Ali came back in enough time to hear his last statement. “You’re so right, my friend. You never had a chance there. But you heard it here first: I think my go-it-alone big brother just may have fallen hard for our Miss Meghan.”
Alex wiggled his eyebrows. “That is news. Are we talking serious?”
Ali sat down again and scooted her chair closer to Alex. “He told her he only wanted to be friends, but he kissed her early this morning while they watched the sunrise, and then he informed her that it was a mistake. But get this: he drove all the way in from the farm to town in the middle of the day to tell her that it was a mistake.”
Alex whistled. “Sounds serious to me.” They looked at me expectantly.
“I think you’re both crazy. I’m not looking for serious, and I can tell you for sure Sam isn’t. And I’m not talking about him anymore. I’m here to have fun tonight.” The music changed from the twangy old-school country to a song with a good dance beat, and I took advantage of the opportunity to stand up. “I’m going to dance. Who’s with me?”
We stayed on the dance floor for a long time. Ali had a few more beers, and I noticed her dancing became much less inhibited as the night went on. But Alex stuck close by us, and when Ali began to bump and grind, it was with him. When any other guy got near us, he edged him out, making sure we were protected.
At the first slow song, Ali backed away from us. “I’m hitting the ladies’ room and then getting some water. You two dance.”
I grabbed her arm. “You want me to come with?”
“No, I’m good.” She smiled at me and slipped through the crowd.
Alex drew me close, and I closed my eyes, laying my head on his shoulder. He moved with grace and finesse, his feet seeming to know just where to go next, and it was relaxing to dance with someone who had no expectations of me. His hands stayed at my waist, and he never tried to press his hips to mine.
“Are you serious about Sam? I know what you said ... but are you?”
I leaned back so that I could see Alex’s face. “You’re making me gooey with all this romantic talk.”
He smirked. “I’ve heard that before. But don’t change the subject.”
I lifted one shoulder. “I don’t know. I like him. I mean ...” I tightened my hands on the back of his neck. “This is going to sound crazy. The first time I met Sam, I had actually just left this bar, with my friend Laura. I was so wasted. The car broke down, but I was passed out in the front seat. I don’t remember any of it, except the next morning, when Laura told me the story, I had a flash ... of Sam’s eyes. Of him holding me. And then I ran into him when I went to pick up my car, and he yelled at me for being so irresponsible.”
Alex laughed. “That sounds like Sam. He and I had a similar chat when I was in high school, and he caught me getting high out near our property line. Told me that I was letting down my parents, and he wouldn’t allow me to hang around Ali if that was the kind of guy I wanted to be. I acted like it didn’t matter, but damned if I ever did it again.”
“Glad to know I’m not the only one. It bothered me, though. More than it should have, coming from a virtual stranger. And then I ended up here, which was just bizarre. I don’t know. There’s something about him, and even though most of the time he acts like he can’t stand me, I know he feels it, too. This pull.”
“Maybe it’s just animal lust, pure and simple. Once you get it out of your system, the pull may go away.”
“I guess it’s possible.” The song ended, and I followed Alex back to our table to sit down. “But I think it’s more than that. I like Sam. When we were sitting on the porch talking last night, it felt like we were friends.”
Alex leaned back in his chair. “I think you should go for it. Rock his world a little. I haven’t seen him in years, but the Sam I knew could use a little shake, rattle and roll.”
Ali fell into her chair. “Who’s shaking and rolling?”
Alex patted her arm. “Your brother and Meghan.”
“Awesome! Someone should be. Okay, let’s dance more.”
I pulled out my phone. “Ali, do you think we should go home? It’s getting late.”
“After we dance. I’ve got eight years to make up for.”
She wasn’t kidding. It was another hour before we left the dance floor, thirty minutes more before I got her out the door and to the car, with Alex’s help.
“Are you sure you can get her home all right?” He closed the passenger door.
“Oh, yeah. I’m perfectly sober. And I’ve got my phone if we have any problem.”