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“They might be Frannie and Annie,” I smirked.
“Fate loves a rhyme,” Kenny declared with a grin as wide as his unibrow.
“Actually, I just made the names up,” I said, curious how they would respond.
“So did we!” Kenny slapped Denny on the back. “I love a woman with a sense of humor! My legal name is Scumman, but I changed it when people started calling me Scum, for short.”
Nodding, I eyed the dirt under his fingernails. “That tracks.”
“And my legal name is Tirdston, but I changed it when people started calling me Turd,” Denny said, then, in what had to be one of the worst segues ever, he added, “I like long walks on the beach.”
The DJ started his first set on the other side of the terrace, ramping up the volume, the upbeat island dance music inviting everyone to the outside dance floor. The beats throbbed and colorful lights swirled around the wooden deck, transforming the evening from a tranquil sunset scene to a vibrant night of celebration.
Scum leaned closer to me, taking an obvious peek down my blouse. “Might I have the honor of your first dance, Frannie?”
Turd leaned closer to Daphne. “And I would like the honor of your first dance, Annie.”
“Thank you for the invitation,” I said, trying to think of a good excuse, then added, “I always give the first five dances to Annie.”
Daphne smiled. “Thanks for not breaking our tradition, Frannie.”
Leaving our drinks untouched, and in a moment of spontaneity, I grabbed Daphne’s hand and pulled her toward the dance floor as I called out, “See you later, guys!”
Daphne laughed as she danced with me, occasionally looking over her shoulder.
“Are they still there?” I asked.
“Watching us like hawks,” she said.
“Don’t worry about them. We’ll dance a few songs, then slip out before the fifth one starts.”
Daphne smiled and bumped my hip. “Sounds like a plan!”
And just like that, all my worries faded into the background. I closed my eyes, raised my arms above my head, and swayed to the music, letting the rhythm carry me away. The ambiance was electric. Laughter and chatter mingled with the pulsating beats and ocean air as people danced with abandon.
I opened my eyes and said, “I love this!”
Daphne and I twirled around the dance floor, our bodies moving in sync to the music, each step sloughing off the day’s earlier awkwardness. Just as the song was reaching its crescendo, Daphne’s eyes widened, her gaze fixed just over my shoulder.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“You’re not going to like this,” she muttered over the thumping bass. “They’re coming right this way.”
Scum and Turd had decided the five-song hiatus I had mentioned was more of a guideline than an actual rule. They appeared on the dance floor with the same overeager smiles, thrusting wildly inappropriate hip gyrations in our direction.
“We couldn’t wait any longer!” Scum shouted as he sidled up next to me.
Turd took a similarly presumptuous position in front of Daphne, both of them clearly misunderstanding the concept of personal space.
“You ladies light up the dance floor!” he said, moving closer. “You’ve got moves that could kill a mongoose.” He winked. “And I’m a mongoose!”
I did not know what that meant, and I didn’t want to know.
Daphne and I exchanged a look, a silent agreement passing between us that it was time to redirect this unexpected reunion. Just as I was about to suggest to her we duck out under the guise of using the restroom, I felt a hand slide around the small of my back. Startled, I stiffened immediately, my instincts kicking in before my mind could catch up. In a reflexive motion, my clenched fist swung back, connecting with the person behind me.
A sharp yelp cut and then a loud thump through the music, then I spun around.
There was no one in my line of vision until I looked down. My heart practically stopped when I saw him.
