VICTORIA'S POV
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Marvelous. This night is marvelous. I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun. I can’t remember the last time I felt free and joy and just…happy. In this moment, slow dancing with Ryder, I am ultimately at peak happiness. The world passes by slowly, the time feeling like it’s nearly stopping while we dance chest to chest, my hand in his, his other one on my waist, holding me firmly.
“What are you smiling about?” Ryder asks, grinning. Smiling? Was I smiling this entire time? A pause, and then realization. I was smiling. I was smiling all this time while we danced, as the slow melody controlled my body, as Ryder led me over the dance floor with a slowness that made my heart race. I was smiling until my cheeks hurt.
“I like this.” I admit. Honesty like this was
