irritated. Just more work for me if he was nicer than I was (which he usually was). But right now, watching two of my favorite people laugh and dance together? I felt, content. I was turning into a sappy bastard. The song ended and a slow one began as Cole brought Livi back to me. I stood taking her hand and pulling her onto the dance floor and into my arms. “Does Cole dance like an old cowboy?”
She snorted, “Cole dances like an old cowboy on crack. But in a good way.”
I held her tighter, breathing deeply. “What about me?”
She laid her head on my chest, “You’re perfect.”
“So right in this moment, nothing else exists? Nothing else matters?” I kissed her temple.
Livi tilted her head up slightly, “Nothing.”
We continued dancing just like that, glued together. Her forehead touching my neck, hands clasped. Livi had changed me, changed my heart. I was falling head over heels for this girl and there would be no walking away and never looking back. If I was forced to walk away from Livi I’d spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder. The song ended and I spun her out and brought her back in for a hug. I wrapped my arms around her waist picking her up, I placed my head against hers. “I don’t want to let you go.”
She giggled, “Then don’t babe, dance with me again.”
That’s not at all what I’d meant. I sat her down and pushed her around the floor for two more songs before we needed a beer break. The whole time I was holding her I was running options through my head. Maybe I could go see her? Maybe we could meet somewhere? Maybe we could figure this out and end up happily ever after? I knew now wasn’t the right time to ask her. But that didn’t mean the words weren’t right on the tip of my tongue when Allie came barreling towards us. She slung her arms around both of us laughing like a nut job. “Will you two come up for air please? I want to take some shots and no one in this joint will let me dance on the table.”
I chuckled as I led both girls towards the bar. “Can I get a round of shots for these two beautiful ladies please?” The bartender looked Allie and Livi up and down, twice. I fought the urge to punch him. I put my arm around Liv’s chest and pulled her back against me while he placed our shots in front of us. Cole came from out of nowhere, grabbed Allie’s drink out of her hand and downed it. She slapped him upside the head. I rolled my eyes, “Can we get another shot?” All I wanted to do was hold Livi close and dance and tell her how I felt. All I got to do? Watch the girls and Cole drink and dance themselves into a frenzy. Don’t get me wrong, I was having a great time and had a really great buzz flowing…but I would have much rather been spending the night next to (in) Livi. In 72 hours I’d gone from professional partier to professional pansy.
***
After what seemed like hours inside that tiny bar, I was more than ready to head home. I placed my arm along the back of Livi’s chair and pulled her ear towards me. “Hey Sugar, let’s get out of here. They’re wasted,” I gestured to our group of friends. “And I’m horny.”
Livi giggled and much to my appreciation, clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention before saying, “How about we take this party back to the house?”
As we rode home I realized just how drunk Cole actually was. He was singing to a Miranda Lambert song, he knew all the words. I took out my cell and videoed a little. I was on cloud nine myself. Surprisingly, Baily had pretty much left Livi and me alone all night, letting us dance and flirt to our hearts content. I was going to talk to Livi when we went to bed, tell her how I felt. The night had been pretty perfect. Climbing out of the car I walked slowly behind Cole with my arms out waiting to catch him when/if he fell. When we were safely inside I laughed, “Okay, buddy. I want you to keep an eye out for any trash cans that might come out and tackle you. Also,
Fuyumi Ono
Tailley (MC 6)
Robert Graysmith
Rich Restucci
Chris Fox
James Sallis
John Harris
Robin Jones Gunn
Linda Lael Miller
Nancy Springer