Page 72 of Always You (A Lilac Bay Novel)

CHAPTER 13

The party stretched on well into the night, long after Gina and the camera crew left. Jenny opened up the hotel bar’s stock of good liquor and those of us that were left put it to good use. David and his team had made way too much food, and the DJ, my old fling Mike, seemed more than happy to keep playing as long as the dance floor was being used, relishing the fact that his services were being put to use. It was probably tough to be a DJ on Lilac Bay. There were only so many sweet-sixteens and fiftieth anniversary parties the guy could play at.

I sat out on the lawn with some of the Libbies, looking at the stars and listening to the music float up over the grounds.

“I should probably clean up,” I said a few times, less than enthusiastically, but every time I mentioned it Libby or Cora told me to leave it until morning. “We’ll get the Girl Scout troop to come help,” Libby suggested, which inexplicably made Posey start to giggle uncontrollably, saying something about child labor.

“Your cousin is drunk,” I told Iris.

She grinned at me happily. “I think I’m a little drunk too.”

“I can’t believe you’re just sitting here,” Jill complained. “Your boyfriend is over there talking to—” She squinted over at where David stood, as if trying to tell who he was talking to. Finally, she shrugged. “Your boyfriend is just over there. In a suit. And there’s music playing. Why are you sitting with us?”

“Because I like your company,” Iris said loyally.

“If I was with a guy that looked like David,” Posey said, hiccupping, “I wouldn’t give a fig newton about your company.” Her eyes widened. “Don’t tell Paul I said that.”

“He’d have to be around for us to tell him anything,” Iris muttered in my ear.

“What about you, Riley?” Jill said. “I thought you were dating that Chase guy.”

“We went onadate. As in one.”

“Yeah, but he likes you. I saw the way he jumped in with help for the dancing today.”

“He’s yummy,” Libby said. She was sitting on a bench, her dress pulled up around her knees, her feet bare. “Speaking of yummy, I need more food.” But she didn’t move to get it, closing her eyes again.

“Heispretty yummy,” I agreed. Across the lawn, I saw Andrew sitting under a tree next to Angie, the fitness instructor from the Big Hotel that had helped us with the dancing earlier. She was practically on his lap. Did he have to be so obvious about it? He was in public, for God’s sake.

“Earth to Riley,” Jill said.

“What?” I tore my eyes away to focus on her—a task that was definitely a lot harder with the amount of alcohol in my system.

“I said, why aren’t you dancing with him?” Jill asked. “If you think he’s so yummy. He’s just standing over there by himself. And don’t give me that crap about our company.”

“You’re right, Jill,” I said, slipping my shoes back on. “I don’t give a shit about your company. I’m going to ask him to dance.”

She gave me a high five as she passed. “Good girl.”

I stumbled a little bit on the grass as I made my way over to Chase.Probably shouldn’t be drinking anymore tonight, I told myself. He smiled as I approached, and I wasn’t sure if the force of that helped or hurt my sobriety.

“Hey,” I said, coming to a stop a few feet away. “What are you doing?”

“Enjoying the night,” he said, gesturing around. “You put on a good show today.”

“Youdid,” I corrected. “You’re the one that was dancing. I didn’t dance.”

He was laughing softly. “Riley, are you drunk?”

I nodded. “I’m maybe a little tipsy.”

“Do you want to dance with me?”

“Yes, please.”

He led me out onto the dance floor, and I was pleased to find that I didn’t feel half as uncomfortable in his arms as I had felt with Andrew.Take that, Powell, I thought, then frowned. Why was I angry with Andrew? He hadn't done anything to me.

“So,” Chase said, drawing my attention back to him. “How do you feel about the day? I think it went really well.”