Chapter ten
I don’t think I’ve ever gotten ready as quickly in my life as I have on this FaceTime call with Sparrow, frantically trying to figure out an outfit to wear to go line dancing. Eventually, between the two of us, we settle on one of my more western-looking outfits, complete with a signature fringe.
It wasn’t perfect, but at least it’s something I could actually dance in—which most of my pin-up dresses made impossible. I even completed the look by digging out my matching white cowboy hat and boots. I had to give those oldies—but goodies—a little TLC, wiping the dust off curved edges and pointed toes, but they looked great atop my blown-out curls and long legs.
Even though my outfit has me feeling somewhat confident, I admittedly feel a little out of place as I walk into Moonshine and Music. As my eyes glance around the bar, looking for Eli, they stop short as I become mesmerized by a huge group of people line dancing together in tandem.
They’re so synchronized, in fact, you could have almost mistaken them for parts of a well-oiled machine. The last time I’d gone line dancing, it had been with Joseph, and there is something about that fact that adds to the anxious feeling growing in my chest.
I should go,I think to myself. However, as I heave a sigh and try to figure out how I’m going to explain to Eli why I’m canceling, I feel a tap on my shoulder.
“Well, hey good lookin’,” a voice calls out from behind me, and I spin around to come face-to-face with Eli. As soon as I see him, my worries start to melt away, too stunned to have any thoughts in my brain other than ones about him.
Eli’s dressed to the nines, wearing a fancy cowboy hat paired with a tight-fitting, black button-up shirt embroidered in blue at the top. It makes his beautiful tan skin glow and the color of his eyes pop. Those jeans of his, also snug, are accentuated by a huge belt buckle—a longhorn steer head engraved into the steel, and the rim lined with turquoise.
“You’re looking mighty fine yourself,” I reply, and he beams at me big and bright, his teeth white and gleaming. “Hope you weren’t waiting on me long.”
“Actually, I was worried I was late,” I fib, his voice slowly smoothing out all the apprehensions I came in with.
“Nope, right on time,” Eli insists as he gently places his hand gently on my back. “Let’s find a seat.”“Shouldn’t we alert the bar or a hostess?” I ask.“Nah, their waiters and waitresses are top-notch,” Eli replies. “They”ll notice us.”
I try my best to hide that I’m blushing as his hand glides across the back of my shoulders, a touch that truly sweeps me off my feet as he leads me to a cushioned wooden booth. Just like Eli said, a waitress comes to us with menus in no time.
It was typical Texan bar fodder—chicken wings, Frito pie, steak, ribs, and stuff like that—all of it sounded delicious. I settle on some steak, even though I wanted the chicken wings, afraid I’d look like a barbarian eating them in front of Eli.
The food is amazing regardless, and so is the company. I could listen to Eli talk about literally anything for hours, his deep, rich voice one of the most calming and gorgeous sounds I’ve ever heard.
“So, would you like to dance?” Eli asks as he finishes his food, and immediately, my heart starts to race.
“Oh, um, I”m not sure if that’s a good idea,” I say.
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know how much I remember about line dancing, to be honest,” I reply.
“That’s just silly,” Eli replies. “Line dancing is about having fun. Come on, I can teach you what you don’t know.”
I sit for a second and think about it, the memories of Joseph and I dancing with one another seeping into my mind. No, I think to myself. I”m not going to let him continue to ruin things for me. This is my time. My life. And it’s too short to worry about what happened before or even about looking silly.
I want to have fun.
“Alright,” I reply with a nod, and I’m surprised when I stand up and Eli grabs my hand in his, our fingers intertwining as he leads me to the dance floor. I can’t help but grin ear to ear, my cheeks ablaze as he takes me over to the side and away from everyone else.
“Trying to hide me?” I joke.
“Not at all,” he says with a smile. “I just want you all to myself.”
“Is that so?” I flirt back.
“Oh! you hear that?” Eli asks, and I hear Brooks and Dunn come on.
“Oh gosh, “Boot Scootin’ Boogie!”
“Mm-hmm!” Eli says with a smile. “This is perfect! Alright then, you ready?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I say, and with his hand still in mine he begins to guide me through the moves.
“So, it’s right twice, left twice,” Eli says as he clicks the heels of his boots on the ground.
“Right twice, left twice,” I say quietly to myself as I do the same.
“Okay, now, right, left, right,” Eli says, and I replicate it. “Good! Now, do a little hitch with your foot and turn.”
“Like this?” I ask, kicking my foot up and crossing it over my other so I can turn.
“Yep! Just like that!” Eli replies, beaming brightly. “Now, do you know how to do the grapevine?”
“Do I!” I say as I do the steps, and he laughs.
“Good! Then clap and go the other way.” As I do it, he lets go and comes in front of me to do it with me. “Now we’re going to do a little rocking step with the little lasso move here,” he says, and as he does it I can’t help but giggle.
“What? Did I do something funny?” he asks.
“Oh no, I’m just having so much fun,” I say.
“Me too,” he replies as he continues to teach me the dance. “Alright then, you ready to give it a spin with me?” he asks.
“Yeah! Let’s do it!” I say, and then the both of us start dancing, giggling all the while. I surprised myself, not only that I got it down so fast, but how fun it was.
I truly miss doing stuff like this, just going out and having a blast. Or maybe what I really miss is having this sort of connection to someone. Either way, the two of us continue to dance throughout the night, and he teaches me more moves.
“Okay, so, it’s like this?” I ask and Eli shakes his head and laughs as he comes up behind me, surprising me when he gently grabs my arms.
“No, no, like this,” he says as he guides my body, and I glance up at him just as his eyes flicker down to mine.
“Is this better?” I ask breathlessly, my face turning a bit more toward his.
“Yeah, like that,” he replies quietly, and his face slowly begins to gravitate toward mine.
Oh my, this is it! He’s going to kiss me!I think to myself. But then I hear a familiar laugh from across the room, and my face breaks away from Eli’s, turning toward the sound. It’s so loud I jump a little, and when I look over to the bar, I can’t believe my eyes.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I whisper.
“Pardon?” Eli asks.
“It’s. . . it’s nothing,” I insist.
“It’s definitely something,” Eli says.
“My ex, he’s. . . he’s at the bar,” I say, feeling a bit of anger crop up before it is quickly replaced by fear. The last words he said to me ring in my ears. “We should go,” I say as I let go of Eli and make a b-line for the door, hoping Joseph won’t notice.
“Hey now, Darla! Wait a minute,” Eli calls after me, but I’m moving far too fast, and he doesn’t catch up to me until we get outside.
“I’m sorry. . . but we’ve got to go,” I say.
“No, we don’t,” Eli insists. “So what if he’s here?”
“You don’t understand, Eli. He’s awful,” I say as my lip starts to quiver and tears begin to creep up in the corners of my eyes.
“What do you mean?”
“He’s stalking me,” I say. “At least I think so. I don’t know, but he’s constantly stopping at my house. The last time he was there I told him to leave me alone and he told me I’d regret it. . . and now he’s here.”
“Shoot. . . It’s alright, darlin’,” Eli says as he pulls me in close to him and holds me. I can feel my heartbeat begin to slow. “I’m not going to let anybody hurt you.”
“Really?” I ask.
“Mm-hmm,” Eli replies, his jaw tightening a pinch. “Point him out to me.”
“Oh no, you don’t have to get involved—”
“Darla, I care about you,” Eli says, “and even if I didn’t know you, I couldn’t allow a woman to be terrorized by some jerk. So, point him out through the window, and I’ll take care of it.”
***
“There, sitting at the bar with those other three guys at the end, talking to them,” Darla says, and as I squint through the glass, I’m shocked to see Mitch sitting there with them. He’s leaned up against the wall and laughing with the other two.
She’s got to be telling the truth about him being in there,I think to myself. I mean, Mitch already admitted he’s friends with the guy. But I’m sure he doesn’t realize that he’s been following Darla around.
“Why don’t you go on and wait in your car, and I’ll come back in a minute, alright?” I say.
“Eli. . . don’t,” Darla says. “I’m not sure what he’s capable of right now. He’s acting. . . off.”
“Don’t you worry about me, I promise I can handle myself,” I insist as I walk her to her car and then head back into Moonshine and Music.
“Which one of you two is Joseph?” I ask as I walk right up to the bar. One of the guys raises his eyebrows.
“That’d be me,” he replies. “Who’s asking?”
“Me, that’s who,” I reply as I feel the heat of anger crawls up my neck. “What kind of a man can’t take “leave me alone” for an answer?”
“Excuse me?” Joseph replies, looking confused. But I’m sure it’s all a charade.
“You being here when Darla and I are on our date after you keep showing up at her house,” I snap. “That’s what I’m talking about.”
“Look man, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Joseph says. “I think you have me confused for someone else. I don’t even know a Darla.”
“Now, I know you’re not going to sit here and lie to my face—”
“Hey, hey, hey, alright,” Mitch says with a grunt as he gets up. “Excuse us, gentlemen.”
Mitch guides me away from the bar, and he has an irritated look on his face. “Eli! What in the blue blazes are you doing?”
“Your friend is stalking Darla,” I reply angrily. “I can’t allow that.”
“Oh, come on, Eli,” Mitch says.
“He’s already showing up at her house and threatening her,” I insist.
“Says who?” Mitch asks.
“Darla,” I reply.
“Man, I told you, she’s crazy,” Mitch says with a groan. “It’s just a coincidence. He didn’t even say anything about her or know that she was here ‘til you said something.”
“I don’t think she is”,” I reply. “Maybe you’re just too close to him to see it, but he’s obviously scaring the crap out of her.”
“Or maybe you’re too infatuated with her to see her for who she really is,” Mitch snips back, and I heave a heavy sigh.
“No, I don’t think so,” I reply. “It’s just too much of a coincidence for him to be here. Especially after what he said to her.”
“And what was that?” Mitch asks.
“That if she turned him away, she’d regret it,” I say, and Mitch shakes his head and groans.
“He could have said that out of anger,” Mitch agrees finally. “I could see that.”
“So, let me go over there and set the guy straight!”
“Eli, calm down,” Mitch says. “Listen, there’s no need to start a fight. I’ll talk to him for you.”
“Really?” I ask.
“It’s better than making a scene at the bar, isn’t it?” Mitch replies, and I have to admit, he’s probably right—even if I do want to punch him in his ugly little pointed nose and teach him a lesson.
“I suppose,” I say. “But make sure he knows that if he doesn’t leave Darla alone, next time I won’t just let you handle it.”
“Ten-four good buddy,” Mitch says as he pats my shoulder. “Now, go find her and figure out how to salvage the night, alright?”
“Yeah, you know what, I think I will,” I say with a nod. “Thanks.”
“No problem,” Mitch says as he tips his hat. “We are basically kin now, I got to have your back,” he says and heads back to the bar, returning to his seat next to Joseph.
Confident that Mitch has it handled, I head back outside and find Darla still sitting in her car. She looks terrified, and she scrambles out of the car and begins to look me over as soon as I get to her.
“Are you okay?”
“Right as rain,” I say. “My ranch hand, Mitch, he’s in there. He’s actually talking to him right now.”
“Oh boy,” Darla says, sounding a bit panicked.
“It’s okay, we got your back, Darla,” I reply.
“I really appreciate it,” Darla says with a sniffle as she wipes gently at her eyes. “Thank you for sticking up for me.”
“Of course,” I reply, but her face is still affixed with a frown. “You know. . . why don’t we take this date somewhere else.”
“Like where?” she asks.
“Do you like bowling?”
“Actually, I do,” she says with a nod as her smile returns to her face, warming my heart.
“Well then, I know a place if you want to hop in my truck,” I say, and she nods as she grabs my hand, squeezing it tightly as I lead her to it. As we drive, one of my hands in hers, I feel this sense of exhilaration I haven’t felt in a long time. I really am falling hard for her, and I’d keep doing anything to see her smile.
***
After the hiccup at Moonshine and Music, I’m surprised that he would want to continue the date at all. Another man may have ended the night after all the drama, but not Eli. He’s a different breed. A real man.
When we walk into the bowling alley, it’s honestly a lot nicer than I expected. And since it was later in the night, the whole place was lit up with black lights, and anything close by glowed neon everywhere you looked.
“Reminds me of when I was a kid and did that galaxy glow bowling stuff when I was younger,” I say.
“Some fun times,” Eli says with a nod. “Let’s make some new memories.”We bowl, and it’s neck and neck the whole night, him winning a game, and me winning another.
“This is it, Eli, the last round,” I say as I pick up another ball.
“Yeah, well, this time I’m not going to let you win,” Eli says with a wink. “But do your best.”
I head up to the lane, a neon pink bowling ball hooked into my fingers. The smooth backside of it is held by the palm of my other hand, cool to the touch. Come on Darla, you got this!
I let it loose, tossing the ball down the alley, crossing my fingers as I watch it zoom right down the middle of the lane. “Yes! That’s it! Come on!”
The ball reaches the end of the lane and plunges into the pins, causing an explosion of sound as the glossy ball sends pins flying with a resounding clatter.I hold my breath as one pin twirls a bit, appearing to be holding on for dear life, until finally it falls to the floor.
“Yes! I win!” I squeal with delight as I turn around and Eli claps.
“Well, shoot! Ya got me,” he says with a laugh as he comes over. Without thinking, I excitedly jump into his arms.
“Did you see that?”
“I did, I did,” Eli says with a chuckle. “Man, you’re a good bowler. I guess I should have picked mini golf,” he jokes.
“Hmm, maybe next time?” I ask.
“Maybe,” Eli says as he releases me and holds out his arm instead; I take it in mine. We go and return our bowling shoes, head out to the parking lot, hop back into his truck, and head back to the bar so I can get my car.
Again, his hand slips into mine as we drive, and I can’t believe how perfect he is. The night may not have been smooth or perfect, but it ended well. And besides, having his hand back in mine just feels. . . good. It feels right.
“Well, here we are,” Eli says as he puts his truck in park. Both of us get out of the car and head over to mine, and though I’m elated about the night in general, I’m sad that it’s ending.
“Thank you, Eli, for showing me such a lovely time,” I say.
“The pleasure was all mine, Darla,” Eli says, as he opens my door for me. “So, Valentine’s, we can meet at my place?”
“Oh, um,” I say as I sit down in the driver’s seat, turning redder by the second.
“Oh! No! Not like that!” he says, looking completely embarrassed. “Not that I don’t like you or want you in that way—”
“It’s okay,” I say with a laugh, trying to help relieve his frazzled mind. “What were you thinking?”
“Some horse riding in the morning,” Eli says. “I have a mare that is very lovable, and I think you’d like her very much.”
“That would be amazing!” I say excitedly as I stick my key into the ignition. “What time should I be there?”
“About ten or so sound alright?” Eli asks.
“Sure thing!” I say with a smile. “Well then, I’ll see you in a couple of days.”
“Sounds good,” Eli says. “Take care driving home,” he says as he goes to walk away and stops in his tracks. “Matter of fact, text me when you get there so I know that you’re safe.”
“Okay,” I agree with a nod, and I’ve swelled up with this weird little sense of happiness about it. He cares about me, that’s for sure, and it feels good. “See you later!”
“Night!” he calls back as I turn my key, but it doesn’t turn over. It just clicks.
“Oh no...” I groan as I try again, only to hear it click three times and then nothing.
“What’s going on?” Eli says as he pops his head in the window, catching me off guard and nearly causing me to scream bloody murder as I put my hand to my chest.
“I’m really not sure, it won’t start,” I say.
“It’s not turning over?”
“Not at all,” I sigh. “I guess I’ll have to call Sparrow.”
“It’s getting pretty late,” Eli says. “Why don’t you just let me take you back home? No need to wake up your kin when I’m right here.”
“You sure? I really don’t want to be an inconvenience,” I say, feeling a bit embarrassed.
“It’s no big deal,” Eli says. “Come on, let’s get you home.”
I’m thankful for the ride, and as a bonus, I get to talk to him longer. The two us of sing along to the radio with the windows down, the wind whipping through our hair as we go.
I can’t help but frown a bit as we finally turn up my driveway and he parks his big old Ford in front of my house.
“Well, this is me,” I say. “Thank you so much again for such a wonderful evening.”
“I’m glad you had as much fun as I did,” he says as he squeezes my hand, and our eyes meet. I feel this intense desire to lean over and plant a kiss on him, the same feeling I’d felt when we’d been dancing at the bar. But, instead of giving in, I push it down and press a kiss to his cheek instead, leaving a red print on his skin, not wanting to seem like I was too easy or something.
“I’ll see you on Valentine’s then?”
“Definitely,” he says as I get out of the truck, waving to him as I walk to the door, saddened as I watch him pull away. I never expected to be falling so hard and so fast for another man, but here I am, doing just that.
It’s frightening and exciting all at once, but the fear is getting kicked to the wayside. All I can think about is when I’ll see him next.