Chapter 11 #2
“Who do you think is making the music people dance to? Besides, my music is a little heavy for ‘walk-walk-tri-ple-step.’”
Ezra pushed up on his toes to kiss Olly, but Olly pulled back.
“You’re invading my dance space. Let me concentrate.”
Ezra winked at me. “I’ll call you next week. I’ve got some ideas for beginning classes.”
“That would be great. Have fun.”
Ezra had Olly smiling by the time I walked by again. I loved it.
Next, I passed by Dillon from the grocery store, and he waved me over.
“Your mom and aunt are incredible cooks. That honey soy glaze? To die for.”
“Thank you for all your help with the grocery orders. If they’re going to keep cooking for my events, I might be calling you for all kinds of interesting ingredients.”
“I love a challenge—oof. Sorry, babe.”
“Come on, Dillon, we’ve got to pay attention, especially if we’re going to do this at our wedding.”
I hadn’t met Dillon’s other half. Engaged? I wondered if they already had a venue. Now wasn’t the time to ask, but I’d tuck that piece of info away for later.
“I can’t wait,” Dillon murmured, and he leaned in and kissed his partner until neither one of them was respecting any sort of dance space.
The energy in the room was incredible. Half the couples were moving in sync, looking like they’d been dancing together forever. The other half…
“Honey, you have to lead if you want me to be the follower.”
Mercy was now struggling with Ophelia as they tried to nail one of the more complicated step patterns. The upbeat music from Postmodern Jukebox was a little faster now, and the couples were laughing and falling apart rather than following directions.
“Sorry, sorry. I’m concentrating so hard on the steps I forget to let you know where to go. Why don’t you lead? It’s too much for my brain.”
“Thanks for coming, you two.”
Ophelia waved the fingers of the hand that Mercy was gripping for dear life. I thought I should leave them to it.
“Did you want to give it a try, Francis?”
Finn stood in front of me with his hands at the ready.
“Why not? Best way to get people to participate is to see their host doing it, right?”
Thankfully, I’d had a few lessons when Derek and I went to New Orleans years ago, so I was able to keep up with Finn, but it was nothing flashy.
Out of the corner of my eye, though, I noticed couples making space—and I nearly tripped when I saw my Kendall fling my mom out and in, and then pick her up and flip her around his back.
“Didn’t know our local fire department was hiding that kind of talent,” Finn said with a chuckle.
“Oh, he’s talented, all right.”
Finn cracked up. “Oh really? Hmm. Have you had to borrow some sugar?”
“A plunger, actually. And he’s great with bugs and snakes, too.”
Finn sighed. “A handy man is fun to get handsy with.”
We laughed together, and he turned me in a circle, and by then we couldn’t ignore the ruckus my person and my mom were making.
We joined the rest of the guests, clapping and cheering them on as Kendall and Mom worked out one more flashy move and, a second later, he lifted her by the waist, swung her between his legs, and she slid across the floor to a stop in front of me.
“Uh-huh, and you’re too old to organize kitchen cabinets,” I said, as I helped her to her feet.
“Be careful, or I’ll steal your boyfriend.” She gave me an evil smile, then blew a kiss to the crowd.
“Hussy.”
“Where do you think you get it from?”
I adored my mom so much, but this past year, with her unwavering support, I’d come to appreciate her even more.
Kendall approached and put his hand on Mom’s back. “Are you okay, Ms. Lau? I tossed you a little harder than I intended.”
She patted his cheek. “I’m a tough old broad. That was so much fun!” She flicked her chin at me. “He ever mistreats you, you know where to find me.”
Kendall burst out laughing and reached for my hand. “Ma’am, I know I couldn’t handle you.”
She showed her claws and gave him a “rawr.”
“Auntie Pretzel! I can’t believe you did that.”
Derek came up to us with Auntie Judy, and the two sisters hugged.
“We are absolutely going to be taking all the dance classes, Francis,” my auntie said. “I haven’t had this much fun since—”
“Since you let those two boys take you home after a night at the club when we were in community college?”
Three things happened.
My aunt giggled and high-fived my mom.
Derek about swallowed his tongue.
And Kendall gave me a look that told me he’d just registered how much trouble he’d gotten himself into with our family.
“Mom!” Derek protested.
“Oh, pipe down. You think your mom didn’t paint the town when she was a girl? And don’t think I haven’t noticed those two men from the fire department looking as if they want to eat you alive. They haven’t stopped staring at you all night. Are you going to let them go hungry?”
All of us fell apart laughing except for Derek. If he hadn’t swallowed his tongue previously, he did then.
I patted him on the back. “Breathe, cousin. I think your secret’s out.”
Mom and Auntie Judy headed back to the kitchen to pour themselves more wine, and Roger and Arnie approached cautiously.
“Are you okay?” Roger asked him.
“I don’t know. I think I just discovered that the proclivity for having three-ways is genetic.”
And that’s when the night entered the R-rated portion of the programming.