Dancing Shoes and Honky-Tonk Blues (34 page)

“It’s almost full!”

“Well, then, chugalug!”

“I can’t chug a beer.”

“Wuss. Bet I can finish mine before you.”

Sarah rolls her eyes. “You’re just trying to get me outta here without a scene.”

“Uh,
yeah
. Unless you think you can stay without creating one.”

“Does throwing my drink in Nick’s face qualify?”

“Yes.”

“Okay then. Go!” Sarah tips her bottle back and starts some pretty impressive chugging. I watch openmouthed for a second before tipping my own bottle up to my lips. I guzzle the beer, ignoring the brain freeze and the bubble in my tummy, which threatens to send the beer back up. I’m an athlete, and while this isn’t exactly a sport, except maybe on college campuses, the competitor in me has me winning, even though Sarah had a head start. I thump the bottle down on a nearby table while Sarah is still choking her beer down. To her credit, she finishes without coming up for air.

“I win. Now let’s go before they see us,” I say while blinking from the brain freeze coupled with the sudden blast of alcohol to my system. I notice that Sarah is blinking, too.

“Give me a minute,” she pleads with a discreet little burp behind her hand.

“No! Let’s go!” I grab her by the hand and tug, but as we sort of wobble out of Pete’s Pub, I can’t resist a look back, which is a mistake because at that same moment Nick looks my way. Our gazes lock for just an instant but my pulse races, and it hits me hard that I’m not nearly over loving him.

When we’re outside I pause to take a deep breath of warm summer air.

“Hey, are you okay?” Sarah asks with a look of concern.

“Yeah, I guess. I’m just not used to chugging a beer.”

Sarah nods and I’m relieved that she buys my explanation, which is much better than telling her that it was seeing her ex-fiancé that set my stomach churning. When we reach the Jeep, she says, “Thanks for getting me outta there, Candie. I didn’t want to cause a scene by dumping my drink on Nick. I’ve already given this town enough to gossip about.”

“It’s no biggie.”

She looks at me from across the hood of the Jeep. “You know, Candie, I never really did understand your need to leave Pinewood but I’m glad that you’re back. I’d never be able to save Daddy’s car dealership without you.”

“I’m glad to be back,” I assure her with a smile. In that moment, I realize that it’s not going to be easy whipping Daddy’s used-car lot back in shape or dealing with my feelings for Nick but running away was never the answer to begin with. It’s about time that I let go of my silly girlhood crush on Nick Anderson anyway. While I’m sorry that it was Daddy’s ill health that brought me back to Pinewood, it feels good to finally be home.