Page 24 of Dark Secret

The dress wasn’t so over the top that she wouldn’t fit in, but she’d definitely catch an eye or two. Couples came dressed in suits and ties, with formal dresses, while others came in jeans and sweaters. It was just one of those places where you could spend the night dressed however you wanted to.

She was nearly bouncing with curiosity by the time I pulled into the parking lot. I heard the strains of Lloyd Price’s version of Stagger Lee pumping from the place. The shagging was in full swing then. We walked in, and I heard a gasp from Stephanie.

“What are they doing?” she asked, her eyes glued to the dancers on the floor.

“Well, that, my dear, is called shagging around these parts.” The dancers twisted, swung, and grooved along the floor, in a style totally unique to each dancer. “It’s kind of based on the old swing dance styles, but the people around here gave it their own twist.”

“Wow, look at the couple.” She pointed at two people who were really getting into it, and I smiled.

“Yeah, it can get pretty, um…dirty.” I looked down and could almost see the lightbulb going off in her head.

“Oh! Kind of like Dirty Dancing, the movie?”

“Kind of. I think there’s a movie from the 1980s about it, maybe it was called the same thing; I can’t remember now.” I found us an empty table, and we sat.

“I just can’t, wow! I can’t understand how they can do that. It’s so quick!” She was obviously enamored with the dancing, and I ordered us both a glass of beer from the waitress who came to our table.

“I want to know how to do that. It’s amazing!” She turned to me, and I could see she was serious.

“I thought you were from the area?” It was a little confusing, but then, sometimes, Stephanie was. It almost seemed like she’d lived in a bubble.

Then I remembered all the signs that said she’d lived a very sheltered, but rich life. Her manners, the way she carried herself, the fact that she knew how to dance modern dance moves, but also ball room dances. I knew she came from a rich family, one that was very privileged. And perhaps she’d escaped from that.

“I’ve lived quite a few places, actually. Myrtle Beach has just always been my favorite.” I remembered how she’d once said she wanted to go to Iceland. She’d mentioned some of the places she’d been to, but she suddenly seemed saddened when she spoke about them.

“Do you speak any other languages?”

“Huh?” she asked with a surprised smile. “Well, I speak a smattering of Mandarin Chinese, some Italian, Spanish, and German.”

“Whoa. All of that? You didn’t have time for French?” I thought that was funny, but I knew she wouldn’t understand why.

“No, it never really interested me. I was too busy studying the other ones and never really liked it. Oh, a song we can dance to!”

“Shall we?” I asked and held my hand out. She took it with a grin, and we went out on the floor.

“What is this song?” she asked when I pulled her into my arms after a rather dramatic twirl.

“She’s Like the Wind,” I said against her ear as I pulled her close. “Patrick Swayze sang it in Dirty Dancing.”

“Oh yeah! I remember now! I can’t believe I forgot about that song.” She swayed, our steps in time, perfectly matched, as if we’d practiced for the dance.

I brought her back into my arms, placed a kiss on her neck, and thought that Stephanie embodied that song. Maybe I was stupid to think that I could take this further, and she deserved so much better than me. I had a feeling I’d lose my mind too, if she left me again.

“You are magic, do you know that?” A slow smile spread over her face, and her arms wound around my neck.

“So are you, Dylan. You’re a fool if you think you don’t have anything I need. You have it all, right here.” That admission came with her hand softly over my heart.

For a moment, the rest of the dancers disappeared, and I brought her up in my arms to kiss her as I twirled us on the dance floor. There was only us and a kiss that I didn’t want to end. The loud cheers of the other dancers and whistles caught my attention finally, and I let her down on the floor.

I was embarrassed that I’d brought us so much attention, but at the same time, proud. Stephanie deserved that kind of admiration and attention. She was every inch a woman, and I had to find a way to hang on to her. Even if I’d be trying to build a wall between us in the next half hour.

It was starting to tire me, this constant battle with myself. Stephanie was mine, and I could have her forever. In the back of my mind was my mother and the way she’d sneer if I ever asked her to do anything with me.

I’d ruined her life. She’d ruined her life by having me, she’d tell me. Wasn’t that enough? I’d go away, whether it was a toddle when I was a small child, or I'd walk away with a broken heart, but eventually I stopped asking for her attention. I’d stopped asking for anyone’s attention, outside of business.

Even my adoptive parents found it hard to get me to take part in activities with them for a long time. I called them now, and went back to see them, but I never asked for their attention for myself. I thought it still sometimes bothered them, and I knew Mom worried, but I was a grown man now.

Well, I was until Stephanie came along and turned me into a puddle of mud. She’d taken all of my will it seemed, and now, when I was at my weakest, was the wrong time to make decisions.