Love's Broken Road

Chapter 3 - Lets Dance

Dakota’s P.O.V.

The party was hitting full swing now. I spent the last half hour talking to Melody, getting caught up on what she had been up to this summer. She was getting ready to start college in the fall to become a nurse. She was going to a local college so she could stay at home. My mood began to change, releasing the depressive thoughts that had taken hold of me. It was nice to talk with an actual human, not only the nagging thoughts in my head. I felt human for the first time since Nicole left. The autopilot switched off, and I was enjoying the company. I caught up with my old friends I hadn’t seen in a while. They knew that she dumped me again. Many of them were glad because they didn’t care for her. She’s the reason I haven’t talked to them in a while.

I worked my way back to where Jayden and Coby were still sitting and talking.

“Hey,” I slurred.

“Doing better, buddy?” Jayden asked.

I smiled. Jayden could tell I was enjoying the effects of the alcohol. I’m not a sloppy drunk, a happy one, and sometimes loud.

“It’s about damn time you had fun,” Coby laughed.

I rewarded him with a middle finger and laughed.

“So what’s new with you assholes?” I asked.

“Not much, only sitting here bullshitting and drinking,” Jayden said.

“Where did your date go, Jay? Did we scare her away?” I chuckled.

“She went to talk to Mel,” he said.

I looked towards the cooler, but the girls were no longer there. I scanned around, spotting the girls over by the truck that was blaring the music. It appeared they were trying to find new music to play. A few people were dancing on a makeshift dance floor nearby. I turn back towards the guys.

“So where did you meet her?” I asked.

“She’s a waitress at the diner in town. I talked her into giving me her number,” he said.

My head nodded. He’s always getting numbers from girls. Sometimes I wonder how he does it. He’s not the best-looking guy, tall as me, but skinny. Jayden has charm, though, and can talk his way into everything.

“Yeah, I’m sure you had to try hard to get her number.” I laughed.

Jayden grinned. He knew I was right. It amazes me how many girls have fallen for his lines of bullshit. What a man w***e. Christ, I’d lose track of who I’m talking to and call them by the wrong name. Multiple girls have caught him, but he keeps doing it though. I believe he likes the thrill of trying to get away with it.

“So, what are you doing this week?” he asked.

“Working, no other plans beyond that,” I said.

“Are we still going riding next weekend?” he asked.

“s**t, I forgot that. Yeah, I will be there.” I said.

We ride off-road bikes for fun, nothing serious. Jayden and Colby ride dirt bikes. I have a sport four-wheeler. We have a few homemade tracks we race on when we aren’t flying around back roads on them. It’s been a long time since I’ve spent a day out on the bike.

The girls arrived back at the fire.

“What are you guys discussing?” Shea asked.

“Nothing much, only going riding next weekend,” Jayden remarked.

She got giddy, “Oh yeah, I can’t wait to go.”

I c****d an eyebrow at her, “You ride?”

“Yes, you don’t think a girl can ride?” she said, sounding annoyed.

“No, you didn’t strike as someone who rides,” I said.

She scowled, “What do you think I am, a dainty princess?”

“I’m sorry, I meant nothing by it. I’m was only surprised,” Dakota defended.

“Chill, babe, he’s led a sheltered life.” Jayden laughed.

I gave him the middle finger and laughed, “f**k off asshole.”

Everyone started laughing. It felt good to be laughing again.

Shea grabbed Jayden’s hand, “Come on, I want to dance.”

“I’ve got to see this.” I laughed.

Jayden was not much of a dancer unless it was slow dancing. I always joked it looked as if he is getting electrocuted when he tried to dance. We made our way over to the makeshift dance floor. We were getting a big laugh watching Jayden try not to make a fool of himself. It made everyone chuckle, that’s for sure. Shea grabbed Jayden and started leading him, making us laugh harder.

“You should get out there.” Coby prodded

I looked at him as if he was crazy.

“Who is going to dance with me?” I scoffed.

He nodded his head toward Melody, who was standing next to me, swaying her hips to the music.

“Um, I don’t know,” I hesitated.

Not that I didn’t want to dance with Melody, I didn’t think I was ready.

“What’s it going to hurt?” he said, giving me a nudge in her direction.

Well, nothing, I guess. It’s only dancing. I was standing there debating if I should ask Mel to dance or not. Coby could see I was in my head again and gave me another nudge to bring me back to Earth. The song switched to “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. I love this song. What the hell. Let’s do this.

“You want to dance?” I turned and asked Melody.

A surprised look flashed on her face.

“Are you sure?” she said, starting to blush.

“Yeah,” I said as I grabbed her hand and led her into the group on the dance floor.

She circled her arms around my neck as I placed my hands on her hips. A shiver ran through her body as I touched her, making me smirk. We kept a small distance between our bodies as we started swaying back and forth.

I sang along with the lyrics, “Tell me, something girl,”

When I looked at Melody, she was listening to me as I sang. I should stop, but her eyes told me to keep going.

She continued listening as I finished the first verse.

“You’ve got a lovely voice,” she cooed.

I blushed, “Thanks.”

People have told me I have a magnificent voice, but it still bothered me to sing in front of anyone. She let out a sigh and moved in closer to me. When her body pressed against mine and I relaxed. It felt so good having someone this close. She then laid her head against my chest. I wrap my arms around her, resting my hands on the small of her back. I keep singing along as we continue to sway to the music. If I were honest, I didn’t want the song to end.

As the song ended, Melody still had her head on my chest.

I looked at Melody and whispered, “Mel, the song has ended.”

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry.” she blushed.

I let out a small chuckle, “It’s OK.”

“You should sing more your voice is excellent,” she gushed.

“I don’t know. It always bothers me to sing in front of people,” I said.

“You just sang to me.” she smiled.

That made me smile, “Yeah, but who could pass up singing to a cute girl.”

Here came the blush again.

“Someone should write a book with you in mind and call it ‘Fifty Shades of Red.’” I laughed.

This time she hauled off and punched my arm. That one hurt. She may be small, but she packs a wallop.

“OK, OK, you win. I’m sorry. Damn, that hurt.” I whimpered.

“Good,” she growled back.

We’ve done this for years. We mess with each other until someone gets mad. Well, not mad per se. Annoyed is the proper word. We didn’t stay that way for long, and we’d go back to it again.

I gave her my best pouty face, and she started laughing. I wrapped her in a big bear hug and lifted her off the ground, making her squeal. She has a way of improving my mood.

“I say we get another drink,” I said

My arm went around her shoulder as we headed back to the cooler. I sensed that someone was watching me. I looked to see Shea staring at us with a smirk on her face. What does that smirk mean?