by Thorn, Ava
***
Hank stood at the window and watched as Kari got into her car and left. This was becoming their norm, he would say something foul and she would leave him. All she was trying to do was to console him and he was being a royal son of a bitch.
“Shit,” he exclaimed.
“Did I come at a bad time?”
Hank twirled around to see Farrah standing in the back doorway, holding a basket that was emitting a delicious aroma in the air.
“No,” he said, clearing his throat. Hank wanted to tell Farrah that she didn’t have to bring dishes to him every day even thou they were delectable, but he felt like he was in a time zone; the dishes reminded him of the time when his mother passed away and the casseroles the neighbors had brought over for comforting.
“Did I just see Kari leaving?” she asked, setting the basket down on the table.
Hank went over to where Farrah stood and took a peek inside the containers. His stomach growled smelling the double-crust chicken pie and a triple chocolate cake. “You don’t have to make meals for me.”
“I want to,” she smiled, placing the bowls on the countertop. “Sooo…was that Kari leaving?”
“Yep,” he said, cutting a piece of cake for Farrah and him.
“Bigger,” she said looking at him. “What? I’m eating for three,” she laughed when Hank looked at her crazy.
“So, where is my insane cousin? I’m surprised he allowed you out of his sight for a minute,” Hank replied, as they sat at the table enjoying cake and ice cold milk.
“Don’t remind me,” she groaned. “I slipped out of the house while he was in the recording studio.”
Everyone on the ranch knew that Austin McBride had become over protective with Farrah. He watched her like a hawk and made sure that she had everything that her heart desired. “How did you manage?” he teased.
Farrah licked chocolate frosting off her finger and groaned. “I left my husband and Diggy a plate of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.” She wagged her finger at him. “What’s going on with you and Kari? And please don’t change the subject again.”
“What’s there to talk about we’re working on the cribs, duh,” he said, with a mouthful of cake.
“So you like her?”
“We’re friends,” he said, forcefully hoping that Farrah would drop the subject.
“Um, didn’t look like friends,” she said with a shrug, “I thought we’re supposed to live life and experience it to its fullest, because if we didn’t we’re cheating ourselves.”
“Who told you that?” he asked looking at her.
“Charlene McBride,” she said, staring at him as she took a drink from the glass of milk. “If you like Kari Hayes you should go after her.”
“I’m not even divorced yet, I shouldn’t even be thinking about another woman.”
“I have a feeling that your marriage has been over for a minute,” Farrah replied. “But…I’m just a person on the outside looking in.”
Hank knew by the time that Farrah left he would need something stronger than beer and milk. “We’re friends with benefits.”
Farrah choked on her glass of milk, picking up the napkin she wiped her mouth and looked at him. “What?” she coughed.
“We’re in this new stage and don’t want to complicate our working relationship by establishing any type of emotional connection,” he tried to explain.
“That’s bullshit,” she said softly. “Sounds like two people clinging on the past that’s affecting your future.”
“Farrah, no disrespect, but you’re not qualified to give advice,” he said. “You were the same person running away from love.”
“Which wasn’t healthy…I fell in love with Austin and fighting love was an endless battle.” She stood up with her plate. “I was about to allow the past to hold me down from loving him. I prevailed and didn’t allow the past to take over.”
“It hasn’t been even six months and I’m already sleeping with another woman,” he said, raking his brains for excuses not to take his relationship with Kari any further.
“I’m not pushing you into a relationship with her, I’m just saying you should explore your options,” Farrah said, washing their dishes. “Are you over Natalie?”
Hank sat in the chair. “I don’t love her anymore, I can’t even respect her, but I do wish her all the best and hope she’s happy.”
“Now see,” Farrah smiled drying the dishes, “I believe you and Kari are suffering from the same aliment, bitter heart syndrome.”
Hank laughed so hard his side was hurting. “What the hell? Bitter what? I’m not bitter, but Kari is not me.”
“You’re the pot calling the kettle black,” she said, tossing the wash cloth at him. “FYI, BHS means Bitter Heart Syndrome, both of you guys justifying having a friends with benefits relationship because you both have left over resentment from past relationship. This whole FWB means that you both no longer believe in building a solid and positive relationship.”
“Farrah, everyone can’t be happy like you and Austin.”
“A wise person told me that a marriage and relationship ends because one or both people don’t understand how to love or meet the needs of the other.”
“Who told you that?” he asked.
“My father.” Farrah sat back down in her seat, placing her hand on her round tummy. “The day I married Austin he said to us “to love consciously is a choice.”
“Your father is a wise man,” Hank said. “But Mrs. McBride, last time I checked I’m pushing thirty-four years old and Kari is almost twenty-nine years ago…do you know what that means?”
Farrah stood her hands up in the air. “I get you both are grown ass people, but even grown ass people can’t fight the attraction.”
“Farrah, please drop it,” he said kissing her forehead. “Everyone is not destine to find their soul mate like Austin found you and Shane found Jasmine.
“Well, as you cousin in law I will be right there to say ‘I told ya so.”
“No you won’t, because it ain’t gonna happen,” Hank said. He asked himself if he was trying to make himself believe his words more than Farrah.
***
Hank sat on the back of Scout, his chestnut color mustang, in a grassy field under a beautiful morning sky in Nashville. For two days he’d been spending each night with Kari. When he was finished with chores and spending hours in the workshop putting together the cribs for the twins, he found himself at Kari’s house enjoying dinner and watching a movie with her.
“What is that look for?”
Hank looked back to see Austin riding up on Shadow, his black mustang.
“Nothing.”
“Farrah said that you and Kari have a thing going on.” Austin shook his head with disappointment.
“I’m a single man,” Hank reminded his cousin, as he pulled the reins.
“So what is exactly going on?” Austin asked, brining Shadow beside him. “Please tell me this doesn’t have anything to do with rebound sex.”
“It’s called friends with benefits,” he admitted with a grin on his face.
“That look on your damn face tells me it’s something more.” Austin ran his hand down his face. “Are you telling me it’s nothing more but a romp in the sack?”
“Yeah,” he said, oblivious to the look he was getting from his cousin.
“You can’t have the cake and eat it too,” Austin howled with laughter. “Do you even know the damn rules about FWB?”
“Austin,” Hank said, getting a little agitated with Austin prying ways.
“Don’t Austin me, shit I just want everything copacetic for my wife and those nurseries that Kari is decorating.”
“Well cousin, Farrah doesn’t have to worry her pretty little head about my relationship with Kari,” he said, making a clicking noise and gently pulled the reins to get Scout into a gallop. He tore like a bat out of hell across down the trail; he heard the hoof beats start up after him.
Thir
ty minutes later, they stood in the stables brushing their horses’ mains.
“Are you ready for the concert tomorrow?” Austin asked.
“Yeah, I know we have rehearsal tomorrow afternoon,” Hank said. “I’m bringing Kari alone, then we’re taking off to Dallas.”
“I thought you guys we’re leaving on Sunday since you’re technically not due in Dallas until Tuesday morning.”
“I thought we could make a few stops on our way to Dallas, I have a feeling that Kari’s never been to Graceland, or Arkansas.”
“Kari’s family is locked and loaded with money…I’m talking about old money mixed with new money.”
“What did you do Google her?” Hank asked with a chuckle, when Austin didn’t respond he knew his cousin’s answer. “You did.”
“Yeah,” he said sheepishly. “I wanted to know who the hell I was hiring and bringing around my family.”
“What do you know about her family?” Hank asked.
“What, haven’t you asked her?” Austin shot back at him as he brushed Shadow gently.
“I don’t ask her about her family.”
“So, tell me about this friends with benefits thing,” Austin inquired.
“It’s her idea not mine.” Hank face turn a beet red. “We both experienced some bad relationships in the past and we’re not ready for a serious commitment.”
“If you asked me, I say there might me something more,” Austin said matter of factly. “Plus, this friends with benefits thing don’t make sense.”
“Well cousin, I’m ain’t asking you,” Hank mumbled. “Why doesn’t it make sense?”
“Because A.) You’re suppose to pick someone you wouldn’t date. B.) You guys had dinner together and probably more than once. C) You cook dinner for her and friends with benefits don’t do that-”
“It’s was lunch,” he interrupted.
“FWB don’t make breakfast, lunch or dinner for the other person. That’s something you do for a girlfriend. Lastly, D.) You don’t fall in love and you, my cousin, have that twinkle in your eyes when Kari comes into the room.”
“What are you and Farrah drinking? There ain’t no twinkling in my eyes.”
“The same stuff Kari and you were drinking when I fell in love Farrah,” Austin howled with laughter. “Stop fighting it.”
Hank stop brushing Scout and looked at Austin. “Don’t you have a song to write or something?” Hank asked. “I don’t need advice about dating from a man who couldn’t get it right the first time either.”
“Yep, isn’t that the irony,” Austin tossed the brush into a bucket, “except I found exactly what my life needed, but don’t take my word for it.”
“Go home to the wife,” Hank mumbled.
Austin playfully punched Hank in the shoulder. “Are you jealous?” he asked, leaving Hank by his lonesome.
Was he jealous of Austin and Shane? Hank shook his head no and went back to grooming Scout.
***
Kari looked up from her desk to see Corey looking at her with a huge grin on his face. She knew what Corey was doing, and she was going to play his little childish game. The best approach to handle Corey was to ignore him, she went back to sketching. “What?” she asked, looking up from her sketches.
“You got some and the way you’re smiling, it was gooood.” Corey rushed over to her desk and sat down in front of her. “Tell me about him.”
“What, who? I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said with a quizzical look on her face.
“Don’t give me that,” Corey snapped his fingers. “I’ve been watching you for the past couple of days, one minute you’re sulking around here and now your ass is all grinning and smiling.”
Kari looked at him sideways. “Don’t you have some samples to get made?”
Corey waved his hand in the air, dismissing Kari’s question. “I’m happy your pocketbook is getting some action, god knows it about time.”
Kari closed her sketch book; obviously she wasn’t going to get any work done. “What I do with my body is none of your concern,” she mumbled.
“Is it the hunky cowboy?”
Silence
Corey clutched his chest and appeared shocked. “It is,” he said, as his mouth formed an “O.”
“None of your business,” she sing-songed.
“Girl, I’m happy he’s saddling you up every night.”
Kari laughed so hard she clutched her ribs. “Shut up.”
“He’s a winner, a major step up from you know who.”
Kari stopped laughing and looked at him. “Weren’t you the one who’s been pushing me to talk to Sam?”
Corey reached across the desk and touched Kari’s hand. “All I know is that he hurt you. The day you made the decision to leave Cali, I’ve been right behind you every step of the way. Kari you deserve happiness even when you think it’s not in the cards for you.”
“Did you know that he was sleeping with Mariah?”
“What!” Corey exclaimed with disgust etched on his face. “No! Sam wouldn’t.”
“When there is millions of dollars at stake everything is off limits, including a friend who family is in bankrupt.”
Corey stood up from the desk and paced the floor. “You’re bullshitting me.”
“So, if I don’t want to talk or see them.”
Corey ran his fingers through his slick hair. “I can’t believe this. Your self-proclaimed best friend was sleeping with the man you were going to marry.”
“It’s all good, I’m happy they’re getting married,” Kari said.
“Kari…Sam isn’t getting married to Mariah.”
This news was like a bombshell to Kari. “Oh well, I’m happy whoever the lucky lady is.”
“It’s some cougar,” Corey said. Pretending as if he had claws.
“Probably for her money,” she mumbled.
“You’re wrong for that…I told him that you were willing to chit chat after you come back from Texas and he was cool with it,” Corey said.
“I should be back in a week, but I trust that you can hold down the fort.” Kari looked at her To-Do List, “You’ll still be instructing the contactors and painter coming out to the McBride home.”
“Yes ma’am,” he saluted. “Don’t turn around, but guess who just pulled up.”
Ignoring Corey, Kari turned to see Hank stepping out his trucking carrying a huge bouquet of sparkling flowers. He walked into the office and made a beeline towards her wearing blue jeans, a button up white shirt and a black cowboy hat. Her heart was beating fast as he neared her.
“I’m leaving, but I want you to know that cowboy is a keeper,” Corey whispered before grabbing his bag and leaving for the day.
“Hello Sugar,” Hank said, as he leaned down and kissed her cheek, practically lifting her out of the chair. Their lips connected in a kiss that sent butterflies through her body. Hank sat her on her feet, she rested her forehead against his shoulder and breathed in his cologne. God, he smelled good. Every time she was with him it felt like she was dreaming, she was allowing him to sink into her veins.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Apologizing for my actions.” He backed up and gave her the flowers.
Kari accepted the bouquet of white hydrangeas, yellow roses, crème roses and yellow alstroemeria. “Thanks, they’re beautiful…but you didn’t have to.”
“My mom was a simple woman, when I got out a line I would run outside and pluck flowers from her garden. She used to say any simple woman would love flowers that spoke a language to the receiver.”
“These flowers tell me that you’re sorry, and that you like me,” she said, kissing the side of his cheeks.
“Uh-huh and?”
Kari put her finger to her chin. “Let’s see.”
Hank pulled her to him. “These flowers are an apology, which also came with the invitation to the fair tonight.”
She gave him a puzzled look. “Of course I accept your apology and I ne
ver changed my mind about going to the fair with you.”
“Oh really?” He folded his arms across his chest and looked at her as she put the flowers into water.
Kari went to the closet and pulled out her suitcase she’d packed early this morning. “I’ve never really been to a fair,” she admitted.
“Are you serious?” he asked, taking the heavy luggage from her. “Have you ever been on an American road trip?”
“Nope,” she said, writing a note for Corey to water the flowers. “I’ve been to Mexico, Caribbean Island, Greece and Paris.”
“What if we got off the unbeaten path to Dallas and ventured to Graceland and Pigeon Forest?”
Kari wrinkled her nose, “I have no idea where those places are located at,” she confessed. “But an American road trip sounds fun, what about getting to the McBride House on time?”
“Austin is giving a small concert in New Mexico, so we have three days to visit Graceland and Pigeon Forest,” he said, surveying Kari’s clothes; she wore a black designer skirt, a yellow blazer and matching yellow high heels shoes. “Do you own any tennis shoes?”
Kari frowned “What’s wrong with what I have on?” she said, twirling around in front of him.
“Nothing honey, but you ain’t going to last thirty minutes at the fair in those heels,” he chuckled.
“I have running shoes,” she said.
“Why don’t we stop at a store for you to buy something more comfortable,” he suggested quickly.
Kari stopped and turned, eyeing Hank, who appeared nervous. “When did you start worrying about a woman’s outfit?”
“I-I-” Hank floundered. He knew this wasn’t going to be easy. “For the past couple of days I’ve seen your impressive clothing collection; Prada, Michael Kors, Gucci, Louis Vuitton. All you need is some jeans and a shirt, something simple.”
“So, where am I supposed to buy these simple jeans and shirt at?” Kari asked, turning the lights off in the back.
“I have a place in mind that’s not far from here,” Hank said steering her to the door; he waited until Kari set the alarm and locked the door to her business before they walked towards his truck.
