This man has me questioning my engagement while plotting his murder. This isn’t pre-wedding jitters: My brain is fucked.
“Alright, y’all,” Sunny announces. “We learnin’ the Carolina Shag tonight but makin’ it fresh, know what I mean?”
A few people around uswoo!at this news.
“Cappy baby,” Sunny says. “Ready to show ’em how it’s done?”
Cap grunts, shoves his cane in my hands, then limps toward her.
As riled up as I am, I can’t help but smile. Oxygen over one shoulder and forest of chest hair in plain view, my dad stands in the center of the room like Fred Astaire ready to trot across the dance floor.
“Now the Shag originated on the coast of the Carolinas,” Sunny explains. “The man gets to lead, meaning Cappy here’s gonna be gettin’ all the control.”
Sunny wiggles her brows in his direction; Cap grunts and grins.
“We start with the basic steps.” She demonstrates back and forth steps, moving effortlessly as she counts “One and two, three and four, rock step” over and over as she does. “Try it with me, Cappy.”
They stand shoulder to shoulder and demonstrate the steps. Sunny has impressive rhythm. Even without music playing, her hips move and shoulders shimmy like a full band is playing.
My dad, much to my surprise, doesn’t miss a beat either. He’s more rigid, but he shuffles his feet exactly the way she tells him. Across the room, our eyes meet, both of our brows lifting. Minemeaning,how the hell can you do that?His,watch and learn, kiddo.
“Y’all try.” Sunny turns the music up—an oldies song suiting the dance perfectly—then loudly counts the repeated steps as the room begins a collective shuffle to her commands.
“Ready?” Nash asks.
Stiff, I face the same direction as everyone else, standing shoulder to shoulder with him and practicing the basic steps.
More than once, I fall out of step.
Less than once, he does.
“I suck at this.” I miss the next step as everyone around me glides effortlessly, especially Nash. “Why do I suck at this?”
“Relax.” He does this thing where he pops his butt out and lets his knees bend a little more than necessary. There’s a bounce in his movements, but it’s smooth. He’s showing off and we’re only on the basic step.
“Alright, y’all,” Sunny shouts. “Now we gonna face our partners and do it again. No touching. Read their body.”
She and Cap demonstrate, laughing as they face each other. His prosthetic foot drags and the oxygen tank bobbles on his shoulder, but he’s right on beat.
She starts the music and Nash and I face each other. I stare at his feet, flustered he’s moving so easily. Flustered that I’m dancing with him. Flustered the next step is going to be us touching and he might be sleeping with SunnyandEmma.
“Look at me,” he demands.
I do. Against my will and right in his eyes.
Sunny shouts our next instructions. “Now, right and left hands connect, male lead.” She pauses for everyone to get in position. “There should be tension when you step away that’ll help bring you back together. That’s all Shaggin’ is. The pull back before the comin’ together. Tension gettin’ you to the good stuff.”
At this, Nash’s lips twitch, his palm out for me to take. “You ready to Shag?”
I slap my hand in his and roll my eyes at his double entendre. Another lively oldies song starts, Sunny hollering the count as we begin to move.
“You aren’t letting me lead,” Nash says, moving his feet easily.
“I am,” I argue.
We dance a few more steps with me staring at his feet, both of us jerking at the other’s hand.
“Look at me and let me lead.”
