Chapter 1

On the night of our fifth wedding anniversary, my husband gave his ex-girlfriend the first dance he'd promised me.

"Claire, wait until the next song."

Adrian let go of my hand to fasten Vanessa's loose bracelet.

Her fingertips rested on his wrist.

"Coach Harris can only stay a little while. We need to show him the new routine."

I looked at my husband. "You promised me."

"Just three minutes." He kissed my cheek. "We have all night."

He'd given me the pearl brooch I was wearing that morning. As he pinned it on me, he'd promised he'd dance only with me tonight.

I'd been practicing in secret for three weeks for this rumba.

During my lunch breaks, I shut my office door and practiced turns in the reflection of the glass, afraid I'd step on his feet—and that he'd notice how rusty I'd gotten.

I had it all planned out: I'd surprise him after our dance.

The music started.

His hand settled on Vanessa's waist.

During their first turn, I counted the beats in my head.

During the second, I looked down and smoothed my dress.

When the song ended, I stood up.

But Vanessa pulled him toward a gray-haired man at the edge of the floor.

Across the crowd, Adrian held up one finger at me.

Just a little longer.

A server passed, and I took two glasses of sparkling water.

He didn't like cold drinks after dancing, so I asked to have one swapped for room-temperature water.

The next song started.

They went back onto the dance floor.

Condensation ran down my glass onto the back of my hand. I wiped it away with a napkin without taking a sip.

At nine fifteen, Adrian finally came over.

I set down my glass and stood.

He held out his phone.

"Film us for a bit. Our coach wants to see. Stand over there so you can get our feet in the shot."

I didn't take it.

"It's our turn now."

He glanced at the dance floor. "I'll dance with you once we've recorded this."

"You said that an hour ago."

Vanessa came up beside him and straightened his bow tie.

"Claire, our coach hardly ever gets to come. You two see each other every day."

"So I'm supposed to keep waiting?"

Her hands went still.

Adrian lowered his voice. "Don't do this. Everyone's having a good time."

"I'm not. It's our wedding anniversary."

Someone nearby turned to look. He stepped forward, blocking their view.

"I remember. I got you a gift, and I booked dinner for tomorrow."

My fingers found the cool edge of the brooch.

"I want the dance you promised me."

Vanessa took half a step back. "Forget it, Adrian. Don't upset her. I'll tell our coach we're not recording tonight."

He turned immediately. "You don't have to."

So quickly that my breath caught.

All she had to do was suggest calling it off, and he rushed to stop her.

I'd been sitting here for an hour, and I still had to explain why I was hurt.

I put my own phone into my clutch.

"Then tell me. Are you going to dance with me now, or keep dancing with her?"

His expression darkened.

"Do you have to make me choose right here?"

"You already chose. Then you asked me to film you."

"She's my dance partner."

"I'm your wife."

He looked at me, his phone still held out between us.

Behind him, the opening notes of the next song began.

"Claire, be reasonable."

I finally took the phone.

His shoulders relaxed.

Instead, I turned and set it on the table beside the two glasses of sparkling water that had gone flat.

"Find someone else to film you."

I headed for the coat check. He called my name from behind me.

When I looked back, he hadn't followed.

Vanessa was holding his wrist.

He glanced down at her, then let me walk the rest of the way alone.