“I wish Westley could be here to experience this,” she says, a wistful note to her voice.
“He’ll be here soon enough.”
“Not soon enough,” she tells me with an exaggerated pout.
I know how she feels. Even in the same room, Cody feels miles away and our time together on the hillside seems like months ago.
The music shifts tempo and a familiar song fills the room.
“Boot Scootin’ Boogie!” Winona shouts.
Chairs slide back from the circular tables covered in checkered cloths and people move toward the dance floor.
“Let’s get out of the way before we get trampled,” Cass says.
June Bishop walks up to us, popping a weathered hand on her hip. “What are you girls doing?”
“Chatting,” Cass says. Want to join us?”
“I most definitely do not. This is a dance. When I was your age, I was on the dance floor from the moment the band started playing until they flicked the lights to send us home. You girls are young and … Well, some of you are single. Grab yourself a man and get out there and have fun. This isn’t a church foyer, ladies.”
Cass stands next to June, wraps her arm around June’s waist and glances around the room.
“Pick some men out for us, June.”
“Oh dear,” I mutter to McKenna.
She just laughs.
June perks up and starts pointing at random single men in the room. When she points at Greyson, Cass says, “He’s too scary.”
“He’s sweet,” Emberleigh defends.
Dustin walks over. “Who’s sweet? Me?” He bends down and places a kiss on her cheek.
“You’re the sweetest,” Emberleigh says. “Dance with me before June tries to fix me up with someone else.”
Dustin wraps a protective arm around Emberleigh and drags her out onto the dance floor.
June looks straight at me. “If you’re standing still, you’re doing it wrong.”
I laugh. My eyes land on Cody. I quickly glance away, but not soon enough. A woman is standing in front of him—Lacey, one of the teachers at Waterford Elementary. She’s smiling up at him and he’s smiling back—not in a flirty way. He’s being friendly. Cordial. Still, my body hums with an urge to walk over to him and wrap my arm around his waist. I force myself to watch the line dance. When I glance back at Cody, he’s standing next to Greyson, not another woman in sight.
The song winds down and some of the people leave the dance floor, heading to the dispensers of lemonade and sweet tea.
Mayor Briggs approaches the mic, “Ladies and gents, we’ve got a treat for you. If I could have as many of you as possible take to the dance floor …”
June looks over at me.
“Okay. Okay,” I say, stepping into the middle of the crowd.
“Tonight, we’re reviving a Waterford tradition,” Mayor Briggs says cheerfully.
A few people cheer and hoot. Some groan. A ripple of scattered laughter flutters through the crowd.
I get the feeling this is one of those traditions that should be left in the past.
Emberleigh and Dustin cross the dance floor. Only a few people stand between us. I smile over at them.
