Chapter 52
Sometimes a girl just needs a break from meetings, chickens, and goats.
So on Friday when Evie suggested McKenna join her for a slow-waddling-eight-months-pregnant hike along some area trails in the afternoon, then go out for a hey-we-hiked-so-we-deserve-this-fried-greasy-food supper afterward, McKenna was all in.
“My husband’s older brother owns this place,” said Evie when they pulled up to the small pub located next to the mercantile store on the main drag in Bugle. “A group of ladies from town meet here every Friday. And most other days of the week too, but Friday is the official standing date.”
McKenna followed Evie inside, the little bar winning her heart over before the door even shut behind her. Eighties decor. Everywhere. From an E.T. poster at the entrance to a framed Back to the Future T-shirt hanging next to the Pac-Man video arcade beside the bar.
Overhead, Cyndi Lauper sang about girls just wanting to have fun, and behind the bar hung a row of vintage eighties high school letterman jackets.
Standing in front of the jackets, pouring a beer from tap, a man with sandy hair lifted his chin in greeting.
Maybe it was the ambience of the bar, but he put McKenna in mind of a Dirty Dancing-ish Patrick Swayze.
Evie waved at him. “Derrick, this is McKenna. McKenna, Derrick. Can we get a basket of mozzarella sticks and fried pickles?”
He dipped his chin in return.
“He’s a man of few words,” Evie said into McKenna’s ear as she ushered McKenna to the back of the bar to an eight-top crowded on one side with women who all looked like they were old enough to have been seated at this very same table inhaling a plate of nachos for a mom’s night out back in the actual eighties.
“Hey guys, this is McKenna. She’s been staying out at the bed and breakfast with Nate.”
“Ohhhh . . . so you’re the girl.” A chorus of chirps, squeals, and giggles sounded as McKenna took a seat at the table.
“I need to run to the bathroom. Be nice,” Evie said, pointing to the three women seated across from McKenna, the first wearing the largest pair of framed eyeglasses McKenna had ever seen on someone who wasn’t Harry Caray, the second revealing more cleavage than McKenna thought possible outside of Las Vegas, and the third wearing enough friendship bracelets to walk straight into a Taylor Swift concert.
“Of course we’ll be nice,” said Harry Caray Glasses, eyeing McKenna as Evie waddled away.
“Any friend of Nate’s is a friend of ours,” said Viva Las Vegas, stirring her dark soda with her straw.
“He’s practically a son to us,” added Bracelets, reaching for another cheese-slathered nacho.
“So tell us, honey,” Glasses said as all three women casually propped their elbows on the table, leaning toward McKenna. “What’s the story with you and Nate?”
“Are you two an item or what?”
“How long until we can expect grandbabies?”
At that, all three ladies started elbowing each other and cackling.
“Wow, you guys come in hot, don’t you?” said McKenna.
“Hotter than mozzarella sticks fresh out of the fryer,” said Viva Las Vegas, biting into a fried stick with a wink. “Here, help yourself.” She nudged the basket closer to McKenna.
“Thanks. And sorry to burst your bubble, but Nate and I aren’t really an item.”
“Notice how she said really,” said Glasses.
“Oh, I definitely noticed,” said Vegas.
“Heard it clear as a bell,” added Bracelets.
McKenna laughed to hopefully disguise the flush spreading across her cheeks. “Am I going to get away with saying anything around you three?”
“Doubt it.”
“Not likely.”
“Outlook not so good.”
More laughter followed. The song “Take On Me” started playing. McKenna’s shoulders released a bit of the tension. Maybe she needed this night out more than she realized.
Vegas leaned forward. “So who’s the secret celebrity coming to town? You can tell us. We won’t say a word.”
McKenna lifted her finger in a scolding wag. “You’ll have to come to the Dominoes Dance if you want to hear the announcement.”
Vegas wrinkled her nose back while Glasses squinted at McKenna through her frames. “Will you and Nate be going together?”
McKenna gave her best casual shrug. “Lottie asked me to take photos. Georgie threatened Nate bodily harm if he didn’t attend. Guess it only makes sense that we’d drive together.”
“We meant as a date,” said Bracelets, sliding the mozzarella basket away from McKenna. “We promised Nate’s mom we’d find him a date for the dance.”
“Sounds like your problem, not mine,” McKenna said, sliding the basket back toward her with a sassy little tilt of her head.
“Oh, I like her,” said Vegas with an approving smile.
“Alicia’s going to love her,” Glasses said with a nod.
“We are definitely getting some grandbabies out of these two,” said Bracelets as she lifted her arms and started waving. “Hey, Nate! We’ve got your girl over here.”
McKenna swiveled in her seat. Sure enough, there stood Nate, leaning against the bar talking to Derrick.
“Okay. Let’s calm down. Nobody said I was his girl,” McKenna whisper-shouted, flapping her hands to shush three women who clearly didn’t know the concept of shush.
Last thing she wanted to do was put Nate on the spot.
“This cutie doesn’t have a date for the dance tomorrow,” said Vegas, cupping a hand around her mouth. “Isn’t that a shame?”
“It’s not a shame,” McKenna said to the ladies. “It’s not a shame,” she said to Nate when he started walking toward her. “It’s not a shame,” she said to the guy who’d just come out of the bathroom. “Hey, should I go check on Evie? Feels like she’s been in that bathroom forever.”
“We’re telling your mother that you’re taking McKenna to the dance tomorrow whether you want to or not,” said Glasses when Nate made it over to their table.
McKenna opened her mouth, ready to tell the three Southern belles they would do no such thing, when a warm palm slid beneath her hair around the back of her neck. She looked up to find Nate peering down at her, his gaze as tender as the caress of his thumb behind her ear.
“I want to,” he said. “If that’s okay with you.”
His fingers continued kneading her neck. McKenna nodded because if she opened her mouth she might start to purr.
And for the first time all night, the three ladies across from her had nothing to say. Probably because their three giant grins said it all.