Page 45 of Waste Some Time
Katie squeezed her hand in return and shuddered. She nodded toward the patio door. “Think they’ve settled on a game yet?”
“Hopefully.” Sydney said. “You know them, though. Don’t count on it.”
They stood, and Katie wrapped an arm around Sydney to warm them both as they walked back inside together.
EPILOGUE
“What do you think?”Sydney asked, elbowing Amelia as they both paused on the dance floor to catch their breath. Jo, the band’s lead singer, was talking to the crowd, giving everyone a brief break between songs.
Amelia looked over beside the speakers where Katie stood alone, sipping a Bourbon and Coke and wearing bootcut jeans and her favorite long-sleeved black T-shirt with black Chucks. When she realized the two were watching her, Katie smiled and waved.
With a conspiratorial grin, Amelia nodded at Sydney. “Let’s get her.”
They skipped over to Katie and each slipped their arm around hers on either side.
“Wait, what’s going on?” Katie looked nervously between them before her eyes widened with realization. “Oh, no. No, no, no no.”
“Yes, yes, yes,” said Amelia. “C’mon then. You’ll love it!”
“No, no, I’m not ready,” Katie pleaded. “We’ve only been to what? Three classes?”
Sydney had convinced Katie to take line dancing classes with her, and they’d been having a blast every week. Sydney remembered a couple from weddings and festivals and things when she was younger, but most of it was new for her, too.
Katie had been apprehensive at first, but she said she’d do it for Sydney. They both were eager for any opportunity to spend time together.
Over the last three months, they’d become inseparable. Sydney was staying at her parents’ house while she started up her new business, which she’d done rather than join another firm. And with Rachel’s recommendations, her client list was filling up fast. She’d been looking for an apartment, but the real estate market in New Orleans was almost as bad now as it had been back in San Diego.
Plus, it was kind of easy to forget she needed a place when she spent most of her non-working hours with Katie.
“Three classes is plenty to jump in,” Sydney said.
“Don’t fight it, girl.” Amelia shook her head. “You’re not winning this one.”
“As long as I never have to show up in those.” Katie pointed at Sydney’s boots. “They look great on you, but I think my feet would stage a revolt.”
Sydney looked down at her embroidered cowboy boots and smiled at Katie. “Deal.”
The band picked up again and began a familiar tune, “Tennessee Whiskey.” Jo’s low, smooth voice filled the building, and the crowd coupled up on the dance floor.
“You lucky duck,” Sydney said. “I’ll get you line dancing later. But for now, I’ll settle for a slow song.”
Amelia released her grip on Katie and scanned the room, focusing on the people along the wall. “You two have fun. I’ll be hunting for my next ex.”
Sydney took a step backward, letting her arm slide down Katie’s until it reached her hand. She gently pulled Katie toward the other couples.
“Dancing with you is never settling,” Katie said as she wrapped her hands around Sydney’s waist.
Sydney placed her wrists on Katie’s shoulders, just beside her neck. She tangled her fingers in Katie’s hair as their hips swayed together in time with the music.
“Very true,” she said. “I stand corrected.”
“You know what? I was wrong, too.”
Sydney tilted her head and assessed Katie’s expression but couldn’t find an answer there. “About what?”
“About wanting a person who fit all my boxes,” she said. “I’d been looking for someone who was like me to be compatible. But all the places we’re different complement each other.”
“I like to think so,” Sydney said with a smile.
