Page 12 of Love Me In Color

“Great! You can buy her a drink there. We’re going dancing in Wimberly tonight, and Blake could use a partner.”

The stranger flashed me a coy smile that reached his eyes. “Well, what time and where, Gabby?”

She held her hand out for his phone and keyed in my number. His smile remained wide and entertained. After my phone beeped with a text from Parker, Gabby spun me around and reached into the side pocket of my leggings. She made sure to save his contact.

She texted him the address and the time, utterly unbothered by the fact that this was a complete stranger.

“We’ll see you there, cowboy,” she winked.

Gabby pulled me away before I could protest or Parker could say anything else. The whole conversation went down so quickly that I was still processing that Gabby landed me a date for tonight when we walked away. She never ceased to amaze me. I aspired to move around the world with half of the amount of confidence that she did.

“What the hell was that about?” I whispered as we walked.

I took a peek behind me and caught Parker still looking at us. He gave me an uncertain wave along with a slightly embarrassed smile. His interaction with Gabby also left him wondering what had just happened.

“I got you a date with a really hot gym guy! Richie doesn’t get to have all the fun if I have anything to say about it.”

“Yeah, a date with a complete and total stranger!”

“Blake, sweetie, everyone is a stranger until you meet them. Plus, it’s not like I gave him our home address.”

“Fine, but if I have a date, you’ll need one too.”

“I don’t need a date. There are always plenty of guys willing to dance with me at the hall.”

If I had a date, she would have one too. It was one that I was sure would go with her and would do short of commit murder for her. He might even do that if the situation demanded it if I was honest with myself. So, I pressed the name on my speed dial for the perfect dance partner for Gabby.

“Hey, kid. Everything okay?” Nathaniel’s gruff voice picked up after the second ring.

“Were you sleeping?” I asked.

“Nah, just relaxing.”

“Well, what are you doing tonight?”

“Watching baseball and getting drunk in my apartment since you stole my Gabby from me tonight.”

“Don’t blame me. She’s the one that wanted to go dancing. But what if I told you that you could hang out with Gabby tonight anyway?”

“You’re not bailing on her, are you? She’s been looking forward to this, and you promised.”

“No! But you’re coming with us!”

Gabby snickered next to me. She knew what Nathaniel’s response would be.

“I’m doing what? Have you lost your mind?” he laughed.

“I have not. You’re coming.”

“Are you seriously asking me to go dancing with you? Have we not met?”

“Come on! You’re a great dancer and already complaining that you miss Gabby. Plus, do you want those drunk strangers putting their wandering hands all over the love of your life on the dance floor?”

I taunted him, knowing how much of a weakness Gabby was for him. I heard the TV turn off in the background. He groaned as he got off the couch.

“Screw you, kid,” he scoffed.

“No thanks. Not my job.”

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