Jack raised his eyebrow, having made his point. “And did you notice that Hailey was wearing make-up?” he added in disbelief.
“I did,” Nora gulped.
“What’s up with that?” Jack asked, and Nora wondered if she was really going to have to explain the sudden change in Hailey’s appearance to him.
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about it, Jack,” she laughed it off. “Hailey is a young woman who is a little smitten with a particular young man. A little blush and lipstick is no big deal for an eighteen-year-old girl!”
“But…really?” Jack inquired. “Make-up to go watch a video at a pal’s house? She really is smitten isn’t she?”
“I think it’s safe to say they both are,” Nora smiled.
A sudden, passing glimmer of concern played out on Jack’s face.
“But you trust him, right, Jack?” Nora smiled, mocking their earlier conversation.
“Nora, I think they’re going to that party,” Jack sighed.
“Jack,” Nora shook her head, “you have to trust the kids. Your girls are good kids, and so is Emily…they know better than to go to that party.”
“I know you’re his mother,” Jack gulped, “but I could do without the obvious omission of the boy you just admitted was smitten with my daughter.” Jack shook his head before Nora could reply. “You know what…I do trust him…Grant is a good kid too…how could he not be…you raised him.”
Nora shuddered, feeling the responsibility of those words as heavily as ever.
Jack smiled and turned back to his book. “In any case, I think I’ll drive over a little later and check things out down that way.”
“Good idea,” Nora nodded, silently praying that her little angel in his gray ARMY sweatshirt would abort mission before he got himself benched for the tournament and reeked havoc on his budding relationship with Jack.
The waft of tobacco and Old Spice was nearly strong enough to knock Grant down as he and Hailey entered the infamous party barn. “We’re just country girls and boys getting’ down on the farm,” blared from speakers in the corner. Grant nodded in appreciation of the appropriateness of the Tim McGraw selection.
“Look,” Hailey pointed, “There’s Billy Wayne over there with Barbra.”
“Somebody said Barbra and Austin Harper used to date,” Misty added.
“Really?” Paul gasped. “I thought that was just a rumor!”
“Excuse me?” Grant scoffed. “Aren’t they cousins?”
“Last I heard, Barbra had her eye on Rusty Cobb,” Hailey interjected. “But, who doesn’t she have her eye on!”
“Lord have mercy, how old is Rusty Cobb?” Misty exclaimed. “That’s just gross; that girl has issues.”
“She’s Billy Wayne’s sister! Issues run in the Harper family!” Paul laughed.
“Who’s that fella she’s dancing with?” Hailey asked.
“Never seen him before,” Paul shook his head.
“Must be one of the junior college boys,” Misty rolled her eyes.
Tiring quickly of town gossip, Grant walked off to inspect the crowd for himself.
Hailey’s eyes followed Grant as Misty wrapped her arms around her friend from behind. “Go get your man,” she giggled in Hailey’s ear. “I’m about to go dance the night away with mine. It’s senior year, Hails…make this a night to remember!”
Hailey smiled as she watched Misty grab Paul by the hand, and the two of them disappeared into the crowd.
Jessica and Emily had ditched them as soon as they got out of the truck. Hailey surveyed the crowd but could not find them anywhere. If she knew her sister, she had already found a dance partner and was putting on a show, singing along with every song that played. The music was so loud it was hard for Hailey to hear herself think, and the shoes that Jessica had made her wear were already killing her feet.
There was a table of snacks and refreshments set up in the corner, and Hailey wandered over, frowning at the selection of beverages in the blue Igloo coolers. “Can a girl get a bottle of water around here…a Dr. Pepper perhaps…a Coke?” she grumbled to herself. She scanned the table full of miss-matched bowls of nuts and chips and pretzels and finally saw the punch bowl. Thirsty and relieved to find something suitable to drink, she dipped some into a red, plastic cup as Grant walked up to join her.
“There you are,” Hailey smiled. “I was starting to think you were looking for someone else to dance with!” Hailey took a gulp of her punch, and her face contorted. “What is this?” she exclaimed, waving one hand frantically in front of her mouth as she extended the cup to Grant.
Grant took a sip and laughed.
“What is that?” Hailey asked again.
“If I had to guess, I’d say it’s a few assorted fruit drinks, a lot of rum and a shot of vodka,” Grant told her.
“Okay,” Hailey said, reaching for the cup as Grant took another sip. “Thank you for that very informed answer.” She sat the cup aside. “Dance with me,” she said as she took his hand.
For nearly an hour Grant and Hailey danced close, and Hailey was impressed by how good a dancer Grant seemed to be. At first, Hailey was lost in her head, focusing on every step, trying hard to impress and not step on Grant’s feet, but soon she fell into an easy sense of comfort and security in his arms. Her dancing may not have been the best, but Grant looked at her like she was the most beautiful girl in the room, and that was all she could ask for. In the midst of a rowdy crowd, she felt so safe in his arms. As they danced, Grant noticed a couple lying in the hay, their hands exploring one another’s bodies. He scanned the crowd, trying to spot Emily and Jessica, but had no luck.
Just then, two guys walked by, bumping into Hailey and sloshing some of their beer onto her blouse. Their loud, drunken laughter irritated Grant. “Hey, watch where you’re going!” he shouted, shoving one of them away. He tucked Hailey close to his side. “I don’t like where this party is headed, and I want to get you out of here,” he said seriously.
“How did you get such a bad boy reputation talking like that?” Hailey smiled.
“Trust me,” Grant frowned, “I earned it…let’s go, Hails.”
