Page 49 of The Good Guy on My Porch

I considered the options and I knew, based on the way I was feeling, that I needed to be careful. I could very easily drink too much and get wild. I wanted to get wild, to dance and lose myself in the crowd and the buzz of alcohol, but I couldn’t do that. I needed to be sober in case Mom needed me. “Philistine’s is always fun,” I said. “And they usually start the music for dancing early.”

“I thought we were just going out for a drink.”

“A drink and a couple dances. You up for it?”

“I’m not a dancer,” he said.

“Good, then it’s something new for you to try. I did go hiking.”

“And I went to a play. It’s actually your turn to try something new.”

“Buy me a drink I’ve never had.”

“I’m not sure that evens out,” he said. “Dancing is a lot more humiliating than trying a different drink.”

I waved a hand. “Don’t be silly. No one is going to be paying any attention to your dancing.”

“Maybe not, but I’ll be paying attention to me and I am a salt spa owner, a very serious meditation teacher, people expect me to be dignified.”

I snort-laughed. “If you’re going to be such a baby about it, I’ll owe you, okay. You can take me to do something of your choosing I’ve never done before.”

“Deal.” He spit on his hand and stuck it out. I spit on mine and we shook on it.

I bent down to Buddy’s level. “We’re going out, sweetie, but we’ll be back soon. You just sleep, and we’ll be here when you wake up, okay?”

Buddy whined, but he dropped his head onto his paws, like he was resigned to his fate. “Okay,” I said. “Now I feel like a terrible mother. Maybe we should just have a drink here.”

“He’ll be fine,” Oscar said. “I swear I’ll keep an eye on the time and make sure we aren’t out too late.”

I patted Buddy’s head and stood. “I’m just going to go as I am.” I gestured to my jeans and my button-down blouse. “Will you be embarrassed to be seen with me?”

He grinned. “Never. Do I look alright for the club?”

He was also wearing jeans and a simple navy-blue polo shirt. His hair was a mess, as usual, but it suited him. He looked better than good and I wondered if it was a bad idea to go out with him, to dance with him. After a drink or two, I might be tempted to lean in and find out how his lips tasted. I shook it off. He was my friend and, though he might be single, way too good for a liar like me. “You look great.”

We walked the ten blocks to the club, chatting about our days. Thankfully, Oscar didn’t ask about my fight with Mom. I didn’t want to have to lie to him anymore, but I wasn’t ready to tell him everything either. I wasn’t ready for him to walk away when he decided my drama and baggage was too much. The truth, one I’d learned a long time ago, was that people wanted friends who were fun, easy, and always smiling. People wanted friends who kept the conversation light and made them laugh. Nobody wanted a friend who brought them down, who added darkness to their lives.

The parking lot was already full, but it was a small parking lot and a small town. The college kids would be at house parties or bars closer to campus, so this place served mostly locals. I led Oscar inside and headed straight for the booze. Damian was working, and he waved as soon as I stepped up to the bar. He was helping another customer, but I knew he’d get to me as soon as he could.

“Are you friends with everyone in Catalpa Creek?” Oscar asked. The music hadn’t really started thumping yet, so he didn’t have to yell to be heard.

“I just know a lot of people.”

“Lots of acquaintances, few friends,” he said. “You don’t let many people get close, do you?”

“Whoa,” I said. “Serious talk for a bar.”

He held up his hands. “Sorry. I’ll stop. Tonight is about relaxing.”

“Hey, Dilly,” Damian said. “Want the usual tonight?”

“Hey, Damian.” I gave him a big, friendly smile. “The usual would be perfect.”

Damian turned to Oscar. “Hey, man, what can I get you?”

“I’ll have a vodka cranberry.” Damian nodded and turned away to make our drinks and I stared at Oscar, biting back a laugh.

“A vodka cranberry?” I asked. “Isn’t that what college girls drink?”

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