“Hello,” he said cautiously, like he was afraid of something. Perhaps me, which was a good idea. I then nudged Jamie to respond.
“Hi,” she said with a shaky breath.
“You look beautiful,” and I knew his words were real, not forced or just pretended. He gained a few points there. Not enough yet, but a few. He had a lot of humbling to do.
“Thanks,” she said softly. I knew Jamie well enough to know she wasn’t sure she believed him at that moment. I wished she’d see herself the way others saw her beauty.
“Getting something to drink? Or would you like to dance?” He asked her and it was sincere.
Again, I barely moved my arm, but the pinch I gave her side was enough of a nudge to enliven her. She understood what I was saying.
“Uh, yeah, I’d like to dance,” she replied.
Ben looked at me and nodded a greeting. “I’m going to steal her away,” he told me. “We’ll find you directly pal.”
“Good,” was my response.
That made him smile and released me. Maybe things would be okay.
I fixed myself a glass of punch. Sure enough the nip of the homebrew set my throat to tingling. That was good. A positive thing. At least I could make it through the night. It would loosen me up enough to dance with a guy or two. Ben was showing Jamie he wasn’t going anywhere. He needed to do more than ask her to dance, but that was a start I guess.
“I understand that events like this don’t offer alcohol. Not legally anyway.” A deep voice spoke close to my ear and I jumped because I was startled. Luckily, my punch didn’t spill on my dress, nor did I spin and swing.
Turning, I came face to face with Mr. Expensive grinning, the man biting his lower lip, as pleased to be in my presence, for I was aglow in his.
Chapter Eleven
He wasn’t dressed in jeans and a plaid shirt. Not even close. Instead, his pants were a dark gray and probably cost more than my mother’s monthly salary. The white, long sleeved button down shirt he was wearing was casual, the sleeves rolled to his elbows with his top button undone. Like he was just getting comfortable after a long day of work.
Not only did he look expensive, he smelled expensive also.
And all of that, added to the fact that he lived a life I dreamed about made me a little giddy. I hadn’t expected to see him. How he had known about this dance was beyond me. But I didn’t care. All I cared about was that he was here.
“The punch,” I told him. “The alcohol is in the punch.”
“Ahh, so they hide the good stuff,” he replied.
I handed him my cup. “It’s moonshine, rotgut, like diesel fuel. Go gently dear friend. Be cautious.”
He chuckled, took my drink and drank deeply like the booze was well water. Not even a wince. I guess just because he was wealthy didn’t take away from his Tennesseeness.
“I’ll get another,” I told him. “You can have that one.”
“Is this a secret everyone knows or do some find out the hard way?” he asked.
“They all know. They just pretend they don’t. God fearing Baptists and all.”
He took another drink and I went to pour myself a cup. The clear plastic containers didn’t hold nearly enough. When I returned, yes, he was present.
“You’re here?” I stated the obvious, but it felt like a question and so was stated as such.
He grinned. “It would appear that way.”
I put the cup to my lips and took a long sip. I tried to hide my smile but it was difficult. He made me feel happy. Like there was hope or excitement in my future. Like I was new, not waiting on a shelf.
“I noticed the fliers all over town when I was in the other day to get a cupcake. Figured I might get lucky and you’d be here. And your mother, she, would not.”
This time I laughed. I didn’t even try to hide my amusement. “My momma can be a tricky one to escape.”