Suzie’s House 56: Dancing Around the Subject

 In last week’s episode Drew caught Suzie and Miranda sneaking out to investigate Sean and Joseph.  He was aware of what they were doing, but believed they would be safe enough, so he didn’t try to stop them.  He joined them instead.

“I thought you said they were at the Caribou.”  Suzie leaned across the little table, and shoved aside an empty beer bottle to hiss in Miranda’s ear.  Actually, yell with restraint so as to be heard over the music but not by the throngs around them.  “What are we doing here?”

“I couldn’t very well tell him where we were really going.”  Miranda nodded toward Drew, who pushed through the crowd of college age kids with a couple of beers in his hands.

“One for you.”  Drew put a beer in front of Miranda.  “One for you.”  He put another in front of Suzie.  “And a Near-beer for me.”  He settled in the chair next to Suzie, then dragged it over so close his seat bumped hers.  “So which is it, 80’s retro night or fetish night?  From the lack of clothes, it’s hard to tell.”

“You can say that again,” Suzie muttered.

Two women standing near the table were busy stripping one another while the bartenders ran around with their butts hanging out.  Had the Cardinal always been like this?  Suzie hadn’t hung out here much before.  She couldn’t remember the last time.

“It’s fetish night,” Miranda answered with confidence.  “No disco balls.”  She took a swig of beer.

Suzie eyed hers with misgivings.  The last time she had a beer it had lead to another, and another, until she was so drunk Rob had to carry her home.  For weeks, no, make that years afterward he reminded her of how bad she’d looked and out of control she’d behaved.  She really didn’t think dancing on top of a table was really so bad in and of itself.  A lot of other girls had been doing it at the time because the dance floor was so full.  But she didn’t want to end up on a tabletop tonight.

“I’ll be the designated driver,” Drew offered with a gentlemanly air, which in Suzie’s book meant he had ulterior motives.

“That’s okay.  I’ll pass.”

“You won’t get drunk off of one beer,” Miranda scoffed, gulping more of hers down. 

Knowing Miranda, it would be easier to take a polite sip than suffer the constant hounding.  Suzie gingerly took a swallow.  When that didn’t make either of her companions look away, she took a deeper draft.

“So, this is what you do for fun.”  Drew quirked an eyebrow at Miranda before giving the teenyboppers in the room a disdainful glance. His eyes were sharp, and maybe a little mocking as they came back to Miranda.

Could he know what they were up to?  Probably.  It wouldn’t take a genius to figure it out.  Still, if he didn’t say something, Suzie wasn’t going to say anything.  He wasn’t going to keep her from running her own investigation until and unless he let her in on his.

“Yes.  This is fun.”  Mirada put her chin out belligerently.  Luckily, Drew didn’t take the bait.

“Let’s dance.”  He grabbed Suzie’s hand and stood.

“No, I couldn’t.”  Suzie tried to pull free, but he held tight.

“Come on.  Let your hair down.  Live a little.”  Drew tugged on her.

“You sound like Vin,” Miranda muttered.  She looked a little put out and a little lonely – not a good combination when it came to Miranda.

Suzie wasn’t in the mood to deal with her.  She told herself that was why she let Drew guide her into the throng, but when he pulled her close, she had to admit there might be another reason too.

“Are we supposed to be slow dancing?”  She didn’t expect him to answer.

“Do you care?” 

In reply, she moved closer, slipping her arms around his neck.

She shouldn’t encourage him, certainly not in a public display of affection, even one so mild as slow dancing to a fast song, but it felt so good to be held.

“So tell me, where were you and Miranda really planning on going?”

Suzie stiffened in his arms, and tried to pull away, but he merely tightened his hold.

“I’m not upset.  Just want to know.”

“Here,” she lied.  “We were coming here, like we said.”

“Mmmm hummmm.”  He said with complete insincerity.  “I believe you.”  He said it against her neck where it buzzed and tickled.

“Would you stop that?”  She scrunched her shoulder up in protest.

“Sure.  So why did you think you’d see them here, anyway?  Got a hot tip I should know about?”

“See who?”  She tried to give him a look of wide-eyed innocence, but couldn’t quite pull it off.

He laughed at her.  Laughed.  She pulled away, but he spun them around like a cowboy doing the two-step, hip to hip and arms steady.  He kept her going, teasing, letting her put some distance between them then closing it through what might have been three songs if the alternative rock band on stage could be said to play songs.

Hot and sweaty, she finally insisted they go back to the table for a drink.  Miranda sat alone, looking more peevish by the second.  A group of Latinos behind her jostled her and she turned around to give them what for only to face a wall of backs.  Knowing Miranda that wouldn’t go down so well.

“I’m going home,” Miranda said as soon as they came close.

Drew’s mouth opened like he was going argue, but nothing came out.  He shrugged.  “All right.  See you there.”

Suzie pulled herself loose to talk to Miranda out of his hearing.  “Drop by the Caribou on the way home, all right?”

“I was already planning on it.”

The previous was Suzie’s House 55: Ladie’s Night Out

This is Suzie’s House 56: Dancing Around the Subject
Next is Suzie’s House 57: Miranda at the Caribou