Slow Dance

by Rainbow Rowell

“Does that happen to you all the time?” she asked, under the music. She was cutting her chicken. “Complete strangers just follow you around thanking you for your service?” “You’re just jealous that no one thanks you for your service.”

“That’s why you don’t want to dance, right?” He’d turned on her. His brown eyes were narrow. “Because everyone else is? It must kill you to have to drink water and breathe air, just like the rest of us.”

You can’t date your best friend in high school. Cary couldn’t have dated Shiloh. There was nowhere for them to go with each other. The minute they started, they’d be at the finish line. He already knew her so well. He already loved her so much. What were they going to do, get married?