Chapter 288

The drinks were already flowing and dancing started quickly. Phones were out and pictures were getting taken, and I got swept along as both the subject and the photographer. Everyone wanted pictures with everyone right at the start of the party, and I quickly realised why - Heather and Sherry hadn’t made an appearance yet. Even JC came over and asked for a picture with me, and then in a group with Terra and Cassidy. I really wasn’t sure where we stood, but he seemed to be doing OK and not holding anything against me.

I had no idea how long that would stay, but I really hoped that he would be alright. He just needed to do some growing up.

Photos were slowly transitioning into dancing when the Terrible Two finally made an appearance. They came up from the backside of the Singles Boat, so I missed them at first, but I saw the look on Wanda’s face as she passed by me and went and whispered to Cattie, and that had me looking around for the problem.

Heather was wearing a dress that was almost out of character for her - it was a yellow sundress with an orange flower print on it, and she looked objectively pretty in it. The bust showed off some cleavage but wasn’t wild about it, and it had puffed ‘swag’ sleeves - and the only reason I knew what they were called was thanks to Cassidy. The dress left her entire chest and collarbone bare except for a little silver necklace, and her powerful legs were prominent below as her height along with a pair of matching yellow heels made her look like a summery Amazonian. Sherry, by contrast, was wearing a tight little sleeveless black dress and had her hair pulled up and back into a bun fixed with a pair of black chopsticks. She looked cute, and was wearing black drop earrings and a black choker of some sort to go with it.

Despite their objective attractiveness, I wanted nothing to do with either of them. I had been dancing loosely with Leia and Ginnie, and leaned down and kissed Leia on the cheek and winked at Ginnie before I separated from them and went over to where Wanda and Cattie had been joined by Cassidy. They were deep in conversation, leaning in, and I interrupted.

“Sorry, my loves, but I think I need a dance partner,” I said, holding my hand out to Cattie.

Cattie flushed a little and smiled nervously, but took my hand and let me pull her more onto the impromptu ‘dance floor’ area. Wanda and Cass both grinned and nodded at me as I quickly caught each of their eyes. Once we were in the improvised dancing area I twirled Cattie in place and then stepped close, weaving the fingers of one of my hands with hers and holding it up as I placed my other hand on her hip.

“This isn’t that kind of song,” she said to me with a little smile.

“I could slow dance with you to anything, Catherine,” I said. It was some sort of club song, but I pulled her a little closer and started to sway softly.

“Well then, let’s do this right,” she said, letting go of my hand and wrapping both of her arms up over my shoulders. I naturally let my hand fall to the other side of her hip. She looked up at me and sighed softly. “You know, it’s not really fair how you can make everything feel like it isn’t such a big deal.”

“Well, it’s just payback for you making me feel like I’m a huge deal,” I said. “I mean, really, I’m dating Catherine Worndorf. The Catherine Worndorf.”