“Masie?” Charlie said. “Why are you eyeing that fork?”
I looked across the table at him. “Sorry. Just havin’ a moment of mental ping-pong.” I inhaled. “The video is great, but I need proof you’re not playing me and under the influence of vampire drugs yourself.”
“All right.” He got up and held out his hand. “Let’s dance.”
“Dance?”
“There’s only one known antidote for the effects of moonshine.”
I tried not to laugh. “You’re pullin’ my leg.”
“The results are temporary, but all you need is music you like and moving your feet.”
“Come on,” I scoffed.
“Moonshine affects the logic center, but if you’ve taken it, you know it can’t change your emotions.”
I wasn’t so sure about that. “And?”
“Everyone knows that music can tap into your feelings—make your body move. It’s like an override switch.”
Pfft. So corny.Also, I’d been hopped up on moonshine when I’d danced with Stark back on the island, and I recalled feeling all electric and gooey inside. I’d felt love and fear, too, like I would never be the same again if I lost him. Those feelings had to have been fake—a product of the moonshine. Right?
“Okay. Let’s dance,” I said, determined to find out the truth. However, dancing with Charlie proved nothing. I needed to test his claim on someone already under the influence.
My eyes darted over to Maybell as I walked over to the jukebox and searched for Big Barnie the rooster’s favorite song. Big Barnie was our mascot and Uncle Jimmie’s pride and joy. The dang bird was trained to cock-a-doodle-doo to the lyrics. If any song could get Maybell going, it was this tune.
I punched in the code for “Achy Breaky Heart,” and Charlie and I went to the dance floor in the corner, away from all the tables.
“Ready?” He grapevined left, and I went right. “Got some left feet there, Masie?”
“Dang it. I swear I know it!” I’d done this dance a hundred times.Grapevine, grapevine, forward right, forward left, kick, back, step, turn.“I’m just rusty—fending off evil vampires and all!” I smiled.
We danced a full set of steps before six, eight, twelve patrons got up to join us. But where was Maybell? She couldn’t resist dancing to this song.
I spotted her refilling a customer’s water across the room.
I marched over.
“Excuse me, y’all,” I said to the couple seated at the table. “Needin’ my sister for a moment.” I grabbed her hand.
“What’re you doin’, Masie?”
“Come on. They’re playing your song.”
“I can’t dance right now. I’m workin’.”
“Just one song. That’s an order.” I was still the boss, after all.
I dragged her to the dance floor, parked her feet at the front of the line, and stood beside her.
Maybell just stood there, staring straight ahead like a zombie.
“Well, move your feet.” I gave her arm a nudge.
Nothing.
I pivoted and faced her, taking both hands. “See. Just step to the side like me.” I moved a few inches left, then right.
