Oh.
“Jake, I’ll meet you guys…” Where were they?
He frowned then pointed toward the tables nearer to the door where we’d come in. “Bubba grabbed us a spot over there. You want a drink?”
“Anything cold,” I told him.
“You got it.” Then he glanced at Rachel. “I’ve got my eye on you, Manning.”
“Oh, I’m feeling all warm in side. It’s probably bile.”
Laughing, I gave Jake’s hand a squeeze before I bumped Rachel. “Behave, or I’ll give your girlfriend the same kind of stink eye.”
“You would never,” Rachel teased. “You’re way too nice.”
“Ha,” I countered as we made our way over. “Just you wait, I have it on good authority that I’m adorably the worst.”
Her snort just made me grin wider. “Skylar, this is Frankie,” Rachel said when we reached her. We all kind of had to huddle to be heard over the music. “Frankie, this is Skylar.”
“Hi.” I debated offering her my hand ‘cause that might be weird, but then just stuck it out anyway. “It’s really great to meet you.”
Shy smile growing a little brighter, Skylar clasped my hand. “It’s really nice to meet you, too. You really are every bit as nice as Rachel said you were.”
“Oh, I was going to say don’t believe a word she says, but if I’m supposed to be nice, I can totally live with that.”
Skylar laughed, and Rachel grinned.
“You having fun?” I glanced between them. Like me, they were a bit sweaty.
“Actually,” Skylar said, as she took Rachel’s hand. “More than I expected. I go to private school. We do not have dances like this. It’s kind of like in the movies, but not.”
Spreading my hands, I paused my response when a body collided with my back, and then Cheryl leaned over me. “Rachel,” she scolded. “Why didn’t you introduce me to her?” Then without waiting, she stretched out a hand to Skylar. “I’m Cheryl, I’m a little obnoxious, but I’m sure we’re going to be amazing friends. Rachel only likes amazing people.”
Cheryl still had an arm around me, a bottle of water fisted in that hand. Her perfume tickled my nose, but her light-hearted spirit proved infectious.
“It’s good to meet you, too,” Skylar said, some of the shyness in her expression eased. “Rachel has told me about both of you. But what she didn’t tell me was how pretty you are.”
“Eh,” I said with a half-shrug. “This…” I made a motion toward myself, “doesnothappen everyday, but thank you. Besides, I’m betting she’s too tongue-tied by how pretty you are.”
“Nice,” Cheryl complimented me and offered a playful fistbump. “I was just gonna say because Rachel’s not an idiot.”
Amusingly enough, Rachel seemed a little flushed and her eyes overbright as she gave us both a look. “And now we’re going away before you two get any more ridiculous.”
“Awww,” Skylar teased with a grin. “Maybe I want to hang out with them and get all the dirt on you.”
“Sorry, no can do,” I told her. “Dirt is definitely a third meeting aperitif.”
Cheryl giggled, and Rachel rolled her eyes. When she mouthedI hate you, it was like my life was just a little fuller. I blew her a kiss as they wandered away and then eased Cheryl from leaning on me quite so heavily.
“You okay?” I checked with her.
“I’m good. Tell you a secret, my shoes were killing me. You were so much smarter to come in flats.”
I shrugged. “More like a safety concern. I teeter in heels, and dancing in them sucks hard.”
“I get that—well, I don’t, but I can appreciate it.” She grinned. “You know, I’m going to go grab a soda. You want this? I only had one drink.” She passed me the water bottle. I did actually.
“Thanks.”