My Spy

All Business

There are about fifty dancers so the noise in the barn is getting increasingly louder. I finally turn to face the rest of the crowd and I immediately spot Molly Hamilton rubbing Whitney's baby bump. I scoff and Annabeth follows my gaze.

"Ick. She's as bad as LulaBelle." She says with a frown. "People need to stop with the belly rubbing already. Besides, no one likes Molly, the Hamiltons are hardly a founding family anyway." Annabeth spats. They are a very well do-to family but I ignore and appreciate her fib. Gus pulls me in for a side hug as he tells me, "Just ignore the ho." My eyes finally light up when I see a bright blonde walk into the barn and Annabeth is quicker than I am to make it over to the entrance.

"Austin!" Annabeth calls out and both Ryan and Austin spot us. Austin doesn't give me a death glare or a harsh talking to, so I know he is oblivious to mine and Ryan's evening activities. I glance to Ryan and my stomach flips into my throat. He's wearing dark, slim-fit jeans and his dark blue button-up pulls against his broad chest. His sandy-colored hair is neatly to the side and it looks like he caught some sun on his face today. I am immediately flustered as I try and keep the redness from flushing my face. I try not to remember how Ryan's hands felt all over me as he gives me a sly smile. All I can do is awkwardly wave in response. All the anxiety I had pent up inside of me throughout the day just came out in one short, awkward wave.

I stay a good two feet away from him after we are all next to each other. Gus shakes Austin and Ryan's hand hello.

"Nice of y'all to join us," Gus says before turning to Austin, "Now, please don't burn this barn down. I had my mom put fans around to help control all the heat these ladies'll be oozin once they see you're here." He jokes and Austin laughs in response. Gus walks away from us and over to Millie, who also gives him an awkward wave hello. There's just a whole bunch of awkwardness squished into this barn tonight. I can't wait to see the anxiety that fills the room once the dancing starts.

"Sorry, we got caught up at work," Austin says and I flick my eyes to Ryan- wondering what they were in fact working on.

"The Carmichaels are here," I announce quietly to both Austin and Ryan but the only response I get from Austin is a frown. Ryan scans the room but he's not going to make anything obvious.

Before we are able to say anything else, Mrs. Blackwood's small voice on a microphone fills the large barn.

"Good evening bells and gents! I am so excited to host the rehearsal for our annual Founder's Day dance!" There is light applause from around the room and I notice Mrs. Blackwood is in her bright blue button-down, trimmed in white cord. She has her high-waisted wranglers on and her brown cowboy boots complete her two-step ensemble. She excitedly continues, "This year we chose the Texas Two-Step to be the dance at the ball so tonight, that's what we'll be teachin'. But since many of y'all have participated in the previous years, don't hesitate to practice something more challenging if y'all already know the basics." I see a few heads nod in response and I glance back to her. "Now I will set the music and me and Angus here will be the leaders in the front. Slow us down if you need repeating." She waves her hand towards us, "Now, get with y'alls partners and get into formation."

The crowd disperses and Austin gives me an irritated look as Annabeth grabs his hand and pulls him to the very front- where everyone in the barn will see them. I nod to the back of the formation and Ryan quickly agrees before following me. I try to push all the images of last night that are currently flooding my brain away. I can't make a big deal of it. It was casual. It was a fling. It was a hookup.

"How are you?" I ask Ryan, wondering if I'll get the brooding silent Ryan or the playful flirty Ryan I got to see behind closed doors.

"Fine," Ryan says shortly and I got my answer sooner than expected. I wonder how he feels about last night. He gave me a kiss as I left this morning, but maybe he was just trying to be a gentleman about our one-time hookup.