about Willette’s?”
“I don’t want to go somewhere with the word roundhouse on the sign, either.”
“Their food is decent, and we could dance a bit. It’s been a long time since I’ve shuffled around the dance floor with my wife.”
“Uh, yeah, never is a long time,” she teased.
Georgia avoided dance floors as a rule and the people that danced at Willet’s didn’t mess around. They flung and twisted their partners while never missing the one, two shuffle of their feet. She was pretty sure she’d look like a gazelle being taken down by a cheetah. She figured she could trip over her two left feet in the privacy of her own home.
Georgia knew that’s where he wanted to go, and it was better than the diner.
He gave her an expectant look as his truck idled.
“Okay, I guess there aren’t a lot of options.”
“Hey, I threw one out there,” Nate said as they drove.
“It doesn’t count when you know there’s no way we’d go there. It’s too expensive and you know it.”
“You threw out that Thai place. You knew there was no way I’d go there.”
“That’s not true! I was hoping you’d want to try something different.”
“Baby, I like what I like.”
“I know, just every once in awhile it would be nice. What if we ever go to a foreign country, huh? You gonna put biscuits in your suitcase?”
He laughed. “I just might.”
Georgia could hear the country music blaring the minute she stepped down onto the gravel parking lot. Her shoes crunched as they walked to the entrance. Nate held open the door, then took her hand.
The area around the hostess stand seemed dark compared to the glare of the lights above the dance floor. Willet’s was packed. It always was on the weekends, and after their second lap they found themselves back at the entrance.
“Well, no tables. Looks like we’ll just have to go somewhere else…Damn, I was really looking forward to eating something fried, served in a basket,” Georgia said.
Nate sniffed. “You’re lucky I still find your sarcasm entertaining.”
“Nate! Hey, Bristol!” someone yelled over the music. It was Nate’s friend, Gabe.
Georgia pinned Nate with a look. “I didn’t know the guys were here, promise.” She frowned. It was one of the only places to go out in town, so the odds were good his buddies would be here. She wished she’d thought of that beforehand.
“Hey guys,” Gabe said as he joined them. “You two need a table? We have a few open spots. Don’t worry, G, some of the wives are here.”
That didn’t make her feel any better. She wanted to sit with her husband, alone.
“Whatdya say, baby? There’s no place else to sit.”
She could’ve said no. She could’ve insisted they try the Thai place. Nate could eat rice. But, now in front of his friend, and with all of his buddies in attendance, she’d look like a bitch…Why didn’t Nate turn him down? Yeah, right.
Gabe took her silence as an affirmative. “Great, see you guys over there. We’re right by the pool tables.”
When he was out of earshot Georgia grabbed Nate’s arm. “I really wanted to have you to myself, Nate.”
“Aw, you will, baby. If you dance with me, I’m all yours.” Nate grinned and kissed her on the side of her head.
There went date night.
They did dance, once, a slow one. He made her laugh and hummed the song in her ear. It was nice to be in his arms. But once the guys started to play pool she was relegated to the wives’ table. The only upside was that his butt looked really good in the jeans he was wearing, and he bent over the table many times.
She nursed a beer for most of the night, carefully peeling the label from the bottle. Nothing like wallowing in self pity while your husband gets hit on right in front of your face. Now she wished Nate was wearing overalls.
The most aggressive was a girl named Ellie. She was attractive, if you like short blondes with huge boobs. It pissed Georgia off. That