Shelby Rae rolls her eyes. "Buddy has no damn manners. Doesn't he know you're supposed to come to the door and pick up your date?" Shaking her head, she grabs her purse and says, "Ready, city girl?"
I grab my purse and nod. "Ready."
Buddy is leaning by the hood of Tucker's Escalade, and Tucker is anxiously waiting by the open passenger door. He glances at me and then Shelby Rae, who has a pissed off look on her face, and then back to me. Tucker's lips lift into a lop-sided grin as he says, "Uh, sorry. I wanted to come up and knock, but ---."
Shelby Rae puts her hand up to stop him. "Well, at least one of you has manners," she says, pointedly glaring at Buddy.
Buddy just shrugs and opens the door on the other side for her. "You look beautiful, Shelby Rae," he says sincerely.
She sits down in the backseat and huffs, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "Well, that's a start on how to treat your date right."
With a grin on his face, Buddy comes around the other side and climbs into the back with her. Tucker and I get into the SUV as well, and then he pulls out of the parking lot towards our destination.
The conference center is a big building located on the outskirts of Willowbrook. The whole town seems to be here, and we have trouble finding a parking space even remotely close to the entrance. After Tucker manages to find a vacant spot near the back of the lot, we all step out of the Escalade. The sound of country music surrounds us as we grow closer. The conference center is decorated with millions of twinkling little lights, and it's practically glowing as we walk in.
There's a large dance floor in the middle of the big, open room with long tables set up on either side. A DJ is setup towards the back with food and drinks galore scattered throughout.
"Wow," Shelby Rae gasps. "This is way better than the barn dances you and I used to sneak off to," she whispers in my ear.
Smiling, I nod.
Tucker is by my side then, holding out his arm. I place my hand in the crook of his elbow, and he guides me to the right where the tables are mostly empty. When I take a seat, I notice that Buddy and Shelby Rae haven't followed us. My eyes scan the tables on the left side, and that's when I see him. Colton.
And sitting next to him…well, practically in his lap…is Ruby Sue.
My stomach instantly drops at seeing the two of them together. Buddy and Shelby are standing at their table. Shelby nervously glances to me, and I just wave my hand, letting her know it's fine if they don't sit with us right now. We're all going to be on the dance floor most of the night anyway.
Colton catches Shelby's gaze, and then his eyes land on me. We share an unspoken connection for a few seconds before I finally tear my gaze away. When I glance back, Colton's glaring at Tucker. He looks disconcerted, angry even, but I decide that I don't care.
"Would you like something to drink?" I ask Tucker, standing. I can't sit still for another minute.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?"
I grin. "Probably." He stands and I take his hand. "Let's go together."
"Sounds like a plan." He gives my hand a light squeeze before leading us toward the back of the room.
Tucker opts for a beer and I go for a sparkling wine. We enjoy some small talk as we sip our drinks and mingle with some fellow partygoers. Tucker is quickly the center of attention in the group, and I know it's because he's so charming and magnetic. How could you not be drawn to someone like him? He's got the looks and the personality combined.
But he's not Colton, that little nagging voice in the back of my head says.
"Actually Penny's going to be my campaign manager," I hear him telling someone.
That sick feeling in the pit of my stomach hits me full force. I know I told him I would go to New York, but he also knows I'm having some doubts. I don't want to disappoint Tucker, but this is my life we're talking about. I want what's best for me. And right now I just can't decide. I thought I was ready to move on, to give up on Colton. But now I'm not so sure.
I just smile politely at Tucker and keep my mouth shut. My mama always did say that it's better to keep your mouth shut than hurt someone's feelings. And that's exactly what I'm going to do. For now anyway.
Luke Bryan'sCountry Girlblasts through the speakers, and I can hear Shelby scream my name from the opposite side of the room. My eyes widen as she rushes over to me, grabs my hand and practically drags me onto the dance floor. I glance back at Tucker, but he just gives me a small shrug and a grin.
Shelby Rae stops us in the middle of the floor. Everybody is in line formation, and a sense of dread instantly fills me. I have no idea how to do this dance, unlike everyone surrounding me. I glance over at Shelby. "Oh, no," I tell her.
"Oh, yes!" she says with the biggest grin on her face.
Luke Bryan begins to sing, and everyone starts to move…well, except for me, of course, because I don't know the dance that everybody in the room seems to be familiar with. Shelby's words from earlier come rushing to the forefront of my mind. Iama city girl.
I stare at Shelby's feet and try to mimic her movements to no avail. Then I'm pretty much just trying to get out of the way of everyone's boots stomping my way.
"Heel, toe, heel, clap," I hear a familiar voice beside me say.
