She Only Speaks to Butterflies (17 page)

Jenny gave Sarah a nod as thanks and rose. “I’ll go pass ‘em around.” She bent down to Sherry. “Here. Take three more for us for later.”

Pulling them toward her, Sherry strategically placed them behind the empty beer bottles, away from view.

Lee examined his award that the DJ pinned on his suit jacket. “I never won an award before.” He removed his jacket and loosened his tie. “I s’pose there could be worse things.”

“You guys were good,” Sarah complimented. “I’d a won had I not been carryin’ a watermelon.”

Sherry laughed, examining her award, which was too heavy pinned on her dress. The spaghetti straps were being forced forward, revealing part of the upper half of her bra. She blushed as she carefully removed it, placing it on the table beside her drink. “Denise’ll get a kick outta this in the mornin’.”

“I’ll give mine to Luke so they match,” Lee offered. “Where’d ya learn to dance?”

Sherry took a sip of her drink and answered. “My folks have been line dancin’ for years and we always have some dancin’ goin’ on durin’ the summer. Even Denise knows a little.”

“Sounds like fun.”

“I’ll invite ya next time.”

Lee grinned, feeling his cheeks warm, although he wasn’t sure if it was because of the drink or because of the beautiful woman who just invited him to her place sometime. He tried to forget that he inadvertently caught a peek of the top of her bra when she removed the pin.

Jenny returned with an empty tray where the jello shooters had been. Satisfied she’d avoided further scandal to her family, she sat down on the other side of Sarah and leaned in, as if she had a secret to share. “Looks like all the town drunks are smugglin’ free drinks in from the parkin’ lot,” she glared. “Better keep our eyes peeled for trouble.”

Craning his neck back, Lee observed Reggie Maxwell, Ruben and Tom Johnson and a few others standing in a huddle at the back of the room. He made eye contact with Alan and his wife Nellie chatting with them, too. “I don’t think we need to worry. It looks like Alan’s got it under control for now.”

Sherry couldn’t help but watch Lee’s muscular body as he turned to look. He’d rolled up the sleeves of his crisp, white shirt and the top two buttons had been undone, revealing a small tuft of curly hair just below his throat. The bottom of his hairline, at the nape, was damp from sweat; his hair was in soft curls. Trying to avert her glance and avoid thinking about what it would be like to touch the hair at his neckline, she took another sip of beer.

“It’s not like we’re at a town meetin’ or anything,” Sarah scoffed.

Mark, Sarah’s husband chimed in. “Next one’s comin’ up in a week.”

Focusing on the conversation instead of on the sexy, sweaty fireman sitting next to her, Sherry said, “Already?”

“Yep. Need to discuss where the hell this damn hospital’s gonna go,” Mark answered.

“I figured Greg Groves woulda learnt the story on that one by now,” Sarah commented, scanning the room. “Say, where’s Lina and Greg tonight?”

Jenny smirked. “They’re not the charitable type.”

“Speak of the devil.” Sherry noticed Lina and Greg walk in. “Figures they’d show up after all the tickets are gone.”

“Well, ya know she has to make an entrance, right?” Sarah murmured. “Let’s bet on what she brags about first. I say her dress…she probably went outta town to buy it. Who’s in?”

Sherry’s brow furrowed guiltily. “I’ll take that bet.”

“Me, too,” Leon added a little too emphatically.

“Hey, no fair!” Sarah argued. “Y’all have prolly seen her lookin’ at dresses already.”

Sherry and Leon exchanged a glance.

“Shhh!” Jenny whispered a little too loudly. “Here they come!”

“What’re we shushing?” Lina swayed her plump hips toward the table, frowning as though bored and unimpressed. “Have we missed anything or is this as dull as it was to begin with?”

“Na, y’all missed some good dancin’ and a line-dancin’ competition,” Sherry volunteered.

Lina scoffed. “Who won?”

“We did,” Lee answered, shooting her a look.

Lina craned her neck at him. “Who’s we?”

“Me and Sherry.”

Lina snorted as though that was the most ridiculous thing she’d heard. “Geez, ‘cause that’s the way to get to a man, makin’ him dance!”

Sarah glared at Lina. “She didn’t
make
him dance, you cow!” She rose defensively. “And she ain’t tryin’ to
get
to him, neither!” Sarah took a step closer to Lina. “And at least she ain’t stuffin’ her one-size-too-big fat ass into no whorey dress to get a man, neither!”

Mark rose quickly, nearly knocking the table over. He placed his arm around Sarah. “Darlin’, calm down,” he said, his voice quivering nervously.

Lina’s mouth was agape and a vein had popped out of her neck. Greg placed his hand at the small of Lina’s back, cautiously stealing a glance at Sherry. “Now she didn’t mean no harm, love. It’s the hormones talkin’.”

“To hell it ain’t!” Sarah shouted. “You got a lotta nerve, pickin’ on her so damn much!”

Sherry interrupted, lifting herself from the table slowly. One hand was on her forehead as her face paled. “I’m gonna go to the ladies room.” Lee’s eyes widened as he rose and cautiously followed her. Sherry didn’t notice he was just two steps behind. Reluctantly, he waited in the hallway, giving her privacy while she did her business.

Five minutes later she exited the washroom, finding Lee leaning against the wall with one foot over the other and his arms crossed. He tried for nonchalant. “Are ya okay?”

“I’m fine. Lina’s hated me forever, I’m used to it.”

Her face had more color but she still appeared unsettled.

“That Sarah’s a spitfire.” Lee tried to read the unreadable expression on her face.

“Been my best friend for many years, but yes, ‘specially with the pregnancy, you can’t pull one over on her.”

Lee dipped his head out, giving a quick survey of the room. “Looks like Lina’s over talkin’ to Alan now. I think it’s safe.”

“I need a drink,” Sherry said, wanting to forget the heated exchange. All she wanted was to forget all her troubles and have fun, and up until Lina arrived, there was promise.

“What would ya like?”

“Whatever I had last. Not sure what it was.”

Lee followed her back to the table, pulling a chair out for her. Sherry watched him walk to the bar from the corner of her eye. His behind was tight and firm in the dress pants. Sarah interrupted her gaze.

“Are ya alright?” Sarah asked, glaring towards Lina.

“I’m fine. You should cool it, though. You got a baby in there, ya know.” She patted Sarah’s belly. While Sherry appreciated her friend’s protection, she didn’t want her compromising hers or the baby’s health for something she could’ve handled herself.

“I know. Believe me I’d a been worse off if I held it in.” Sarah popped a chip into her mouth, raising her brow.

“That’s true, ya know,” Jenny intervened. “It’s best to get things off yer chest. Pregnant or not. And that big-mouthed bitch needs a lesson or two anyhow.”

“Amen.” Leon clinked his beer bottle with Jenny’s cocktail glass.

Returning from the bar, Lee placed a glass in front of Sherry. The drink appeared identical to the one she had previously. “Thanks,” she said. “Did ya find out what it is?”

“Long Island Iced Tea.” Lee’s eyebrows rose, matter-of-factly. “Bartender says they’re not fer lightweights.”

“Aw, hell,” Jenny muttered. “She don’t need no babysitter.”

Lee’s hands lifted in defeat. “I’m just relayin’ a message.”

Jenny gave Sherry a look. “Yer folks musta warned the bartender before they left.”

“Wouldn’t put it past ‘em,” Sherry scoffed, taking a chip from Sarah’s bowl. “They mean well.”

Her parents, hands down, were the best. They’d supported Sherry through thick and thin. If it hadn’t been for her insisting on them keeping house in Texas so as not to disrupt their already busy lives, Kenny and Gertrude would have already closed up shop in Dallas, and moved to Arkansas with their widowed daughter. They would never see Sherry suffer, nor would she ever see them in pain in any way.

By them advising the bartender to keep an eye on Sherry was merely a gesture of kindness and compassion, knowing she was too stubborn to accept extra help if she drank too much. She would never do a thing to harm their innocent ideals of her, which was why she’d only had two drinks over the course of an hour.

Sherry took a chip from the bowl Sarah had been nursing and began chewing. She winced, grabbing her drink. She guzzled more than half of it and set it down, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “Jesus Lord, what the hell am I eatin’?” Her face was scrunched like she just swallowed castor oil.

Sarah shrugged. “Salt ‘n vinegar. My fav’rit.”

“They’re awful.” Sherry meant it sincerely, exaggerating the word ‘awful’.

Lee watched her empty her glass. His eyes widened. “I’ll get ya some water,” he said, trotting quickly to the bar.

“I feel like dancin’,” Sherry declared as she sipped from the proferred glass the sexy fireman brought her.

“Me, too,” Jenny said.

The music had remained at a conversational level since the line-dancing competition ended, but the DJ raised it slightly at the sight of two people, the only two people, heading up to dance.

“I thought Sarah was gonna knock Lina’s lights out there for a sec,” Jenny commented, completely missing the rhythm of the song with her feet. Sherry didn’t notice even though she was at an even pace with the music.

“She probably woulda if Mark and Greg hadn’t stepped in,” Sherry said behind her hand.

“I bet Martha woulda plowed her one.” Jenny reached for the bruise on her face, pale yellow, but still there. “Martha’s quite a spit fire, too. I wouldn’t put it past her.”

Sherry examined the bruise for a moment and tutted, shaking her head. Jenny shrugged and they forgot about it as they danced for the remainder of the song. The volume level seemed to increase as the next song played. It was a faster, disco-style tune that both girls favored. Their moves picked up speed, Jenny’s steps wavering slightly but better the more she danced. Sherry remained even with the tempo until the chorus. Slowing, Jenny observed her friend, who had all but stopped dancing suddenly.

“Are ya alright?”

Sherry tried for casual. “I’m fine.” Her face had turned pale.

Jenny wasn’t convinced. “Come.” She grasped Sherry’s hand in hers. The bathroom was thankfully twenty feet away.

The cold, wet paper towel was refreshing on Sherry’s forehead. Jenny directed Sherry to the first stall and closed the lid, making her use it as a seat. “There. Now you sit there a minute while I get you some water.”

Resting her head on the metal wall separating the two cubicles, Sherry swallowed as the room spun around her, creating a sensation like she was inside the eye of a hurricane. When Jenny returned a minute later, Sherry was face down in the toilet. “Oh, Lord. I was afraid that was gonna happen. Did ya eat anything recently?”

Sherry shook her head, dipping it into the bowl again. “Just those god-awful chips.”

Waiting patiently, Jenny fixed her hair in the mirror, checking her bruise once again. As Sherry’s retching subsided, she handed her some tissue. Sitting on the toilet seat, Sherry blew her nose and mopped her sweaty face. The main bathroom door knocked and Sherry froze, hearing Lee’s voice in the hallway. “Can I come in?”

Jenny jumped up, walking down the length of the stalls, dipping her head down to check for anyone else present. When she was sure it was just the two of them, she answered. “Yeah, come on in.”

Reluctantly, Lee remained on the other side of the stall, only entering the front portion of the loo. “Mark had to take Sarah home, she and Lina got into it again.” He hesitated, peering cautiously at Jenny, who was tapping her foot impatiently on the ruddy floor. “Are ya okay Sherry?” he asked.

“Oh, fer lan’s sakes, she’s not naked!” Jenny growled. “Come in, she don’t bite!”

Sherry’s head was still swimming and she realized that she was too drunk to be embarrassed. Her bottom stayed on the toilet seat while her eyes were half closed, wondering when the next wave of nausea would strike, praying it wouldn’t be while Lee was standing there.

“You want me to take ya home?” Lee asked Sherry.

She swallowed. “Not yet. I can’t go home lookin’ like this.”

“I’d offer to take ya to my place, but Kevin’s havin’ a sleepover,” Jenny explained. “I’ll be lucky if I have a place to sleep m’self.”

Sherry winced, placing a hand over her mouth. “Uh oh.”

Jenny worked quickly, pulling Sherry’s hair back as she lowered her head into the toilet bowl. “How’re ya throwin’ up that much if ya didn’t eat anything?”

Sherry placed her arm on the toilet seat and leaned her cheek on it. Lee took a step backward, hearing a voice at the door. “Everyone’s packin’ up; we’re closin’,” The bartender announced.

“Shit,” Jenny murmured. “Sherry, they’re closin’, ya gotta go home now.”

Sherry didn’t answer. Jenny patted her on the back, hoping for a response but Sherry simply moaned. Lee stuck his head out the bathroom door and with a sudden wave of panic he realized there was nobody there except a few lodge employees cleaning up. Feeling a strange mix of obligation and care, Lee said, “I’ll take her. There’s nobody left here.”