Page 11

Tenzin

“ T ens, where are we?” Gwen looked around the honky-tonk I’d brought her to. The dim place smelled of sweat, wood, and beer, making me homesick for all the places like this I’d gone to in high school, and during breaks when I was at university to support my older sister.

“It’s a bar, Firecracker.” The endearment just slipped out. That’s what she was. A little pink spitfire.

Every day she smiled a little more, glowed a little brighter, ducked her head a little less. The real her was starting to shine through. We’d gone to dinner at a place on our list–a hole in the wall with amazing food recommended to me by my friend that lived here.

I led her to the wooden bar, which was busy, but not completely crowded. Country music played on a jukebox. People sat at tables talking and drinking. There was a small stage and dance floor, with some instruments being set up.

“I’ve never been to a bar like this. Mostly, we go to sports bars, like Tito’s or Marabou Mike’s. Unless it’s a birthday and we go someplace fancy like a rooftop bar or a club, someone has a hookup to, or the Arctic Toilet, or something.”

She looked cute in a yellow sundress and some canvas slip-ons. Her hair was up in a messy bun, with a few pink strands coming down in wisps, revealing the shaved parts that had grown out, but not enough to put up.

“What do you want to drink?” I wondered what she liked.

She shrugged. “Beer’s fine.”

Did she order beer because she liked it, or because it was cheaper? I was fine with beer myself. I didn’t have a huge tolerance for alcohol, anyway. We ordered two from the bartender.

“There’s music?” She eyed the musicians as they took the stage and warmed up.

“I didn’t bring you here for the beer.” The band was decent, covering well-known country songs.

“You like country music?” She nodded. “You know, before the breakup, I wouldn’t say I liked country, but after listening to mad girl revenge music, which is mostly country songs about property damage, I can see the appeal. Both to the music and dumping your ex’s truck in the lake.”

“That happened to Cooter once.” I laughed. Actually, that song was about Cooter. I regretted ever introducing them. But we were young dumbasses.

We found a high-top. There were enough boots and Cowboy hats to make me think of wearing mine next time. How would she look in a Cowboy hat and boots?

“Are we here for the band or the vibes?” She took a sip of beer.

“I wanted to see if you liked country music. I enjoy it and bars like this. If you do too, well, that’s one more thing we can do together.” I liked spending time with her; it made life here less lonely.

She nodded. “Okay, but you could have just asked. Not that I’m complaining.”

“Asking and experiencing are two different things.” Something I knew firsthand. I wasn’t happy when my sister said I’d have to come with her to a lot of her band stuff–until I heard the music.

“It’s fun.” Gwen smiled and took another drink of beer.

The band opened with a song I loved and couples started dancing. Standing, I held out a hand. “Dance with me.”

“I don’t know how to dance to music like this.” She ducked her head, self-conscious.

“It’s a two-step, not a line dance. Though we can do that, too, if you want.” Part of me relaxed as she took my hand.

“Line dancing. Like hats and boots and everything?” She let me lead her onto the floor.

“Absolutely. Do you know how cute boots and hats can look with sundresses?” I positioned her hands, our bodies not quite touching.

At some point, we should go to a fair and hear my sister play. Gwen could wear some boots and a hat, we could ride some rides, pet some cows, and eat some food not on a PHL-approved nutrition list.

Gwen thought for a moment. “I could make that look cute.”

Yes, she could. Did I get her pink boots to go with her hair?

I taught her the moves and after a couple of songs, she was laughing and twirling with the best of them.

A song came on, and she closed her eyes, spinning and smiling. She gave a laugh, and opening her eyes, took my hand. Her laughter made everything better.

We got some water when the music shifted.

“What do you think?” I asked. She seemed to be having fun. I was enjoying myself immensely.

Gwen nodded. “I could be persuaded to do this again.”

A song from my sister’s band came on, and people started line dancing.

“Would you like to line dance?” I gestured to the crowd.

“Maybe.” Gwen eyed everyone dancing in unison. “You did this a lot back in Portland?”

I nodded as I took a drink of water. “Yes. And at university, and even with my sister when I was in high school back in Nashville. Cooter’s very good at it. There’s this place by his ranch that is amazing.”

“Why doesn’t it surprise me that Cooter likes line dancing?” She held up her phone and took a picture of us. “We should send it to him.”

My phone beeped as the picture of us appeared and I sent it to Cooter.

Me

We tried the bar you recommended. We’re having fun.

Cooter

Dance with Babybug for me.

Oh, I would. She had a good sense of rhythm and caught on fast. When did he start calling her Babybug?

“We’re going on a couple of fishing trips this summer. One’s in a couple of weeks,” I told her. “I also have to go back to Portland soon, because the house sold.”

Morgan was pissed about the house sale. So was Jacen, given I’d used his biggest competitor as my realtor. So far, the news of me being traded to the Knights hadn’t broken.

It was only a matter of time before someone figured it out.

The music changed again and couples took to the floor.

“Dance with me?” She gazed at me through veiled lashes.

How could I say no to that? I took her hand in mine and led her back out to the floor. Yes, she was going to need some boots. Good thing I knew her size.