Page 23 of The Awakening (The Morton Family Saga #3)
Chapter Twenty-One
Ellie
“ G avin, I’m heading out,” I hollered up the stairs. There was no reply. I looked at my watch again. Kate, Jessica, and Delaney were seconds from picking me up. I didn’t need any grand gestures from Gavin, but a little acknowledgement that I was leaving might be nice.
The crushing sound of the gravel on the road alerted me to my approaching sisters-in-law.
“Okay, that’s it. I’m gone.”
“Wait. I heard you the first time,” Gavin said, jogging down the stairs.
“And it was too much effort for you to say anything?” Shaking my head, I grabbed my purse off the bottom step.
“Have a good time. Maybe we’ll catch up with you ladies along the way.” His smile was annoying. He could charm the pants off anyone, but right now I was ticked off at him.
“We’ll see.” I walked out the door and hopped in Kate’s SUV.
“Let’s get girls’ night started,” Jessica said as we pulled away from the house.
“Please. I need this more than you realize.” Sighing, I relaxed back into the seat and watched the Morton family “compound” whiz past.
Had I only traded one “community” for another? I wasn’t shuttered away here and could come and go as I pleased, but it felt like someone was always watching my every move.
The only time I felt truly free was when I was alone in the house.
“Things not going well, Ellie?” Kate asked, looking at me over her shoulder from the passenger seat. Her brow was furrowed, and a genuine look of concern was clear on her face.
I had to come up with something. “Oh, you know, newlywed kinks to iron out. I don’t know if either of you realize, but Gavin is a stubborn man.”
All four women laughed as if I had made a hilarious joke. “Ellie, the Morton men are the definition of stubborn, and they learned it at a young age.”
I could see that streak in each of them, but somehow, I was sure Gavin had been given an extra dose.
“Enough about the guys. Are we ready to have some fun?” Delaney asked as she pushed the gas pedal harder, and we sped down the highway.
“Yes,” Jessica and I replied in unison.
The neon sign for the bowling alley glowed brightly in the evening light.
I’d never been much for bowling, but in a small town you take what you can get.
And what I was getting was a night out with the girls away from Gavin.
We had been getting to know each other since we had moved into our own home and that meant many interludes during the day.
I wasn’t complaining. Gavin was a great lover, but a night with the girls would be a reprieve.
“All right, ladies, let’s get this party started,” Kate cheered as she turned the vehicle off.
“Clearly we need to get out more.” Jessica replied dryly.
The place was packed, but one lane remained open because Kate had reserved it. With shoes in hand, we strutted over to our lane and started our evening.
I was happy to see none of us were going to be the next champion bowler. Every gutter ball resulted in hysterics and high fives. We were the life of the alley.
“We’d heard Gavin had gone and gotten married. But I never imagined a girl as pleasant as you would put up with the likes of him.” An older woman with blueish hair laughed and patted my arm from the opposite end of the bench we were seated on.
I wasn’t sure if I should be flattered or offended. But it was giving me a little insight into the man that had suddenly become my husband.
“Looks like Ellie won this game, and let me tell you, it is still a pathetic score.” Jessica pointed at the big screen above our lane.
“I’m sure it has something to do with the fact I’m the sober one.” Shrugging, I giggled. “Hand over the keys, Kate.” I extended my arm and held open my hand.
She willingly handed over the keys, and we returned our shoes and headed for the truck.
“Time to hit the bar. We’ve got a DD and babysitters, so let’s take advantage of it,” Jessica said as she hopped into the back seat.
“Drive,” Kate demanded, so I did just that.
I hadn’t been to the bar since arriving here.
To be honest, I hadn’t been to a bar at home either.
It was against the rules of the community.
I could hear my father’s commanding voice saying nothing good ever happened after eight.
The community shut down at seven thirty.
People stayed home. Very rarely did families get together in the evening.
The place was packed tonight. A nervous energy filled me as I listened to the music blaring from inside the building.
“Tyler texted. The guys will be here in about an hour.” She linked her arm through mine, and we headed in.
Jessica scoped out a table where a group of people were putting coats on and heading for the doors, so we made a beeline for it.
Once we were settled, Jessica took drink orders from us and was off to the bar.
Couples swayed on the dance floor, each in their own bubble, like the world around them didn’t exist. I had never seen anything more mesmerizing.
“Here are the drinks.” Jessica returned carrying the beverages. She set them down without spilling a drop and lifted her glass. “To our first girls’ night out.” We raised our drinks in unison and clinked glasses.
“Care to dance?” Turning to look at where the voice came from, I stared into the face of a brown-eyed cowboy with a sweet shy smile and dimples that would charm the pants off any woman.
“I’m sorry I don’t dance,” I replied.
“I’ll teach you.” There were those dimples again. “All you have to do is put one foot behind the other.” He took my hand and guided me toward the dance floor.
How bad could it be? He seemed nice enough, and the girls hadn’t objected, so he was probably an all right guy.
“All you have to do is remember quick, quick, slow, slow. See? Easy. And don’t think too hard about it. That’ll will mess you up. Ready?”
I nodded, but I was nowhere near ready. The next song started, and of course, it was something quick. This cowboy, whose name I hadn’t caught, twirled me around the dance floor like a pro. I was obviously not the first girl he had taught to dance.
When the song ended, I was winded, and he walked me back to my table. “Thanks for the dance. I might just find you for another. You did great.” He tipped his brown hat and walked off toward the bar, his Wranglers hugging his ass in an exceptional way.
“You looked like you were having a blast.” Kate said as she leaned over to me.
“It was fun.” I shrugged and took in our surroundings. “Where’s Jess?”
“She went to line dance over on the other side of the dance floor.” She pointed. and
I caught a glimpse of Jessica’s blond hair as she twirled. “Why don’t you go dance?”
“I’m only interested in dancing with one cowboy, and he’ll be here shortly.” She beamed. I wondered what it would be like to love someone as much as she loved Tyler.
The man I’d danced with earlier reappeared at our table a couple of songs later. “Hey, Kate, mind if I take your friend off your hands for a few minutes?”
“Not at all, Lee, go right ahead.”
He held his hand out to me. Before I knew what I was doing, I took it, and he led me out to the dance floor.
Again, the music started, and we whirled around and around.
Suddenly the man let me go and I was staring into the eyes of my husband.