“Nothing.” I give my head a slight shake. “Your nickname. It suits you.”
She smiles. “Thanks. What does TJ stand for, anyway?”
“Theodore James.”
She gets a startled look in her eyes, but before I can ask her about it, the instructor gets our attention.
We spend the next several minutes trying to learn the steps to a simple square dance. All I’ve learned is the words to “Tie a Yellow Ribbon ’Round the Old Oak Tree” because I’ve heard it on a loop three times over.
Neither Lucy nor I are very smooth, but there’s a lot of giggling and shared amusement as we watch Titi, who has taken the yellow ribbon that was woven through slits in the neckline of hercardigan sweater, and is waving it around like she’s a member of a high school color guard team.
Lucy leans over to me during a dancing interlude, her chest heaving slightly from the exertion of the dance. “Is Titi involved with that man?”
I have to stifle a laugh when I see Titi using the yellow ribbon from her sweater to tickle the cheek of an older gentleman whose face is bright red. “Don’t think so, but I’d say she wants to be.”
Lucy presses her lips together, but a smile breaks free despite her efforts. “He’s absolutely adorable. So awkward and sweet. I could write an entire story about him.” Her eyes widen. “I mean, I … don’t they look like characters in a book? You could write a story about them, too! I bet yours would be even better than mine, because you know them. Or, you know the community here. Gram and Pa would give you great first-hand info, and…”
She continues to prattle on, and I catch myself grinning. This seems to be the tell for Lucy’s nerves: Words pour out of her. It’s got me wondering what’s so nerve-wracking about admitting that she could write about Titi and that older man.
“Alright, my fine folks, let’s give ’er another go.” The dance instructor’s voice rings out through her headset microphone, and Lucy snaps her attention to the stage. “Line up! Or should I say, square up.”
The music starts, and I clasp hands with Carol on my left and Lucy on my right. I give her hand a squeeze as we start doing as the music instructs us and circling around the old oak tree. When we get back to our starting position, I let go of Carol’s hands and swing with Lucy around in a circle. I lean closer to her and say into her ear, “Do you write a lot of stories, Lu?”
She sucks in a breath, but before she can respond, we’re separating, and I’m dosi-do-ing with my corner girl, who happens to be Carol. Lucy is matched up with Titi’s man of the hour. When we come back to our home position, Lucy has her lips pressed together, and her eyes are darting around my face. I takeher hands, and heightened color dots her cheekbones. Maybe I shouldn’t be enjoying this as much as I am … with my friend. I push my luck, leaning into Lucy’s airspace again and speaking into her ear as we promenade around the circle. “I think you do.”
“Do what?” She feigns innocence, but gives herself away when she breaks eye contact.
I squeeze her hand, and she glances back at me. “You tell me.” Itsk. “Friends don’t keep secrets from friends, Lu.”
Lucy looks like she swallowed her least favorite food and is trying to keep from spitting it out. There’s obviously something going on here. Something Lucy isn’t telling me. If she tells me to buzz off and leave her alone, I will. Until then, I’m letting my curiosity run the show.
I arch my eyebrows at her whenever we make eye contact as we dance. We go in and out of the same formation several more times before the song concludes. Every time I’m tugged away from Lucy, my adrenaline spikes with anticipation to get her back in my sightline. When our fingers brush, my pulse takes off faster than I do when I’ve got a full head of steam on the football field. It’s like there’s a thread between us that’s pulling tighter and tighter by the second, until it’s kicking out sparks.
Do I pull her a little closer the last time we have to promenade around the circle, making it so our arms are pressed firmly against each other’s? I can’t be sure, but our proximity allows me to catch a whiff of her perfume, and the tropical scent is like a shot of espresso, stirring me up inside until I feel wide awake.
When the song is finally over, I join the other dancers in clapping. Gram hoots and Titi lets out an ear-piercing whistle of approval before turning to the guy next to her and wrapping her arms around his neck. He lets out a startled yelp, but recovers himself and pats her primly on the back. In my periphery, I catch sight of Lucy, gaze locked on the two of them, mouth curled in a delighted smile. It’s a good look on her.
Carol turns to me and does a theatrical curtsy. “Thanks for the dance, TJ.”
“Likewise, Carol.” I bow back at her before excusing myself.
Gram and Pa are caught up in conversation with someone who grabbed them from a different group, and I take Lucy’s hand and pull her away from the dance floor. “Let’s get out of here for a sec.”
I feel semi-guilty for sneaking off, but I’d like to talk to her and not have our conversation interrupted by the square dance sequence or my well-meaning but very invasive grandparents.
“Where are we going?” Lucy hurries to keep up with me.
“To get some fresh air.To talk about the secret you’re keeping.” I lead her out the door and into the lobby of the gathering space.
“You can’t possibly guess my secret based on one interaction!”
“Ha! So you’re admitting there’s a secret,” I say victoriously.
“I—” She stops talking at the sight of the worker who’s staffing the desk. It’s a younger woman, and she looks up from her cell phone when we appear. Lucy instinctively ducks her head and steps behind me.
I curse under my breath. I forgot the desk in this community building is manned twenty-four-seven to meet the residents’ needs. I spin around and tuck my arm around Lucy’s shoulder, pulling her into my side. She stuffs her face into my shirt, and I angle my body so she’s cocooned.
“Can I help you, TJ?” The woman bats her eyelashes at me. I’ve never met her, but she must be a River Foxes fan.
