Page 29 of Deep Waters
“Sure, honey.”
The band finished tuning up and announced their first song, drawing Tae back to join us for dinner. Zach pulled out the food I’d packed, plus paper cups and the lemonade. Music flowed over us, an energetic beat to accompany our dinner as we munched happily on our picnic. The kids devoured the pepperoni and veggies, Tae leaving the cheese and crackers to the rest of us. When our bellies were full, we packed up the last of our meal.
“Will you come dance with me?” Hana asked, turning Bambi eyes on Zach.
I bit back a smile. There were only about three brave dancers in front of the makeshift bandstand. At least two were three sheets to the wind. It wasn’t exactly a dancing crowd.
“Sure, Hana-banana.” He pushed to his feet, extending his hand to Hana. My heart fluttered, settling into a new rhythm as he escorted her to the front, matching her sway for sway as they stood facing the band.
“Can I go back to Matt?” Tae asked.
“Uh-huh,” I said, eyes still locked on the dancers. On Zach.
A few more brave souls got up to join them. Lucy slipped between blankets, dropping down on my left. Her hair was caught back in dark pigtails. She wore a high-necked black tank top and jeans. Even with the breeze coming off the water, she had to be roasting.
“Hey, Rae.”
“Hey, Luce.” I said it absently, attention returning to Zach. Some men looked awkward when they danced. Like they didn’t know what to do with their hips. Zach shifted his weight naturally, laughing down at Hana as the little girl tried to demonstrate more complicated dance moves for him to try.
“Fifty women’s ovaries just exploded into their fertile phase watching that,” Lucy drew my attention to her, nodding toward Zach. “I hope you lock him down before the pheromones get out of control.”
“I’m thinking about it,” I admitted.
She snorted, shaking her head, brow wrinkled with something akin to pity. “Oh, sweetie. The way you’re looking at him, you need to stop thinking anddo.”
“We’ve got the kids to take care of.”
“Don’t Jia’s bedroom doors lock?”
“Luce.”
She lifted a shoulder, eyes soft. No longer teasing. “You deserve something for you.”
“What if it doesn’t work out?”
“What if it does?”
I blinked. “Who are you, and what have you done with my cynical friend Lucy Millen?”
One side of her mouth quirked in a smile. Her gaze fixed on something in the distance. “She’s still in here.”
I shifted, following the direction of her gaze.Oh. I smirked. “You sure about that? Maybe a certain park ranger is wearing you down.”
“Bite your tongue.” She looked so affronted, I couldn’t help but giggle.
“Whatever you say, Luce.”
She sniffed. “Exactly.” She tilted her chin toward Zach and Hana. “Lock. It. Down.” She winked. “Thank me later.”
She slipped away as smoothly as she’d appeared, leaving me with nothing to do but reflect on her words.
Zach turned, catching my gaze, and crooked his finger. My cheeks flushed, remembering his earlier taunts, but slowly, I pushed to my feet, weaving my way toward him and Hana.
He extended a hand, taking my palm just as the band transitioned into a cover of Maroon 5’s “She Will Be Loved.”
Clay appeared at my elbow, bowing to Hana before extending his palms in an invitation to dance. “My lady.”
“What do you say, Hana-banana? This is my friend Clay.”
