Page 40 of Can We Skip to the Good Part?
Once she was gone, Ella stood taller and took an involuntary step closer to Max, who, of course, noticed, because she was ridiculously obvious. What in the hell was she doing?Back off. Somehow, she didn’t. Couldn’t.
“Drink?” Max asked. Morgan and Stevie were waving at Olive, who had pulled out all the stops tonight. She looked inarguably sexy in a red dress, her dark brown hair flowingfreely. She’d also left her glasses at home and didn’t at all resemble the librarian Ella had come to know at book club.Well, well.
“Definitely will need a drink,” she told Max. “Something refreshing but strong. Is that a thing?”
“It can be. Be right back,” Max said as the group took turns complimenting Olive’s nighttime look.
“I like to raise the volume on nights out,” Olive told them, but the quiet voice in which she’d said it was a sweet juxtaposition.
When Max returned a short time later, she had a rhythm to her step that matched the country song twanging away on the sound system. “This is called a Savannah Mule,” Max said, presenting the fizzy-looking drink. Ella happily accepted the beverage and closed her eyes at the crispy ginger beer, vodka, and … “Is this some kind of citrus?”
“I believe the term melon was used.”
“God bless melon,” Ella said, taking another pull from the cute green straw. She decided she very much liked Sally Sue’s.
Max watched the dance floor and halfway joined the line dance in progress.
“You’re dying to get out there, aren’t you?” Ella asked.
“What gave me away?” She turned in place at the same time as the group on the dance floor and then grapevined to the right along with them. This time, Ella did allow herself to check out Max’s ass, which did not for one second disappoint.
“What is happening right now?” Ella asked.
“Come out there with me.”
“That would be an epic mistake.”
“Take another drink then.”
She did. She was four swallows in and feeling a little looser. Maybe she could throw inhibition out the window and dance a little. There were worse things people could witness like that boobs-to-chin woman hitting on Max. She’d also been checkingout Max’s ass while she danced, which only bolstered Ella’s determination to stay close.
“Ready now?”
“Fine, Max. I will shuffle around the dance floor. Happy?”
Max took her hand and gave her arm a tug. “Beyond.”
Uh-oh. The song changed as they landed on the dance floor. She quirked her head to the ceiling, listening. “Is this the ‘Boot Scootin’ Boogie’? My parents used to play this while they cooked chicken-fried chicken.”
“You’re going to have to educate me on what that is after this song. Ready?”
She didn’t have time to answer because the dancers were moving toward her as one, and she had no option but to move with them if she didn’t want to be flattened. “Oh, okay. We’re going this way. And now we’re turning. Sorry!” She told the woman with the braids and black cowboy hat. “I’m new.”
“Follow me,” Max said, executing the next turn around like a damn pro. How was she so calm? “Oh, it’s faster here. Get ready.”
But Ella wasn’t ready, and to save her, Max took her hand and gave her a pull in the right direction, keeping her from ruining the spacing for the whole row of dancers headed their way.
“This is terrifying!” Ella shouted, but she was also laughing, the four swallows of alcohol having settled in and spread. Max gave her a quick twirl and let go of her hand, a real shame.
“You’re killing it,” Max said. “We’re headed left. Lead with your left foot.”
By the time the song wound down, Ella was out of breath, laughing more than she had in months, and convinced she was the least coordinated human in ten miles. What she’d also noticed? Max touched her with a quiet confidence she found unendingly attractive.
“You held your own,” Max said, as they walked back to their friends. Ariana now stood next to Morgan, her arms crossed in front of her as they approached.
“You made it,” Ella said, arms out, still riding the adrenaline from the terrifying impromptu dance routine.
“Just in time to witness that dose of foreplay,” Ariana said in her ear as they hugged.
