The Dream - Whitney Dineen Page 0,47

her house.”

“Y’all better let me know when that is, or I’m gonna be mad.”

I promise that if the event ever takes place, I’ll make sure she’s kept in the loop.

“Have you and your boyfriend been together for long?” I ask, hoping she’ll tell me if he’s who I think he is.

“Only about a month,” she says. “He came to town on some personal business, and well, the rest is history.”

I wonder what personal business a rock star could have in Creek Water—if he is a rock star, but before I can get nosy and ask, Davis’s brother Beau stops by with an exotic-looking woman. She has brown hair and the most gorgeous brown skin.

Beau says, “You look real nice tonight, Ashley. Thanks again for everything you’re doing for our gran. I understand things went well last week.”

I’m stunned by this family’s gratitude. I’m only doing my job, although I must admit I do give Mrs. Frothingham more attention than is strictly required. “Your grandmother is my favorite resident,” I tell him.

“This is my girlfriend, Lexi,” he pulls his date close to his side while Davis slips into the chair next to me.

“I’m happy to meet you, Ashley,” Lexi says with a decided Northern accent. “It’s nice to see Davis here with a date.”

“Oh,” I say, “I’m not his date. He’s here with Jessica.”

Lexi looks out on the dance floor where Jessica is currently fawning all over Buck and says, “I thought she was with him.”

“That’s my date,” I tell her.

She leans down close to my ear and says, “I’d tell her to keep her hands to herself if I were you.”

I whisper back, “I don’t mind, Alexander is just a friend.” I’m not ready to share that information with Davis.

“In that case,” she says, “you and Davis can keep each other company.” Her smile indicates how much she likes that idea.

This Frothingham clan does not seem pleased that Davis came here with Jessica. In fact, they all seem to be pulling for something to happen between him and me. Which, hello, so am I.

The DJ comes back and announces, “Here’s a classic I’m sure you’ve all heard, even if you don’t know the moves. If you know what you’re doing, make sure you get in the front row so everyone behind you can follow along.” “Thriller” by Michael Jackson comes on.

Buck runs across the dance floor to my side and grabs my hand. “We’ve been summoned, Ash. Let’s go.” Once we’re situated in the front row, we get busy showing off our most impressive monster moves.

The rest of the night flies by quickly. Even though I occasionally see Chad at a distance, he never gets close enough to say anything. The final song of the night is “YMCA” by the Village People. It brings revelers of all ages to the dance floor. Everyone from eighteen to eighty is so invested in spelling the title with their arms, you’d think their lives depended on it.

Davis and I don’t get a chance to dance again, but our eyes meet several times during the night. Unspoken conversations definitely take place.

Chapter Twenty-Six

August 18, 2008

Dear Molly,

Buck and I went out for pizza tonight. We talked for hours about our hopes and dreams for the future. He got a scholarship to Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, and I’m going to Missouri State. Our days as Creek Water residents are numbered.

Our schools are far enough apart that we won’t be able to visit each other, but we’ll talk on the phone all the time. I hate that we didn’t become friends sooner. Buck is kind of like my soulmate.

I’m lying on the couch in my living room wrapped up in my mom’s hideous afghan, when there’s a knock at the door.

Sammy storms in looking madder than a wet hen.

“I thought tonight was your big night with Jim,” I say by way of greeting.

“I did, too,” she replies as she plops down next to me.

Buck returns from the kitchen with a bag of microwave popcorn and scoots in next to me. “Trouble in paradise?” he asks.

“The man smacked my fanny!” our friend announces. “I don’t go for that kinky stuff. When I told him as much, he smacked me again and said I didn’t know what I was missing.”

“Oh, dear,” I say, knowing full well that Sammy is not one to take something like that lying down, or any other position for that matter. “What did you do?”

“I broke his nose. He came after me a third time with