Grandma Joyce crossed her arms. “Fine.” She glanced at Grandpa Wayne. “Sorry, Wayne. The date’s off.”
Lori set her drink down a little too hard, causing the top to fly off and land on the table. “You can’t be serious.”
Her grandmother ignored her comment, her attention on her food.
Lori sighed. “You’re telling me if we don’t go, you won’t go.”
Joyce nodded. “Pretty much, yeah.”
I chuckled.
Lori glared at me. “What’s so funny?”
I pointed to our grandparents. “Can’t you see? They are trying to set us up!”
Grandma Joyce smiled proudly. “Two can play at that game, my sweet granddaughter.”
“Nice try, but Ben and I already agreed that we would just be friends,” Lori said.
“Is that true, Ben?”
I shrugged. “I wouldn’t necessarily say that we agreed.”
Grandpa Wayne finally chimed in. “Look, we need to make a decision right now. Are you two going ballroom dancing with us tomorrow? Or should I leave right now with a broken heart and go die a lonely man? The choice and the conscience is yours.”
Lori and I just stared at our grandparents.
I had no idea my grandpa had it in him.
Grandma Joyce reached across and placed her hand on top of my grandpa’s. “Okay, then. It looks like our grandchildren have made up their minds. It was such a pleasure to meet you.”
I chuckled. “Okay, okay. Enough with the melodramatics. We’ll join you for ballroom dancing.”
“Wonderful!” Grandma Joyce said.
“We will?” Lori said. “What happened to the friends thing?”
I grinned, but Lori definitely did not share my excitement. “We’re just two friends going out dancing with our grandparents. Besides, ballroom dancing is harmless since we’re barely even touching. Completely innocent.”
Grandma Joyce cleared her throat. “Have youever done ballroom dancing, Ben?”
I shook my head. “No. Never. How hard can it be?”
“Well, if you have some decent coordination you may catch on quickly, but there will be plenty of touching, I guarantee you that much. I’m sure it’s easy to get distracted with a beautiful woman like my granddaughter in your arms.”
I grinned. “I can handle her.”
Lori placed her hands on her hips. “I’m right here, people!”
Grandpa Wayne chuckled. “Just keep your eye on the ball, Ben. You’ll be fine.”
Grandma Joyce smiled. “And don’t forget to dip her.”
I glanced over at Lori. “It’s just dancing, right?”
“You keep telling yourself that,” Lori replied.
Everything would be fine.
