Page 16 of The Dance

“Fine.” Stacey turned back around with a sigh. “One more, and you can drive me home.”

“I feel so special,” I mocked.

She rolled her eyes. “You offered.”

“I’m just teasing you.” I grabbed a fresh glass and started to make her another drink with barely any booze. “I’d rather know you made it home safe than not.”

“You care about me?”

“Of course, I do.”

“I thought you wanted to just use me to look good to your parents?”

“Nah, not only to look good to my parents.”

“What other ways?” Stacey challenged.

A grin spread across my face as I stuck a straw into the glass and placed it in front of her. “Come on, college girl. I’m sure you can think ofotherways.”

I walked away before she could respond, and while she sipped her cola with a little mixture of alcohol, Conrad and I closed down the bar.

* * *

“Ready, toots?”Conrad was locking up, so I was ready to go.

“Yep.” Stacey grabbed her purse and fell into step with me. We walked out the door and toward my parked car in the back lot. She was walking better than she was thirty minutes before when I’d tested her.

“Need anything from your car?”

“Nope.”

“All right. Let’s get you home.” I draped my arm across her shoulders. “What time is your first class?”

“Nine.”

“Ouch. You’re gonna have a rough morning, huh?”

“Probably, but what choice do I have?”

“Are you going back to San Antonio next weekend?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I took all the pictures I needed this weekend and will post the images throughout the week.”

“Posting the images?” I unlocked and opened the passenger door for her.

“On Insta,” she replied as she slid into the cab.

“What does that do?”

“Exposure.”

I shut the door and jogged to the driver’s side, and got in. “So, exposure?”

“Can we not? I came here to forget my problems, remember?”

“Right.” I stuck the key into the ignition, ready to crank the engine, but Stacey reached over and placed her hand on mine.

“I’m not ready to go to bed yet.” The dome light in my truck went out, leaving us in darkness. I could barely make out her eyes, but I saw her gaze move down to my lips.