auction part of the evening had been concluded, the more distinguished attendees began calling it a night as their younger counterparts made their way out onto the dance floor, and the gala began to truly hit its stride. The overall mood in the ballroom became more relaxed, conversations and laughter becoming far less restrained as the volume of the music pouring from the sound system raised to a few decibels below deafening.
The evening may have begun as an event, but it was quickly turning into one hell of a party.
“And here we go,” Mitch announced as he set a small round tray full of shot glasses onto the middle of their table. “Help yourself.”
Bryn watched as everybody with the exception of herself and Jess reached for a glass, and she shook her head at the questioning look Anna gave her. She was already somewhere between pleasantly buzzed and drunk from the two shots they had done as a group and the glass of wine she had sipped throughout dinner. One more shot would have her falling asleep at the table. “None for me, thank you.”
Anna nodded, her brow crinkling slightly as she leaned in and asked in a low voice, “Everything okay?”
“Yes.” Bryn rubbed her hand over Anna’s thigh, and smiled at the way Anna’s legs opened wider for her. She held Anna’s gaze as she slid her hand higher, the alcohol in her system making her far bolder than she would have been otherwise. “Very okay,” she murmured.
“Mmm, I’ll say,” Anna whispered as she surged forward to capture Bryn’s lips in a lingering kiss.
“Oh, God! Get a room!”
Bryn blushed and bit her lip as she looked down at her hand was nestled in the crux of Anna’s thighs. What had she been thinking? She tried to discreetly move her hand away from the seam of Anna’s jumpsuit, but was thwarted when Anna’s hand covered her own and held it in place. She looked up at Anna, and the flush of embarrassment that had warmed her cheeks began to fade when she saw the way Anna was staring at Mitch, one brow lifted in playful challenge.
“You paying for it?” Anna asked.
He laughed and shook his head. “You wish.”
Anna grinned and knocked back her drink. “I do.” She nodded at the still-full glass in Mitch’s hand. “You gonna hold that all night, or are you going to drink it?”
“Haven’t decided yet.”
Di downed her shot and slammed the empty glass on the table. “You have fun figuring that out,” she announced as she pushed back her chair. “I’m dancing.”
Thom grinned and jumped to his feet as he finished off his drink. “Hey. Slow down. Wait for me,” he said as he reached for Di’s hand.
“I feel like that deserves a ‘that’s what she said’ joke for some reason,” Jules quipped as Mitch knocked back his shot.
Mitch choked on his drink as he laughed in surprise. Half-swallowed tequila rained over the table as he started coughing violently, his eyes tearing as he wiped at his face with his napkin. “Oh my God. That shit burns!”
“I’ll bet,” Anna replied unhelpfully as she turned to Bryn, pulling Bryn’s hand from her thigh and lacing their fingers together. “And on that note…would you like to dance?”
Bryn hesitated for a moment before answering. Her dance background consisted of the obligatory ballroom styles and an awkward shuffle that Kendall always found amusing, but Anna’s smile was so hopeful and reassuring that she did not have it in her to refuse. “Of course.”
“We’ll come too,” Jules said after sharing a look with her wife.
“We’ll catch up in a few,” Erica said.
Anna nodded. “Sounds good.”
Bryn and Anna followed Jules and Jess around the few tables that separated theirs from the dance floor. A familiar flutter of nerves quivered in Bryn’s stomach as Anna led her through the throng to where Di and Thom were dancing, and she smiled nervously at Anna as she turned to face her.
“I should warn you that I’m not particularly skilled when it comes to this kind of dancing,” Bryn confessed.
“Excellent. Because neither am I.”
While Bryn was sure it was a lie, she appreciated the attempt to make her feel better. “Okay, then.”
“Di’s the only one of us who can dance with any amount of actual finesse,” Anna said as she began to bop her head with the music.
Bryn looked over at Di, who was literally dancing circles around her husband while he did a perfectly cringe-worthy Sprinkler move, and nodded. “She certainly can.”
“Yep.” Anna slid her hands over Bryn’s hips, giving them a gentle tug to the left and then the right.
Bryn was so used to following the direction of Anna’s touch that she did so now without thought, allowing the hands on her hips to guide her movement. She still preferred the set routine of a waltz or one of the other ballroom styles, dances where she could follow the pattern of steps and know that she was not making a fool of herself, but there was definitely something
to be said about the way Anna was smiling at her now.
“And you said you couldn’t dance.” Anna’s eyes sparkled with happiness as she sidled closer. She was loose and fluid, her head and shoulders moving beautifully with the slow sway of her hips.
“As did you,” Bryn pointed out.
“This is the extent of my dancing ability, I’m afraid.” The upbeat song that had been playing shifted to something slower, and Anna winked. “Though I do do a mean middle school slow dance shuffle.”
“I’m not familiar,” Bryn admitted as Anna’s hands landed on her shoulders and she began stiffly shifting her weight from her right foot to her left. It was obvious that Anna was trying to be awkward, and she rolled her eyes as she took Anna’s right hand in her left. “However, I do know how to do something a little better than that.” She took Anna’s right hand into her left, and smiled as she placed her free hand on Anna’s hip. “Follow my lead?”
“Always.”
Bryn took a deep breath and then tightened her hold on Anna’s hand and hip, using that firmer touch to hold Anna to her as she took that first step. The music was too fast for a traditional slow waltz, but it worked well enough for a Viennese, and Bryn smiled as Anna followed her easily. “I didn’t realize you waltzed,” Bryn said as she led Anna into another turn.
“I don’t.”
“Could have fooled me.” Bryn did not look away from Anna as she led them around and around, keeping their turns tight in deference to the crowd on the floor around them. She loosened her hold once she was sure Anna had the pattern down, and smiled when Anna responded by leaning their foreheads together. “You’re quite good.”
“You’re incredible,” Anna countered.
A shrill wolf-whistle carried over the music, and Bryn’s gaze drifted past Anna to the crowd, searching for the source. She was surprised to see that the dance floor had opened up significantly around them as people stepped back to give them more room.
“It was Di,” Anna said, pointing with their joined hands in her friend’s direction.
Di flashed them two thumbs up and grinned. “Woo! Get it, girls!”