One Night Rodeo by Lorelei James

Author:Lorelei James [James, Lorelei]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781101594377
Publisher: PENGUIN group
Published: 2012-08-07T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

After Harper and Tierney duded Celia up, they headed to Buckeye Joe’s for girls’ night out.

Celia expected the place to be dead. But the Thursday-night special, Jack and Coke for two bucks, kept the joint hopping. The Mud Lilies, the wild group of seventy- and eightysomething women who’d banded together after becoming widows, had scored a table and saved three spots.

Garnet did the wave when they arrived. “About damn time. We started without you.” She gave Celia, Tierney, and Harper a one-armed hug, since she held a drink in her other hand. “Cheap drinks tonight, so I intend on bein’ a cheap drunk.” She whistled for the cocktail waitress. “Another round, barkeep!”

“Garnet is in good spirits,” Bernice said, “so watch out.”

Harper scanned the group. “Where’s Tilda?”

“A Skype date with her grandson who lives in Singapore.” Pearl pointed to the dance floor. “And Vivien’s already cuttin’ a rug with some feller. But he’s got wandering hands. I wouldn’t be surprised if Viv slapped him.”

“Which is why Pearl hasn’t taken her eyes off them,” Maybelle said. “Ten bucks says she slugs him in the stomach.”

“You’re on,” Pearl said.

They were both sorely disappointed when Vivien just gave the guy a stern talking-to with lots of finger shaking.

Susan Williams, Buckeye Joe’s owner, delivered a round of drinks and promised to return and drink a toast.

Garnet held her glass aloft. Her gaze encompassed Celia, Tierney, and Harper. “To these young gals. May their friendships last as long as ours have.”

“Hear, hear.” Glasses clinked.

That was a sweet and tame toast—from the woman who wore a royal blue tank top emblazoned with GILF in rhinestones. Beneath that, Garnet had on a black lace long-sleeved T-shirt. Her pants were stretch denim covered in glittery sparkles.

And Celia had worried that her outfit was too over the top? She fiddled with the belt to her coat, making sure it stayed knotted. It was always cold in the bar in the winter, so no one thought anything of her leaving her coat on, especially if she wasn’t dancing.

Conversation flowed as freely as the booze. Celia wasn’t in the mood for either, so she nursed her drink and listened.

An hour passed. She heard about Bernice’s upcoming bunion surgery. Vivien bragged on her grandchildren. Pearl talked about starting the Jack Daniel’s knitting club. Harper talked about her sisters’ military lives. Tierney announced she was throwing a baby shower for Janie and Tyler.

Garnet leaned closer. “See the dude in the beige hat at the bar?”

Celia angled back for a better look. “Gray hair?”

“Yep. How old do you think he is?”

“Between fifty and sixty, closer to the sixty side.”

“Practically a baby,” Garnet snorted.

“Age is relative. You’re the one who taught me that. You oughta ask him to dance.”

“I will.” She put her mouth on Celia’s ear. “Don’t tell no one at this table what I’m doin’.”

“Why not?”

“Because they’ll try to stop me. For my own good. But Lord. I’m tired of being good. Know what I mean?”

“What are you two whispering about over there?” Pearl demanded.

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