Page 106 of Debugging Love

The memory of Drew’s tone-deaf singing puts me on high alert. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“I am going to sing a song for Morgan.”

Morgan clasps her hands and beams, oblivious. She was asleep while Drew was violating the van with his singing, so she has no idea he’s about to turn her smile upside down.

“Maybe you should have Chance sing it while you sit here far, far away from the microphone,” I say.

He looks at me steadfastly. “Move.”

Not one to argue with a determined nerd, I slide out so Drew can go make a fool out of himself in front of Morgan and everyone in Toasties. He plods over to Chance, they have a brief discussion, and then Drew takes the mic, looking far too confident for his own good. I consider warning Morgan, but she looks too pleased. I’ll let Drew do the disappointing.

The music starts with light strumming followed by heavy drums and more twangy guitar. I recognize it instantly. Who on planet Earth wouldn’t?

Drew begins the verse to “Achy Breaky Heart,” singing wildly off key but hitting the right beats. I sink down in the booth in sympathy embarrassment, only to be summoned by a tall, handsome man wearing a felt cowboy hat. Chance holds out his hand. “Want to dance?”

I staunchly refuse.

“Come on, Danni.”

There it is. And just like that, I’m butter on a hot skillet. But I still don’t want to dance.

“Come on, Danni,” Morgan encourages. It’s not as swoony when she says it. She scrambles out of the booth and takes prime groupie position in front of the stage.

“I’ll teach you,” Chance says.

Still a no from me.

He kneels down, one forearm on his thigh, his other hand outstretched, his eyes just visible beneath the brim of his hat. No man has ever kneeled for me. And in a black cowboy hat, no less. It breaks my resolve. I grab his hand and let him pull me to the dance floor where a few middle-aged diners are having an achy breaky dance break.

Chance stands shoulder to shoulder with me. “This is the first line dance I learned,” he says, and then he begins talking me through the moves. Step to the right, do the grapevine, grapevine back to the left, walk forward, then back, and turn. That’s basically it.

Hi, my name is Danni. I’m a total dork.That’s basically what my face says, but I try to keep up with Chance. I’m concentrating so hard that I barely notice how badly Drew is butchering the chorus. When the song is over, a light smattering of applause fills the room. Drew descends from the stage and Morgan jumps him, throwing her arms around his neck.

“See?” Chance says. “That wasn’t too hard.”

“That’s what people do in Austin honky-tonks?”

“Sometimes.”

“Well, I’m a little impressed.”

He taps my chin with his knuckle. “Just a little?”

Morgan plows into me. “We’re going swimming. Wanna join?”

Chance stiffens. I’m not sure why. Maybe because he thinks I’m going to decline? Well, I didn’t pack my bikini for no reason. Definitely not to make Chance regret his life choices.

“Sure,” I say.

Chance relaxes. He rests his hand on my back, guiding me to the table where Drew announces he’ll take care of the bill.

Morgan and I head back to our room without them and immediately commence Operation: Make Them Drool.

As I’m digging through my suitcase, Morgan says, “What is the deal with you and Chance?”

I glance at her over my shoulder. “Excuse me? You’re the one slobbering all over Drew.”

“Have. You. Seen. His. Abs?”

---