Page 26 of Ocotillo Kisses
Britt motioned in the direction of Alexis, who was happily people-watching. “We came to hear the band.”
“Con too?” Caleb asked, glancing around.
“No, just Alexis and me. She said he was going to stay home and enjoy having the house to himself.”
Sofia opened her mouth, then closed it again. “Oh. Well. Ginny and Austin are coming, because Ginny’s grandpa is in the band, and Javi, Poppy, and maybe Lacey and Beck, depending on if they can get a sitter for the twins.”
“Oh.” She hadn’t mentioned Con. Maybe he was supposed to be coming and changed his mind when he found out she would be here. That would suck. She didn’t want him to change his life for her. But really, what were the odds that they would want to come out on the same night?
The band, maybe. That was her purpose for being here. And if Con had planned to come, why hadn’t Alexis said anything? Would Poppy come without him, or was that what Alexis had meant by him wanting to have the house to himself? She didn’t want to imagine how he and Poppy planned to spend an evening in the house alone together.
“You can come sit with us,” Caleb offered, and Britt did not imagine the wince when Sofia very clearly shoved him under the table.
“Thanks, but we’ve got a good spot. I’m just heading over for a couple of drinks. You all have a good night.”
She had settled back at the table with Alexis. “Did you know Ginny’s grandpa is in the band?”
“I did.”
“And this is the band you booked?”
“They said they can play all kinds of songs. I thought that was what we wanted.”
“Sure, we do. But I thought you said they’d just gotten back together. Can they really have that much material?”
“I thought that was part of what we wanted to see, which is why we’re here.” She looked over at the table where Sofia and Caleb had been joined by Ginny, Austin and Poppy. “If you want to go sit with your friends....”
Britt wasn’t sure whether to share the information that Caleb had invited them to do so. She shook her head, processing the fact that Poppy was here, and not with Con, alone in that big house. Her relief surprised her. He must really be enjoying having the house to himself.
Britt had finally turned her attention to the band who was setting up when Poppy approached and sat beside Alexis at the table.
“Hi, ladies, want to come join us?”
Britt opened her mouth to decline. But before Britt could say, no, thanks, Alexis chimed in.
“That would be fun, thank you!” She was already gathering her purse and margarita. She didn’t even look in Britt’s direction as she rose and followed Poppy to their table.
“Mrs. McKay, good to see you,” Javi Saldivar said, rising when the two ladies joined the group.
“Javi, you all are all grown up now. Call me Alexis.” She settled in at the end of the table.
“I don’t know if I can do that,” Javi said with a laugh. “Britt, nice to see you.”
“Thank you.” Britt sat beside Alexis, using the woman as a shield between herself and the others.
Ginny started yelling when her grandfather the guitar player struck a chord, and the band began to play a song Britt recognized, but didn’t. It sounded like a rock song, but seemed to have a country beat, so Britt was confused.
Many dancers, however, were not, and streamed onto the floor to dance to the upbeat tune. Ginny and Austin were among them. Caleb stood to extend a hand to Sofia, but she waved him off with a laugh.
“I’m going to need to warm up to something like that.”
So he turned to Britt. Britt had a moment to see the surprise on Sofia’s face, but then the other woman waved her permission, and Britt followed Caleb to the dance floor.
She hadn’t danced in a while—none of the men she had dated were exactly music lovers. She did go see bands fairly often, but she rarely got to dance.
She’s been a great dancer back in high school and college, and she and Caleb were able to find their groove quickly. She was still fairly uptight about being here with Con’s friends, but after a few twirls around the floor, she started to relax. When the song ended, Javi stepped forward to dance with her, and then she accepted a dance with a stranger.
She took her leave from him after one song, feeling bad for abandoning Alexis.
