Taylor and Rory waited in line for a few minutes
before they made their way into the crowded bar. Taylor’s eyes adjusted to the dim lighting after a minute, and he surveyed his surroundings.
The huge dance floor was smack in the middle of the club. It was roped off, and tables surrounded it on all sides. The bar was on the far wall of the club. The floors were hardwood, and the walls were decorated with western paraphernalia.
“Wow,” Taylor half-yelled to Rory. “I am completely out of my element.”
Rory smiled. “Don’t think of it that way,” she said. “Think of it as an adventure.”
Rory paused for a moment. “God, Taylor, I didn’t even think to ask you if being in a bar made you uncomfortable,” she said. “I’m sorry. Are you okay with this?”
Taylor nodded. “I’m fine,” he said. “Bars were never my problem. I can have a couple of beers and be fine. In fact, it’s probably healthier for me to be around a bunch of people than it would be to be sitting at home.”
Rory looked relieved. “Good,” she said.
“Why don’t you get us a table, and I’ll go to the bar?” Taylor suggested. “What’s your poison?”
Rory smiled. “Jim Beam on the rocks,” she replied.
Taylor made a gagging noise. “Holy shit, why don’t you just drink lighter fluid?”
“Hey, you asked, so I told you,” Rory said. “Are you going to buy me a drink or just give me endless crap about it?”
Taylor’s blue eyes danced. “I would love to buy you a drink,” he said. In the back of his mind, Taylor was wondering what effect alcohol would have on Rory’s personality. He decided the evening was going to be something else.
Taylor went to the bar and ordered Rory’s drink and a beer for himself. He turned to scan the room, and saw her waving at him from a table on the other side of the club.
Taylor made his way through the crowd. He set Rory’s drink in front of her and sat down in the chair next to her.
“How often do you come here?” he asked.
Rory took a delicate sip of her whiskey. “Every weekend, pretty much,” she said. “I used to come with Patrick before he married Penny. She’s not real big on going out, and she’s definitely not real big on him going out without her.”
Taylor grinned. “Does she keep a pretty tight leash on him?”
Rory scowled. “I’ve never confessed this to anyone, but I don’t like her much,” she admitted. “I guess after Kori, no one was going to measure up. Kori’s great. I don’t know, though. I’m real close to Patrick … maybe more so than to the other two. I could just never bring myself to like any of his girlfriends.”
Taylor smiled at Rory. “You and my sister Avery should get together and go bowling,” he said.
Rory cocked her head. “Why is that?”
“She’s never liked my girlfriends,” Taylor said. “She’d never come right out and say anything, but I can tell. She and I are really close. I know what she’s thinking.”
Rory smiled warmly. “It’s cute that she’s so protective of you,” she said. “How old is she?”
“Thirteen,” Taylor said. “She’ll be 14 in February. I adore the shit out of her.”
“How is she handling this whole drug thing with you?” Rory asked.
“She’s amazingly strong for being so young,” Taylor said. “She, Jessica and Iris are the only ones of the kids who know everything. All three of them blow my mind. They’re really supportive of me and they’re a big help to each other and my mom.”
A new song started, and Rory gave Taylor a playful look. “Do you know how to two-step?”
Taylor gave Rory a sarcastic look. “What do you think?” he asked.
“This is a great song to learn to,” Rory said, rising and holding out her hand to Taylor. “Let’s cut a rug, Hanson.”
Taylor sighed. “I never dance unless I’ve had at least two beers,” he said.
Rory shook her head. “No excuses,” she said firmly. “We’re dancing. Now.”
Taylor knew when he was licked. He took Rory’s hand and allowed her to lead him to the dance floor.
Once there, Rory put one hand on Taylor’s shoulder and took his hand with the other. “Put your arm around my waist,” she instructed.
Taylor did as he was told.
“Now, just follow me,” Rory said. “I’ll show you the steps. I’ll lead for a while, and then when you’re comfortable you can take over.”
Taylor chuckled. “You must have seen those embarrassing old clips of us dancing on VH1,” he said. “You have to know I’m no good at this.”
Rory smiled encouragingly. “Taylor, you can be good at anything you want to be good at.”
Taylor watched Rory’s feet as they danced, and began to feel the rhythm. He fell into step with her, and after a few songs he was two-stepping like he had been doing it all his life.
Taylor had never for a moment thought that he would end up at a country bar, much less on the dance floor at one.
“This is crazy,” Taylor yelled to Rory above the strains of Joe Diffie. “If my brothers could see me now, I’d never hear the end of it.”
Over the course of the night, Rory and Taylor had a few more drinks. Taylor learned to do the Boot Scoot Boogie and the Electroslide as well as the two-step. For the entire evening, he didn’t think about meth. He didn’t think about probation. He didn’t think about anything but the fact that he was having a good time.
Toward closing time, Rory looked alarmed.
“Taylor, I’ve had more to drink than I planned on,” she said. “I can’t drive home. Are you okay?”
Taylor bit his lip. “No,” he said. “I mean, I feel like I could drive fine … I think I’ve only had three or something … but if I were to get stopped and had to take a breathalyzer test, I’d flunk it. And that would violate my probation.”
Rory nodded. “Good thinking,” she said. “Can you call us a cab?”
Taylor smiled. “Sure.”
An hour later, a cab was depositing Rory at her house. She was unsteady on her feet, and Taylor held her arm as she made her way up the brick walk to her door.
“I had so much fun today, Taylor,” she said.
Taylor smiled. “Are you going to remember you said that?”
Rory scowled. “I’m not bombed,” she insisted. “I’m just … feeling good.”
Taylor nodded. “I'll come over to take you to get your truck in the morning," he said. Taylor paused, and he and Rory locked gazes. "I really want to thank you for this,” he said. “I know I’m getting better. I can feel it. I know I’m not cured, but being able to go out; to function and to actually like what I’m doing … it’s been a long time since I had that. I mean, I had replaced everything good in my life with drugs. I’m getting it back. This rocks, Rory. I think I laughed more tonight than I have in the past year.”
Rory teetered a little, and smiled shyly at Taylor. “I really thought you were going to be an asshole.”
Taylor laughed. “I didn’t think I was going to like you much, either.”
Rory kissed Taylor gently on his rosy cheek. “Goodnight, Taylor.”
Taylor ruffled Rory’s hair. “Goodnight. Make sure you lock your doors when you get in.”
Rory saluted Taylor. “Got it.”
Rory slipped in her door, and Taylor stood on the porch until he heard the deadbolt click.
He jogged back out to the cab and settled in the back seat for the ride back to his apartment. I’m winning this war, he thought happily. I’m taking my life back. It’s going to be okay. It really is.
