Page 33 of Music City Diaries

I’m going to a new place tonight with some friends. It should be fun. It will be good to get away from the computer. Because I don’t want to admit that I’ve become attached to a few clients, and I know that’s not good. It’s a fantasy, and I need some reality.

Time to boot, scoot, and boogie.

Love you, Mom

Darcie

Ten

DARCIE

Country music blasted around me,and I swayed to the music. I had a pair of tall cowboy boots on, cut-off denim shorts, a Dolly Parton tee, and a long cardigan. The leopard print cowboy hat was the final touch. I felt comfortable and sexy, my favorite combination.

“Darcie, come dance!” Candi called from the floor. Rolling my eyes, I sat my glass down and headed toward her. Cutting between people, I squeezed into their line, finding some space. We were at a line dancing bar. It was fun, and I’d been dancing and laughing with my new friends all night.

“This is so much fun. We should do this at the bar!” Candi said, raising her eyebrows seductively.

“Good luck with that,” I teased.

Ever since I’d gone over to her place, Candi and I had become close. She’d been pulling me along with her and her friends ever since. They were easy to like, and I always enjoyed my time with them. It felt nice to be part of a girl group, something I’d never had before. I didn’t know what the teen movies were on about; they were all nice.

The song ended, and we clapped, the instructors announcing they were taking a break. Music came on over the speakers, and we headed off the floor to grab some drinks. Leaning against the counter, I looked around at the crowd. It was mostly people in their twenties with a few older couples who were line dancing die-hards.

Drinks were placed in front of us, and the bartender nodded down to the end where two guys sat, staring at Candi and me. “Courtesy of those gentlemen.”

We raised the drinks, thanking them. “What do you think?” she asked, taking a sip. “You want the blonde or the ginger?”

“Um.” I bit my lip, anxiety crawling up my throat. “Whoever.” I shrugged but didn’t put any effort into it. This was the part I always hated. Guys were constantly hitting on her, and by association, me. They’d buy us drinks, chatting us up. Candi loved it and would go home with a different guy each time. I couldn’t seem to get over that threshold yet. I’d had plenty of sessions online now, but when it came to in person, I was still blocked.

“I’ll take the ginger then. He has something sexy about him,” she said, biting her lip. “Come on.” She pulled me over there, and I went, dread filling me.

“Hello, boys. Thanks for the drinks.” She flirted like the best of them.

“No problem. Two drinks for two of the prettiest girls here,” the blonde guy said. He wasn’t ugly, but he wasn’t doing anything for me either. I smiled kindly, though, not wanting to be rude.

“Want to dance?” Candi asked, pulling the redhead’s arm toward the dance floor before he could answer. The other guy looked at me, and I shrugged, tossing back the drink and headed to the floor.

His hands landed on my hips as we settled on the dance floor. He wasn’t a horrible dancer, and our bodies found a good rhythm together. I guess there were worse ways to spend the time. When the song ended, I turned to ask Candi a question and found her making out with the guy.

“Well, okay then.” The guy I’d been dancing with chuckled, pulling me off the floor. I went, not sure what else to do. He led me to a quieter area and grabbed some water from a passing waiter.

“So, what’s your name, twinkle toes?”

“Darcie. Yours?”

“Rick.”

“Nice to meet you, Rick.”

“You don’t like me, do you?” he asked, smiling.

“No, it’s not that.” Panic rose in me, and I tried to fix the situation.

“Darcie. It’s okay. I kind of like you more because of that, which is bad for me, but you have nothing to worry about. Plus, the tall guy giving me death stares while we danced was a message to keep my paws to myself.”

“Tall guy?” I asked, looking around but couldn’t see anyone. Sometimes it sucked being short.

Rick laughed. “Do you need a ride home or anything? I think our friends are going to hook up, so I didn’t want you to wait on them.”

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