Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
SAbrINA
T he community center was almost empty. Some people had stayed behind, including Meredith, Hannah, Cori, Cricket, Fort, Cal, and I. We were cleaning up when Jace walked in. It was the first time in a decade that I had been in the same room with Jace and Cal. Jace walked up to me and gave me a hug.
“This is kinda weird for me,” he said, pointing between me and Cal. “Having you both in the same room.”
“Remember when it used to be normal?”
“Barely.” After he was done hugging me, he reached for his wife, grabbed her by the arm, and snaked her into his.
“Where are the children?” she asked after giving him a longer-than-normal casual kiss on the lips.
“Who knows? They’ve taken over the ranch. I packed our things. We should go on the lam now before they catch up with us an make us come home.” He buried his face in her hair. “I’m so scared of them. Hold me.”
Cal chuckled and slapped Jace on the back. “We should all get some dinner together.”
I had a glimpse into what my life might have been like had Cal and I not broken up. But maybe that was just wishful thinking or the imagination of a girl who liked romance novels. Real life was clearly not always so pretty.
“Oh, that sounds fun,” Cori said.
Cricket shook her head. “The diner had to close early because they are hosting a rehearsal dinner, so the only place that’s got good food is Bruno’s bar. And tonight just happens to be line dancing night.”
Bruno’s used to be a titty bar, but during the COVID-19 pandemic it had become more family friendly. Cricket said Bruno made more money now than he had before, which was why he kept the family-friendly theme.
Had I been a cat, my ear would have perked up and twitched. Reflexively I looked at Cal, who was looking at me, a question in his eyes. Someone groaned.
“No,” Jace said, pointing at both of us. “Nope. No. No way.”
“Is it country-music line dancing?” I asked.
“Or a variety of music genres?” Cal asked.
“There are some things that should be left in the past, and this is one of them.” Jace was still pointing fingers at us, his voice uncharacteristically loud.
I waved a dismissive hand in his direction. “Oh, come on. You act like we tortured you with line dancing. You had fun.” I turned to Cal. “He’s totally overreacting.”
“He might be acting that way because the last time I went line dancing was with him, and he drank too much, then threw up all down the front of his shirt.”
“Gross.” Meredith gave her husband a grimace.
Jace pointed to Cal. “I got sick because this asshole turned it into a drinking game.”
“It’s not my fault you have two left feet and you can’t say no to a bet.” Cal stuffed his hands into his pockets and beamed at Jace.
The change in him was stunning really. Even if he put on his suit and dress shoes, he would still look different from the Cal I saw that first day in his office. His face was softer, his shoulders were more relaxed, and he was quicker to joke and smile.
Meredith held up a hand to pause the conversation. She turned to her husband. “Are you saying all this time we’ve been together, you could line dance, but haven’t ever taken me?”
Jace pointed to Cal. “Didn’t you hear what he said? I had to drink because I was so bad at it.”
“He confuses his left and right,” I fake-whispered.
“I do not,” Jace said.
Cricket held up two hands. “Hold on a sec. Are you telling me that you, Sabrina, and you, Cal”—she pointed to each of us—“like to line dance?”
“He loooves it,” I said, jerking my thumb in Cal’s direction. Sure, I’d taught him, but the student had become the teacher.
Cal shrugged. “Big guys often don’t look good dancing club style, but a guy of any size can pull off a line dance. But I don’t really do it anymore.”
“Oh my God, we are so going, and dang it, I’m without my camera.” Cori wrapped her arms around her husband.
“Your phone’s camera will be perfect,” Cricket said.
“I’m warning you all now; do not go line dancing with these two!” Jace called.
“I think Jace might be right. Line dancing might not be a good idea,” Cal said.
“Seriously?” I asked Cal. “Are you saying that because you are an old fuddy-duddy or because you’re chicken?”
“Do not challenge him, Sabrina,” Jace groaned.
“Fuddy-duddy?” Cal asked. “I think only fuddy-duddies use the term fuddy-duddy. I’m not being fussy. It’s just that it’s been a long time, and we were in college then.”
“Exactly,” Jace said. “Good call.”
“Shut up,” Meredith told him.
I kept my eyes on Cal. “Oh, so there’s an age restriction to line dancing? I think you’re just saying all that because you’re chicken. Or maybe it’s because you think you’ve got this image to protect, Mr. Serious-About-Law-and-Order.”
“Nothing wrong with that image,” Fort mumbled.
I continued. “So serious that you have lost your sense of humor. You’re as fun as soaking-wet jeans on a cold day.”
“Well, that’s not fun at all,” Cal said sarcastically.
I gave him a loose eye roll. “But it’s true, right? You know another reason why we shouldn’t do this? Because I think if your dad actually saw you having fun, it would make his head implode. And if you really truly relax, you might actually be able to come up with some new ideas for this fight against him, but mostly, Cal, when was the last time you really had fun?”
He nodded once, like he was processing everything I’d said and then held out his hand. “Okay, lead the way.”
I snatched up his hand, entwining our fingers and dragged him behind me. Fifteen minutes later, we were all down the street at Bruno’s. After everyone put in their food and drink orders, Cal and I stood side by side and watched the folks shuffle across the floor.
I caught his eye. “I think we’re gonna be the youngest people out there.”
“And the rustiest.” He looked nervous. The septuagenarians on the floor were killing it.
“Speak for yourself.” I joined the line as soon as I saw an opening.
The dance instructor, a tall cowboy with blond hair and a close-cut beard, wearing the tightest jeans I’d ever seen on a man, came over and introduced himself. The way the jeans fit this man was provocative. I had a hard time keeping my eyes up on his face because, one, I was curious how he moved so fluidly in such constricting pants and, two, I’d never seen a guy with a butt that… full. Bubble butt, for him, was a flattering term.
He shoulder bumped me as we danced side by side, as a way of introduction. Kyle was his name. He was friendly and not even a tad flirty. He was the exact type Cricket liked, and I couldn’t help noticing that his eyes were flicking in her direction.
“What’s your name?” he asked me over the music.
“Cal,” Cal said over my shoulder, surprising me so much I jumped and missed a step, causing me to stumble into him. He righted me and hip bumped me to get me moving into the right direction.
“I think he was talking to me,” I said.
“Nah, he was talking to both of us, right, Kyle?” He tucked his thumbs into his waistband and spread his shoulders wide, like a peacock preening.
“I’m Sabrina.” I purposefully stepped on Cal’s foot, but he played it cool, showing no sign that he felt it.
“Welcome, Cal and Sabrina. Hope you enjoy the dances. Maybe you can get some of your friends out on the floor too.” Again, his eyes flicked to Cricket.
My phone vibrated, and I glanced at my Apple watch to read the message.
Cricket: Kyle was my match. My good date.
Ohhh. “I’ll see what I can do,” I told him as we all shuffled down the line with three side steps and a turn. Kyle moved away to speak to another person, and I gave Cal the stink eye. “What’s your deal?”
He nodded toward Kyle. “What’s with pants that tight? He can’t be comfortable, and if he is comfortable, then he can’t be a man with man-sized parts.”
“Oh, I hadn’t noticed his front,” I said. “I was too busy staring at his butt. That’s probably the best butt I have ever seen on a man.” This time, Cal stumbled, and I laughed. “What’s the saying? I could bounce a quarter off that, it’s so tight?”
“That ass is a trampoline—bounce a quarter, and never find it again,” he snarked.
“You seemed bothered by this. Self-conscious about your ass?”
He flexed both arms, making his biceps pop. “And I’ve got scars. Chicks dig scars.”
The song switched to a two-step, and without thinking, I put up my hands, and he took me into his arms like he’d done a thousand times before. He turned me around a full circle, then pulled me in as we glided across the dance floor instantly in sync.
“Puh-lease, everyone has scars. That there is a unicorn butt. A rarity.” I was teasing, yet based on the sudden furrow of his brows he had yet to figure that out.
“I think you’re in a vulnerable state right now; it’s impairing your taste,” he said tightly, his gaze avoiding mine.
The hand that had been gently caressing my hip suddenly tightened with tension. Two words came to mind: mixed signals. We’d had a great day at the community center and were now doing something we had loved to do as a couple. I was in his arms. There was chemistry between us. Yep, mixed signals.
“Hey, Cal?”
He finally looked at me.
“I’m going to say something that is up front and maybe uncomfortably honest. Okay?”
He nodded slowly like he was not sure he wanted to hear it.
“I think Kyle has a thing for Cricket. He can’t stop looking at her. And he’s her type. Your app matched them. So I’m thinking of how I can get them to talk. But that’s not the honest part. Right now, there is no one I’d rather be hanging out with than you. This moment right here is better than good.” I squeezed the hand that had our fingers entwined.
He visibly relaxed as he pulled me a smidge closer, his grip loosening. “Good, because there is no one I’d rather spend my time with than you.” Then he rested the side of his face against my temple, and I melted into him.
And I decided to just enjoy this. Because right now was the exact feeling I’d been chasing for years, and who knew when I’d have it again?