Page 46
Story: Between the Stars
“Thinkin’ ’bout it.” I lean into my toolbox and run my hand through my hair. I regret it. I’m in desperate need of a shower and I think there’s now a good amount of grease in my hair. “You?”
She draws her bottom lip into her mouth and bites down. “If you’re going to be there.”
Hmm. Guess maybe I might have a chance to think about that blow job she offered up earlier.
* * *
Didyou know it’s New Year’s Eve? I might have left that detail out because yeah, it’s depressing as shit to be alone on the biggest party night of the year.
I do the same thing every New Year’s. Party at the Grady Ranch in the back field. Dumb shit usually happens. You remember when Morgan ripped his ball sac open, right? New Year’s Eve.
Abbi getting pregnant?
New Year’s Eve.
DUI?
New Year’s Eve.
Maybe not the best night, but I guarantee all of them had good stories.
It’s also the night Morgan and Barron jump buck-ass naked into the pond at midnight because they say it gives them good luck.
Luck?
I clearly don’t have that on my side these days, do I? If I did, she’d be in my arms. Maybe I need to jump into the pond. Actually, I don’t know about that. There’s literally ice floating in the pond.
Fire licks the sky, sparks of ash floating in the night, reminding me of all the times I spent next to this same place with a girl who left my heart in smoke rings. I notice Rhett near the fire, and Josie. They’re… well, flirting. Nothing new there. They have a history, but not one that’s usually explored much that I know of.
Twisting to the side, Rhett grins at me and hands me his flask. “What’s up?”
I take the flask and motion to Josie. “What’s this?”
He tips his head to the side, as if he’s entertained by my question. He knows I’m not asking what’s in the flask. I don’t care. I’ll drink anything. I’m more concerned with him and Josie. “I could ask you the same thing,” Rhett mumbles, his words drawn out. He’s drunk if you haven’t guess it.
“You could.” I screw the cap back on the flask and hand it to him.
“Where the fuck have you been?”
I shrug. “Around.”
“With my sister?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He groans. “C’mon, man. I’m not a fucking idiot.” Smoke rises between us and he looks the picture perfect protective brother. “You were both missing on Christmas.”
I sigh. There’s no sense in denying it any longer. I gather any nonchalant demeanor I have left in me and act uninterested in our conversation. I eye Serenity, swaying to the beats of a song playing from Barron’s speaker. “I took her up to Justice’s cabin.”
He nods, shaking his head, and I can’t tell if he’s disappointed or relieved I’ve finally admitted it to him. Rhett knows more than I’ve ever given him credit for. “And now what?”
I stare at him blankly, because I don’t know. Do you notice the restlessness in my stance? He does. Swallowing, I notice my jaw hurts from clenching it, so I relax. “I don’t know.”
Taking the flask in his hand, he shakes his head and pulls in a breath before releasing it in a cloud of white air between us. “She went back to him?”
“Haven’t heard from her.” And I haven’t. Might have something to do with blocking her number, but might not either. I wasn’t lying when I said I was done.
Rhett leans into the side of my Jeep parked in the field, his arms crossed over his chest. His shoulders sag, as if he’s tired, but I know it’s more than that. His eyes drift from Josie dancing, to mine. “Pops said something about Hemington Holdings buying Lockett Plumbing from him.”
She draws her bottom lip into her mouth and bites down. “If you’re going to be there.”
Hmm. Guess maybe I might have a chance to think about that blow job she offered up earlier.
* * *
Didyou know it’s New Year’s Eve? I might have left that detail out because yeah, it’s depressing as shit to be alone on the biggest party night of the year.
I do the same thing every New Year’s. Party at the Grady Ranch in the back field. Dumb shit usually happens. You remember when Morgan ripped his ball sac open, right? New Year’s Eve.
Abbi getting pregnant?
New Year’s Eve.
DUI?
New Year’s Eve.
Maybe not the best night, but I guarantee all of them had good stories.
It’s also the night Morgan and Barron jump buck-ass naked into the pond at midnight because they say it gives them good luck.
Luck?
I clearly don’t have that on my side these days, do I? If I did, she’d be in my arms. Maybe I need to jump into the pond. Actually, I don’t know about that. There’s literally ice floating in the pond.
Fire licks the sky, sparks of ash floating in the night, reminding me of all the times I spent next to this same place with a girl who left my heart in smoke rings. I notice Rhett near the fire, and Josie. They’re… well, flirting. Nothing new there. They have a history, but not one that’s usually explored much that I know of.
Twisting to the side, Rhett grins at me and hands me his flask. “What’s up?”
I take the flask and motion to Josie. “What’s this?”
He tips his head to the side, as if he’s entertained by my question. He knows I’m not asking what’s in the flask. I don’t care. I’ll drink anything. I’m more concerned with him and Josie. “I could ask you the same thing,” Rhett mumbles, his words drawn out. He’s drunk if you haven’t guess it.
“You could.” I screw the cap back on the flask and hand it to him.
“Where the fuck have you been?”
I shrug. “Around.”
“With my sister?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He groans. “C’mon, man. I’m not a fucking idiot.” Smoke rises between us and he looks the picture perfect protective brother. “You were both missing on Christmas.”
I sigh. There’s no sense in denying it any longer. I gather any nonchalant demeanor I have left in me and act uninterested in our conversation. I eye Serenity, swaying to the beats of a song playing from Barron’s speaker. “I took her up to Justice’s cabin.”
He nods, shaking his head, and I can’t tell if he’s disappointed or relieved I’ve finally admitted it to him. Rhett knows more than I’ve ever given him credit for. “And now what?”
I stare at him blankly, because I don’t know. Do you notice the restlessness in my stance? He does. Swallowing, I notice my jaw hurts from clenching it, so I relax. “I don’t know.”
Taking the flask in his hand, he shakes his head and pulls in a breath before releasing it in a cloud of white air between us. “She went back to him?”
“Haven’t heard from her.” And I haven’t. Might have something to do with blocking her number, but might not either. I wasn’t lying when I said I was done.
Rhett leans into the side of my Jeep parked in the field, his arms crossed over his chest. His shoulders sag, as if he’s tired, but I know it’s more than that. His eyes drift from Josie dancing, to mine. “Pops said something about Hemington Holdings buying Lockett Plumbing from him.”
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94