Finally, the waiters came around and started clearing the tables.
Lauren and Tommy had their first dance as husband and wife. Tommy cried … again. Who would’ve thought that the big, dumb jock I’d met that day before the fair was turning out to be such an emotional basket case on his wedding day? Good for him, though; good for both of them.
After the usual dances were done and people started buzzing around the outskirts of the dance floor, I noticed Sophia starting to pack up the girls’ things.
“Could you wait one minute?” I asked her.
She looked confused, but nodded as I turned and hurried to the DJ booth. He leaned over to me, covering his other ear with his hand, then smiled and gave me a thumb’s up.
“Attention, party guests, I have a request to fulfill a little earlier than I normally would, but two little princesses have to get going and they were promised a special dance. This song is for … The Twinkies.”
I took the girls’ hands and led them out onto the dance floor as “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder started playing. I motioned for each of them to hop on one of my feet as I spun and bounced them around the dance floor, doing my best to keep to the actual beat of the music. I was dying to look over at Kacie’s face, but I didn’t want her to think this was about me impressing her. It wasn’t, it was about my moment with the girls who I’d really grown to love. Our moment. One of hopefully many to come.
Once the song ended, the crowd cheered and I thought my legs were going to fall off, but the huge grins on their faces made it absolutely worth it. Kacie was waiting at our table for us when we got back.
“Mommy, did you see us?” Piper asked excitedly.
“I did, you guys looked beautiful. And what great dancers you are!”
“We didn’t dance.” Lucy giggled. “We stood on Brody’s feet the whole time.”
“Wow!” Kacie slapped her cheeks with her hands, pretending to be surprised. “I think you fooled everyone.”
I offered to go with Kacie to walk everyone out, but she said she needed a minute with her mom, so I took the opportunity to get myself a beer. Derek walked up behind me and clapped his hands on my shoulders.
“Make that two, please,” he said to the server, leaning against the wood bar with me. “What a night, huh?”
“Absolutely.” I nodded toward Tommy and Lauren who were kissing on the dance floor. “Those two seem pretty damn happy.”
“Yeah, they do. So does Kacie.” Derek eyed me curiously.
“Does she? Good.” I sighed. “We’ve had a weird week or so, I thought I’d done something wrong, but all she says is she’s fine.”
Derek cringed. “Fine is never good.”
“I know!” I handed Derek his beer and we started back to the table together.
“Kacie had a rough time after Zach ditched her; she’s been a little skeptical ever since. Like she’s waiting for a bomb to drop or whatever.” He shook his head, staring off at the dance floor. “I don’t know, women are weird.”
“I’ll drink to that,” I said, clinking my beer with his.
“What are you two toasting?” Alexa stood behind us with her hip cocked to the side, arms folded defensively across her chest. Kacie was just behind her with one raised eyebrow, and her lips puckered as she chewed the inside of her cheek. She looked sexy and confident … and sexy.
Derek spun around and scooped Alexa up in his arms, kissing her neck. “How fucking hot our women are.”
“True story.” I pulled Kacie into my arms and started dancing at the table with her.
“No way.” She pulled back, shaking her head. “If I’m gonna dance, I need to have a whole lot of liquor.”
“Coming right up.” I grinned, dragging her to the bar.
“These are so gooooood,” Kacie slurred after her fourth green apple Martini. Her eyes were relaxed and happy, her movements were as loose as I’d ever seen.
“How are you feeling? Think you should slow down?” I asked cautiously.
“Hell no!” She tossed her arms around my neck and slithered herself up and down my body in a way that men usually pay for. “I’m just getting started, baby.”
“Baby?” I laughed.
“Yeah, baby.” She licked her lips and grinned up at me, wobbling from side to side. “You’re my baby.”
I grabbed her hips to keep her from falling over. “You got that right … baby.” I reached down and covered her mouth with mine. Her cold, sweet tasting tongue darted into my mouth, kissing me deep.
“You ready to go? I’m worried you’re gonna be sick tomorrow.”
“I’m fine,” she said in a garbled tone.
“You are?”
“Sharp as a tack!” She giggled.
“Alexa and Derek are taking off, most of the other people have left too. You sure you don’t want to go?”
Kacie straightened up with a surprised look on her face. “That Alexa is one smart bitch, huh?”