Page 243 of The Nanny and the Beefcake
“When did you see Erasmus do a one-handed handstand?” she pressed. She figured he’d never try that move.
“Have you been under a rock, lady?”
Why did people keep asking her that?
“So, I’m not under arrest?” she asked, trying to get her bearings.
The officers grinned at her.
“We’re friends of George and Joey. Your original arresting officers,” the policeman answered.
“That’s a quasi-unsettling statement, but yes, I do remember George and Joey from the night I was…”
“Arrested for disturbing the peace and throwing vibrators at Erasmus Cress,” the policewoman supplied.
“Am I free to go?” she asked, needing to nip this convo in the bud.
“Yes, ma’am, you sure are free to go, and good luck. We’re pulling for you two,” the policewoman answered with a wink—a wink.
She surveyed the area, taking in the festive atmosphere. There was an event going on with music, tents, and a stage in the center of a park. She looked on as a reporter stood in front of a camera.
“And that’s where we are, folks,” the reporter chimed. “Erasmus Cress’s team says that today he’s fighting for love. The question is, will we see him in the ring tonight? The answer? No one seems to know.”
No one seems to know?
What did that mean?
She barely had a second to ponder the reporter’s baffling words when two men came barreling toward her. “Anders, Alec! What are you doing here? When did you get here?” she cried as joy radiated through her body. The boys were so tall she had to jump to wrap her arms around her giant baby brothers.
“We got into town a few hours ago,” Alec answered.
This was unreal!
“Do you know what’s going on?” she asked, scanning the crowded park, then caught the twins sharing a knowing look.
From the cops to her brothers, these knowing looks were starting to get on her nerves.
Anders pointed to a banner with CFF printed in bold lettering.
What did CFF stand for?
“It’s a fundraising event and a volunteer sign-up,” Alec explained.
“That’s terrific,” she answered, feeling like she’d stepped into an alternate universe. “I’m for both, but I still don’t understand why two policemen pretended to arrest me, then brought me here. And what’s going on with Raz? I overheard a reporter say he wasn’t sure if he would be fighting tonight,” she said when the shrill bang of a gong vibrated through the air.
“Sorry, sis, it’s Chicken Dance time. They must have got another thousand donations,” Alec said to his brother as a marching band marched through the crowd, belting out the freaking “Chicken Dance” song.
All at once, like a bunch of possessed zombies at an outdoor wedding, every single person, except for her, busted out the moves.
Clap, clap, clap, clap.
Flap, flap, flap, flap.
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle.
Libby stared at a giant jumbo television screen fixed above a stage. People floated inside a spacecraft that looked slightly familiar. “Is that a movie?” she asked a woman busting out thewiggle, wiggle, wigglepart as weightless astronauts did the Chicken Dance along with the people on Earth.
“No, those are the astronauts on the International Space Station. It’s a live feed,” the lady replied.
