Evan reached up to my face and brushed the back of his hand against my cheek. Being brave had led me here and, whatever happened next, I knew I would never forget this night as long as I lived. His hand moved down and slipped inside the jacket I was still wearing, and my heart thudded so hard against my ribs, I felt sure he must be able to hear it. Just when I thought it might burst out of my chest, he pulled his phone out of the inside pocket of the tuxedo and pulled up a song, a soft ballad by one of my favourite singers, and held out his hand.

‘Since it’s your first Crystal Ball—’

‘First and only,’ I reminded him.

‘If this is your first and only Crystal Ball,’ he said, correcting us both, ‘you have to dance. I’m afraid it’s in the rules.’

‘I really can’t,’ I said, not even sure I could stand up without melting away into a puddle. ‘I’ve got a letter from my doctor somewhere. It’s a medical condition, dangerously uncoordinated on the dance floor. If I even attempt to dance, you will get hurt.’

He pulled me up to my feet and rested my hands on his shoulders. ‘I’ll take my chances,’ he murmured in my ear. ‘Just sway in time to the music.’

‘It’s the “in time to the music” part that’s going to cause the problem,’ I said, my body rigid in his arms. ‘Don’t do this to yourself.’

‘Lucky for you, I’m a spectacular dancer,’ Evan replied before dipping me so low I felt the strands of hair that had escaped my braid brushing the floor.

‘And so modest too,’ I gasped as he pulled me upright again. ‘Please don’t do that again, I really thought I was going to throw up.’

He smiled and rested his chin on the top of my head while I perched my fingers lightly on his shoulders before slipping my arms up to his neck. Our bodies softened into one another, each granting the other silent permission to move closer.

‘What do you think would have happened if we’d met in the real world?’ Evan’s voice was low and husky and my whole body shuddered as his words tickled my ear. ‘Like at a bar or a restaurant.’

‘I don’t think we go to the same bars and restaurants,’ I said, eyes focused on the collar of his shirt, crisp, white and perfect. ‘And even if we did, this is not my usual look. You probably wouldn’t even notice me.’

Even as the words came out, they felt like a lie. I’d never felt more seen. And I would have found him if he was a needle in a haystack.