I give her a nod before turning to head back to my cabin. I need to grab a few things for the parade before I make my way to Main Street.
“Hey, Blake. Your brother still here?”
“Hey, Mayor Higgins. Nah, he had to head back to the big city. Apparently, his woman needed him. You know how that goes.”
He lets out a hearty laugh and slaps my shoulder. “That I do son. Well, next time you talk to that boy, you tell him thank you for the budget software recommendation he made to the comptroller’s office. He was always a smart kid.”
The parade goes off without a hitch, the floats look great, the marching band sounds in tune, and the fire department manages to not scare any kids with their sirens this year.
I watch as a few remaining children pick up the leftover pieces of candy still in the street. I feel my chest tighten. If Tracey hadn’t left a year ago, I wonder if she and I would be having a around this time. The few times I brought up children, she didn’t seem too eager to indulge in the conversation other than to say she wasn’t ready and it was a long way off.
I make my way back to my cabin and strip down before stepping into the shower. I need to sort through my clothes and try to find something semi “nice” for the barn dance tonight. My wardrobe mostly consists of Levi’s, flannels, and work boots, but I still have some of the clothes Tracey had bought me a few years back.
I pull on my jeans and start rifling through my closet. I pull out a wrinkled blue button-down from the back of my closet and the dark blue vest that Tracey had bought to go with it. “Shit,” I mutter to myself, realizing I don’t have an iron. A knock on my door interrupts my thoughts. Without thinking, I walk over and pull it open to see Pearl staring back at me.
“Pearl?”
She’s standing with her mouth open staring. That’s when I realize I’m shirtless. I look down to see small beads of water still on my skin before inviting her inside.
“Uh, sorry. I just got out of the shower. Whatcha need?”
“I wanted to ask you if Trevor was coming in tonight? Last time I spoke to him, he mentioned that he might make it back in time for the barn dance, but he never confirmed so I was just curious?”
Of course that’s why she’s here. I can’t help but roll my eyes and turn back to duck into my bedroom. “No, Pearl, lover boy won’t make it tonight. He said something came up and he’s going to be staying in Chicago for a while.” I turn around to read her face, but she’s followed me into my room.
I see her glance at the bed, and I can’t help but wonder if she’s remembering that night. I pull a T-shirt over my head.
“You’re not wearing that tonight, are you?” She points to my outfit.
“Well…I guess not now. Why? What’s wrong with it?”
“Seriously? Blake, you look like you’re going to muck stalls,” she says, pushing past me.
“It’s a barn dance, Pearl…as in we are dancing in a barn.”
“Here. What’s wrong with this?” She holds up the shirt and vest combo I had pulled out.
“It’s wrinkled and I don’t have an iron.”
“You do know each cabin comes equipped with an iron and iron board in the hall closet, right?”
She walks out of my room, and I hear her pull something out of the hall closet. “See!” She holds them up before dipping into the bathroom.
“I can do that,” I say, reaching for the iron in her hand.
“I highly doubt that.” I watch out of the corner of my eye as she meticulously gets the tip of the iron in all of the corners and seams of the shirt and vest.
“You’ll make someone a lucky man someday.” The words come out before I even realize I’m saying them.
“Why? Because I can clean and cook and iron? This isn’t the 1950s anymore, bud.” She gives me a playful wink before handing me back my perfectly ironed clothes and walking back toward the front door.
“Hey,” I say before she leaves. “Thanks. Really appreciate it.” I hold up the shirt.
She gives me that same smile she always does, the one that makes my stomach do a flip.
“Anytime. Oh, and Blake, don’t wear work boots with that outfit, okay? It’s a barn dance. Let’s keep it classy.”
An hour later, I sip my beer and lean against the bar, watching the people of Grand Lake mingle and have a good time. White lights hang from every exposed beam and banister, and the band fills the room with lively music. Last year was one of the last times Tracey and I were together. I remember dancing around the barn, thinking things were great, not having the slightest hint that she’d pack her bags and leave two days later.
I finish my beer and turn to set it on the bar top when I see Pearl walk in. Her hair is down, falling over her shoulders and down her back in loose curls. Her alabaster skin looks like it’s glowing under all of the lights. She’s wearing a white dress with little pink flowers on it that falls a few inches above her knees. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her bare legs before. They’re thin and shapely, accented with beautiful gold sandals with a small heel. I see her pull something out of her small handbag and then slick it on her lips. I bet it’s the strawberry gloss she was wearing the night she kissed me. I can still taste it.
Before I can turn away, she catches me staring and flashes a smile. She walks up to me so confidently now. Gone is the timid girl that used to run away from me.
“Well, well. You clean up nice,” she says, playfully hitting her purse against my chest.
“Thanks. You don’t look so bad yourself. I almost forgot you were a girl.” I realize how stupid it sounds as soon as I say it. In my head, it was flirty, but once I said it, I sounded like an idiot.
“Hah, hah. So who are you creeping on up here at the bar? Anyone catch your eye out there? Maybe Miss Mabel? I hear she’s looking for husband number fiiiiive.” She giggles.
What I want to tell her is that she's the one who’s caught my attention. She’s the one I want to hold tightly against my body and savor each moment with. “Nah, I’ve got two left feet. I wouldn’t want to hurt anyone’s toes with these big ol’ feet.” I gesture to my shoes, and I see her smile at the fact that I listened to her and didn’t wear my work boots.
“Now I know for a fact that’s a lie. I’ve heard you know your way around the dance floor, and I remember you busting some moves last year.”
Before I can respond, she waves at Jade and starts to walk toward her. “Hey, save a dance for me.” She semi shouts before running over to her friend like a schoolgirl.
I can’t stay hidden for long. A few of the local ladies nab me for a twirl around the dance floor, and I don’t mind. I think I might have dodged Pearl’s request when she materializes behind me. She taps me on the shoulder and I twirl around.
“I’m ready for that dance now.”
“Ah, you’ve got the wrong brother,” I say, tipping my fresh beer bottle at her.
“Come on. Be a sport. You know you’ve grown to loooove having me around.” She pokes at my belly until I finally give in.
Of course, as soon as I place my hand over hers and slip my hand around her waist, the song changes. The band starts to play Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love.” I nervously pull her in toward me. She doesn’t hesitate, pressing herself against me. I will my heart to not race and regulate my breathing before it gives away my anxiousness. I can smell the slight hint of strawberry from her lips. My eyes dart to look at her long, slender neck. I can see her pulse beating rapidly. I want to think it’s because I excite her, but in reality, I still make her nervous.
Neither of us speak as the song plays on, and our bodies sway with the music. I press my hand a little harder against her lower back, and I hear her inhale sharply. Her body feels right against mine, like she belongs in my arms. Instead of shaking my head clear from the thoughts, I let them linger. I let myself wonder what it would be like to pull back and kiss her. To thread my fingers through her beautiful strawberry blonde curls and tell her exactly how I feel.
/> The song ends, and the clapping around me wakes me out of my fantasy. I pull back, putting distance between us, just as my phone starts to vibrate in my pocket. I pull it out, answering it without looking at the screen as I head out into the night air to clear my head.
“Hello?”
“Hello? Blake? It’s…it’s Tracey.”
Nine
Pearl
I stand at the edge of the dance floor, feeling empty the moment he pulls away. I see him pull his phone from his pocket and answer it before heading outside. I want to follow him, but I turn back around and head toward the bar.
“Am I seeing things, or did you and Blake Winthrop just have a moment?” Jade is standing beside me with her hand on her chest in mock shock.
“What? No, he’s just…I don’t know. I kind of thought I felt something, but then he walked off like it was nothing.”
“There was some serious heat there. You did not imagine that.” She fans herself. “This whole place is about to be pregnant.”
I slap her arm. “Stop it! You’re embarrassing me. And I told you that I had the tiniest crush on him in confidence. It doesn’t mean anything. He’s attractive. The entire town knows and admits that. I’m just a late bloomer on the matter.”
“Well, if anything ever happens between you two, I want details. Moment by moment, play by play details.” She claps through the statement for emphasis.
I glance outside and see the faint silhouette of Blake. His arms are propped on the top of the fence, and he looks like he’s off the phone. Now’s my chance to go tell him that I have decided to move on from Trevor. I don’t know what I expect him to say about the matter, but it’s my attempt to let him know where I stand.
“I’m going to get some fresh air. I’ll be back in a few.” I make a beeline before Jade can offer to come with me.
“Hey.” I walk up next to him and place my hand on the top of the fence. “You okay? You seem like you got a little spooked or something.”
“Hmm?” He turns and gives me a brief look. “Yeah, it was nothing. Just needed some fresh air. That place is packed.” He nods toward the barn.
We both stare up at the night sky, the stars twinkling like diamonds against an inky canvas. That’s something you don’t get in the city, the vast expanse of night sky. I don’t know what comes over me, but I decide to try and get to know Blake.
“So what’s your story?”
He seems a bit confused. “My story? You know, you practically grew up in my house.”
“Well, I saw you around a lot sure, but…what happened with the football thing?” I can see his jaw tense, and normally that would have scared me away, but I feel like I’m slowly breaking down his barriers.
His rubs at the ever-present scruff on his chin, as if he is thinking through what he wants to say.
“Not much to say, I ‘spose. I had a full ride to Florida but end up getting an injury my junior year of college that shot it all to hell.” He absentmindedly rubs his shoulder.
“Is that where you were injured?”
“Yup. Kind of a career-ending injury when you’re the center and the quarterback relies on you to snap the ball to him.”
I don’t say anything else. It feels like he has more to say so I just sit in silence until he feels comfortable.
“I couldn’t afford to stay in school after the accident, and my parents couldn’t help out, at least not enough to cover my surgery and rehab and pay for school. So I had to drop out. I came back here and the rest is history.”
“I’m sorry.” I know it’s not my fault, but I’m not sure what else to say in this situation. I can tell he’s still angry at what happened. Who knows where he’d be if he hadn’t been injured? He’d probably be living the good life playing in the NFL. The silence hangs heavy between us.
“You want to hear something funny?”
He looks over at me as he comes off his elbows and stands up. “Sure.”
“So, when I was little and I’d come over to your house to hang out with Trevor, you always scared me.”
I can’t help but grin, and I can a small one forming on his lips too.“Is that right?”
“Oh yeah. You were his older, cool brother who always had a different girl over like every week.”
“Ha!” He throws his head back with a loud bark. “It wasn’t a different girl every week, woman. Come on now!”
I can’t help but giggle. “Yes it was! I can distinctly remember this one time that you had Marsha Greggs, Felicity Troutwater, and Mel Preston over all within a month!” He just shakes his head and lets out a soft laugh to himself. “I remember because you would always go in the hot tub with them, and after some time, you’d get out and run to grab your guitar and serenade them.”
It’s dark out, but I swear I can see a blush start to form on his cheeks. “I—I’m sorry. I had no idea you were watching me.”
“Oh, I watched alright. That’s the first time I saw a girl’s boobs that weren’t my own and how I learned what French kissing is.”
“Lord have mercy,” he says against his hands as he rubs them over his face.
“It’s all good. Tt taught me valuable life lessons,” I say, playfully elbowing him.
He looks over at me and neither of us say anything. The moonlight bounces between us, and I swear I can see a spark, like he wants to tell me something or kiss me. I drop my eyes from his down to his lips, and he notices.
He stands up stiffly and shoves his hands in his pockets. “You ready to get back in there? I’m sure there are a few guys that are dying to get a chance to dance with you.”
He starts to walk away, but I reach out and grab the hook of his elbow. “Hey, wait. I actually came out here to tell you something.”
He turns back around to face me. “Yeah?”
I take in a long inhale before letting it slowly. “Okay, so this is going to sound crazy, but a few weeks ago, I came up with this crazy, harebrained plan to get Trevor to notice me or want me or something.” I can see his back instantly tense and his mouth set in a firm line.
“Just hear me out. I was thinking that if he thought I was seeing someone else that he’d get jealous, and it would propel him into action or something, like he’d finally see that he’s been in love with me—”
Before I can finish what I’m saying, he interrupts me harshly. “Are you fucking kidding me, Pearl?”
“No, wait let me ex—” Before I can say anything else, rage settles over his face.
“No, you wait. This stupid childhood crush has gone on long enough. It’s pathetic at this point! He’s in love with someone else, Pearl. Why can’t you accept that? He is trying to make it work with this woman, and you need to back off and learn some goddamn boundaries. If you really love him and care about him like you say, then you just need to accept the fact that he doesn’t want you, Pearl. He doesn’t love you!”
I stand there in pure shock as his words echo around me. I’ve never seen him this angry. Tears spring to my eyes as I try to register my emotions. I want to yell at him and tell him that I know all that already, but instead I stand there, motionless.
“Grow up, Pearl.” He shakes his head before turning and marching back toward the barn.
I don’t know how long I stand there before tears begin streaming down my cheeks. It’s not the words or the truth of them that hurts. It was the way he looked at me, like he was disgusted. I don’t know how the conversation got so convoluted. I had wanted to tell him that I didn’t feel that way anymore about Trevor, that I had realized all those things he just yelled at me on my own.
It’s only a matter of moments before my tears of sadness turn to tears of anger. How dare he? What gives him the right to parent me or tell me how to live my life? If he wasn’t such a rude prick, he would have heard what I have to say before cutting me off.
I wipe away the tears before marching back inside. I glance around but don’t see him anywhere.
“Hey, you okay?” Jade grabs my arm, ala
rmed, I’m sure, by my smeared mascara and tear-stained face.
“Yeah, I’m good. Have you seen Blake?” I ask, still looking around the room for him.
“I think he left? He walked through a little bit ago and went out the front door. What happened between you two? Do I need to say something to him?”
I nod and give her a soft smile. “No, it’s nothing. I’m going to take off. Not feeling that great, but I’ll call you tomorrow.” I give her hand a quick squeeze before heading out the door and jumping in my bug.
I make the quick drive up the mountains. As I pull into the cabin parking lot, I see Blake’s truck. I put my car in park, slam the door, and march my way to his cabin. It’s time Blake Winthrop gets a piece of my mind. I bang loudly until I hear his footsteps heading toward me, and he opens the door in nothing but a towel, dripping water all over the floor—a look of pure shock on his face and mine.
Ten
Blake
The moment the words left my mouth at the dance, I regretted them. I knew that wasn’t the way to handle the situation or to tell her how I felt about it. I reacted in anger. Anger that she wasn’t in love with me? Anger that Tracey just decided to reach out to me out of the blue and mess with my feelings again?
Whatever the reason, it didn’t make what I said right. It killed me to see the tears welling up in her eyes and the way her bottom lip trembled. She’s too beautiful and innocent for someone like me. I’m not gentle, and I sure as hell don’t know how to keep a woman happy.
I place my hands against the shower wall and let the hot water cascade down my neck and back, hopeful it will relieve some of the tension. I close my eyes and try to relax into the moment when I hear what sounds like someone pounding on my front door.
“Jesus. What now?” I grumble as I step out and wrap a towel around my waist. The pounding persists, growing louder and harder. I march toward the front door, pulling it open to see Pearl standing on my front porch. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Grand Lake Colorado Series: A Complete Small Town Contemporary Romance Collection Page 5
