Chapter 9: The Dance

Carson

Sliding back onto her barstool, Montana thanks us for ordering another round, noting glasses of water are now on our table.

“What’s in the bags?” Peyton asks, eyes glued to the large bags at Eli’s feet.

He dips his hands into one, handing red cowboy boots to Peyton. From the other bag, he passes brown boots with jade embellishments to Montana.

“Why did you buy us boots?” Montana asks, her head tilted to one side, eyes like lasers on Eli.

“I dare you to perform your state fair winning routine.” He smirks back at her. “You mentioned you can’t dance in sandals, so I found you boots.”

Montana shakes her head. “You didn’t just find us boots. You bought us boots. And I can tell these are expensive, too.”

“Don’t mind her,” Peyton says, patting Eli’s arm. “I absolutely love them.”

“So, you’ll dance?” he asks, face lighting up with the possibility.

“Um…” Montana hops back into the conversation. “New boots give blisters, especially without socks.”

Clearly, she h