I tried to just relax.

Breathe in, breathe out.

At this moment, Ashley had her right hand on my hip and her left on my shoulder.  My back was pressed so hard into her front that most people would have had a hard time determining who was who.  My heart was beating faster than it ever had before.  I could feel her own heart beating into my back.  They were almost in rhythm. 

I was still staring over my shoulder and into her eyes when I saw Tyler start walking back towards me, slightly confused.  I turned all the way around and was greeted with Ashley’s pearly white teeth in a giant smile as she slid her left hand down my side and interlocked her hands just behind the small of my back.  We looked like we were dancing together.

“Where did you go?  What took you so long?”  I asked her in the quietest voice I could manage over Will Hoge’s playing.  Our eyes remained locked.  I had never realized what a beautiful shade of brown they were.  A chill ran up my spine, and almost as if she could feel me getting colder, she pulled me in even tighter.  My head was spinning and my heart, for what felt like the millionth time that night, felt like it was going to leap from my chest.  I had almost forgotten what question I had answered when her reply quickly brought me back down.

“To the bar.  I had a shot or two and then decided to be thoughtful and bring you your drink.  You OK?”  Ashley looked at me with a concerned look on her face.

“Yeah, uh… yeah, I’m totally fine,” I managed.  I started to twist out of her hands, but decided against it.  They felt comfortable there.  I noticed that Tyler was getting closer by the second, and as he walked up, I took the liberty of introducing them.  “Ashley, meet Tyler.  Tyler—Ashley,”  I said.

They both smiled at each other and Ashley released my from her grasp to shake his hand.  I noticed Tyler giving her a glance from head to toe, and I felt the pangs of jealousy wash over me.  Was I really jealous of Ashley for grabbing his attention?  No, I couldn’t be!