As the evening progressed, Michelle and Brian were dancing close, talking in low tones, laughing.
Shane and I found ourselves discussing more than horses. We revealed likes and dislikes in movies and music, and even discussed past experiences, including our mutual failures in love, as well as future plans. He really opened up, but still gave me space to participate in the conversation, listening attentively while looking at me with those deep blue eyes.
“Have to say I’m glad I let Brian talk me into coming down to the restaurant to try and meet you girls,” he volunteered.
“So you guys were stalking us?” I asked with raised eyebrows, but smiling to show the remark was meant lightly.
“We were sitting out on the balcony by our room when y’all pulled in, and later watched y’all walk to the restaurant. Brian was taken with Michelle — he has a weak spot for blondes — and said we should try to talk y’all up. I didn’t want to. What Brian said ’bout me being down on women because Jolene dumped me isn’t far off the mark, but Brian said he needed some help if he was going to hone in on Michelle and asked me to distract you.” He paused, then added, “But it wasn’t too long after we started talking that I felt like I got the best of the deal.”
He was so sweet that I blurted out something I was feeling.
“I can’t understand why your girlfriend called it off, you seem like such a nice guy.”
“I think your former beau was a nut case,” he responded. “If a man’s lucky enough to find a good woman he should hold onto her and put blinders on so he can’t be distracted.”
We looked into each other’s eyes without speaking for a moment, then took the floor again, completely comfortable and at ease while dancing. I even cozied close to him as we just glided together, my head resting on his shoulder, his arm around my back seeming more like an embrace. When the music stopped we returned to the table to find our companions already seated.
“They’re gonna start closing down here soon,” Brian said. “What say we get one more bottle and carry the party to our room.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” I said. “It’s getting late and Michelle and I have a long way to go tomorrow — on the right route.”
“Hey little lady, this has been so nice for all of us it must be the right route, and we all deserve to go down it a little more,” Brian countered. “I know Shane’s a fearsome tiger, but I promise I won’t let him get out of hand.”
We all laughed, even Shane, who after looking down modestly admitted he would like to “share this company a while longer.” Michelle was also all for it.
I excused myself to go to the “powder room,” looking at Michelle, who said she would accompany me.
“We shouldn’t be carrying this any further,” I said to her when we were alone. “You especially. You’re engaged to my brother, and on your way to see him.”
Then as now, it did not take much to get Michelle going, especially when alcohol loosened her tongue.
“And if it all goes down the way it probably will, I’ll be seeing a lot of Richie for the next 50 years or so, along with our kids and grandkids,” Michelle replied. “We’ll get jobs, buy a house, join all the right organizations and get gray together, and I’ll enjoy it all, or most of it, but right now I’m only 23 and just dying to take a few more breaths of freedom before the new chapter starts.”
“How many breaths are you going to take?”
“Look, Lisa, we’ve met some cute, fun guys who we’re never going to see again, and should enjoy their company while we can. It’s not like we’re going to sleep with them. But you know, even if we did would that be so bad? It certainly wouldn’t be if you did. You’re unattached. You’ve been with only one guy. And you are interested in Shane, I can see that, the way you look at him, dancing so close. Dan is history, and you’re not going to join a convent.” She swiveled her hips, put on a sly smile and made a clicking sound with her tongue. “This is your chance to see what another guy would be like under the sheets.”
Michelle had always been free-spirited, but I was a little taken aback by her candor. It was the wine talking, probably. However, she did have a case. We were young and still free. This was my chance to see what it would be like with another guy. And such a nice guy. But should I just ignore all those parental admonitions and play the slut, throw away my standards and have a one-night stand with a strange guy in a roadside motel?
“Okay, we’ll go for a little while,” I told her, “but there’s no question about it — you know they’re going to come on to us — and if one of us doesn’t feel comfortable, she leaves, understood?”
Michelle nodded, smiling. “Party on sister.”
So we went up to the guys’ room to continue the party, and it didn’t take long for it to heat up. They tuned in a music channel on the TV. Michelle kicked off her shoes, and continued the dance with Brian. Shane and I opened the latest bottle and waited for a slower number. Before long we were cuddling again as we waltzed mostly in place, for I don’t know how long. Between the wine and the enjoyable feeling of being held in his strong arms, I lost all sense of time.
When I happened to look around, I saw that Michelle and Brian were lying on one of the double beds, facing each other and talking low. Michelle laughed at something he said and rolled on her back, continuing to laugh while Brian took advantage of the bare midriff shirt she was wearing to trace a finger around her belly button. She laughed that it tickled. He leaned over, bringing their lips close together, and they joined in a kiss. It got kind of passionate, some Frenchie action going on for sure.