“Well, my favorite is the Jesse Dayton’s Jumbo Deep-Fried Bacon ’n Brisket Oil Rig Dog. It’s a jumbo dog wrapped in bacon, fried, and then topped with brisket, onions, jalapenos, barbeque sauce, and cheddar cheese. My mouth is watering just from talkin’ about it. ” I smiled.
“Um…holy shit. I don’t think I want to have a heart attack today,” Courtney said.
I glanced down at Whitley, and her eyes were wide open.
“You eat all that on a hot dog?”
She scrunched up her nose in that cute way. I was overcome with an incredible desire to reach down and kiss her.
Shit! I need to not feel sorry for her. That’s all this is. I know what happened to her, and I feel guilty. That’s it. That’s all this feeling is.
I just shrugged my shoulders.
“What are you getting, Reed?” Courtney asked.
“The Dallas Wayne Chili Mac Dog. ”
Courtney turned and looked at him. “Oh. My. God. That sounds gross! Eww, mac and cheese on a hot dog? What the hell is wrong with the water in Texas?”
Reed laughed and walked up to place his order. He turned around and motioned for Courtney to order. She ordered The Scott Dog, and Reed never once took his eyes off her.
After I ordered, I pulled Whitley up next to me. The moment she touched me, I felt a shock run up and down my body.
Holy shit! That hasn’t happened in a long time.
The young girl behind the counter smiled at Whitley.
“What would you like, ma’am?”
“Well”—Whitley looked at the young girl’s name t
ag—“Callie, I’ll take an All-American Austin Honky Tonker with mustard and onions only. ” She turned and looked at me with a smile.
“Really, cowgirl? You’re getting a normal hot dog?”
She smiled that drop-dead gorgeous smile of hers. “Yep! I’m just that boring. ”
I’d never laughed so much as I did while we all sat there and ate our hot dogs. Reed and Courtney even seemed to be getting along—for now. He even got her to take a bite of his hot dog.
“Wow! That’s actually really good!” Courtney said as she looked over at Whitley. “I never in my life thought I would say mac and cheese on a hot dog was good. ”
“I’ll just take your word for it,” Whitley said with a slight smile.
I got up and told everyone else to sit and relax while I cleaned off the table.
As I was walking back to the table, David Nail’s “Whatever She’s Got” started playing. I couldn’t help but smile.
I walked up and stood in front of Whitley. “Does this cowgirl know how to two-step?”
When she looked up at me, I swore her eyes twinkled. They got more beautiful every time I peered into them.
She got up and took my hand. “Yes, she does. ”
I led her out to the makeshift dance floor where a few other people were dancing. I pulled her into me, and we took off two-stepping. She fit perfectly in my arms, and she smelled like heaven. She even danced like an angel.
“Where in the hell did you learn to two-step, Whitley?” I asked.
She pulled back a bit and smiled. “I told you, I’m a cowgirl at heart!”