Good Girls

by Henry, Max

  “I don’t doubt you will.”

  I step away from Major, settling my back against the wall of the stall. “I thought you were mad with me?” I test. “With what you said after that drama with Colt’s car and all.”

  “I sort of am.” He fusses with the gear.

  “You don’t seem like it.”

  Tuck shrugs, his broad shoulders jumping. “I guess I can overlook it when your dumbarse of a brother isn’t around.”

  “I don’t understand why you guys don’t like him. Mandy told me he’s the reason why you pick on us both, and with what Johnson said during the fight—”

  “Don’t think too hard on it,” Tuck instructs. “None of it is your concern.”

  So he knows too. Am I the only one in the dark here?

  “I’m doing my best, you know?” My arms band protectively across my body.

  “Yeah, I know.” His head dips as he stares at the ground, his hat shielding his face from me.

  Heat creeps across my skin, searing under the weight of my coat. I turn slightly and undo the buttons, shaking it off myself.

  “Is that shirt yours?”

  I glance down at the tailored pink shirt. The chest has pockets, the flaps adorned with black piping. “It’s Maggie’s. She said what I had on wasn’t right for where we were going.” I chuckle. “After seeing everyone else tonight, I think she was right.”

  Tuck’s hungry gaze slides down over my waist, caressing my hips, and drinking in my legs before he stops on the gumboots. “You look cute.”

  “Thanks.” You don’t look so bad yourself, I ache to say. But the words stay stuck in my throat.

  “You ever think about it much?” Tuck asks, attention on his hand as he smoothes Major’s sweat-soaked hair. “Our kiss?”

  All the damn time. “Once or twice.”

  “I think about it a lot,” he confesses, fussing around with his back to me. “Try to work it all out in my head and that.”

  “What’s there to work out?” He makes me sound like a puzzle.

  “Why I like you.”

  Oh. “And have you? Worked it out, I mean.”

  He sighs, glancing over Major’s back at me. “I get stuck.”

  “Right.” I drop my gaze, unsure where he’s headed with this.

  “You’re cute as all get out, don’t get me wrong.” His voice fades a little, obstructed by the beast between us as he lifts Major’s feet to check the hooves. “But why should that matter, you know? There are plenty of cute girls around here if that’s all I wanted.”

  I don’t know what to say. And to be honest, I don’t know if he expects me to answer. He seems as though he’s merely thinking out loud.

  “But when I got a taste of those sweet lips?” He sighs, rounding the back of Major with one hand trailing the horse’s rump. “I felt the same thrill I do in a race. I ain’t ever felt that with a girl before.”

  Thank heavens I have a damn wall to hold me up, because Lord, have mercy. I burn under Tuck’s powerful gaze.

  “Damn it, Lacey.” He chuckles. “I’m trying to tell you I want to kiss you again. Would you get your cute arse over here?”

  I swear I’ve never smiled so damn large in my life. Dropping my coat to the floor, I take the two steps required to reach him. My hands find purchase on his shoulders when with a firm arm around my waist, he hauls me up against him.

  This time I’m left with no doubt as to his intentions. You don’t kiss a person with this much raw passion when you’re playing for position.

  Tuck’s war lips move across my own in quick, decisive sweeps. He teases and pleases before angling his head to deepen our union. I can’t even describe how he tastes, only that it’s uniquely his and something I want to experience more often. His rapid breaths match my own; our chests crushed hard against one another. Tuck slides a hand to my arse, his firm fingers digging in hard when he pulls me tight into his firm embrace.

  I love how broad and tall he is compared to me. I love how secure I feel nestled into this mass of a man. And I love that he cares as much about wooing me with his words as he does taking my breath away with his actions.

  I’ve fallen hard, and it’s not for one of the Chosen like I thought it would be. It’s for a cowboy in a small county town who holds more riches in the chambers of his heart than the previous objects of my desire could ever hope to own.

  “What are you doing to me, girl?” Tuck breathes, taking my head in his hands.

  He presses his forehead to mine while we catch our breath.

  “Hey, Tuck!” Damn it. I forgot all about Johnson out there. “You want me to leave this stuff out for you?”

  He takes a step back, hands dropping away. “Yeah! I’ll be there soon!”

  I didn’t want this to end.

  “I’ve gotta give Major a quick wash before I tuck him up for the night. You can go join Maggie again if you want.” He avoids looking directly at me, speaking to the wall to my right instead.

  I lift my coat ad bundle it in front of me, unsure what I did to put him off me so quick. “Sure.” Did he wake from his stupor and regret what he’d done?

  I let myself out of the stall, reminding myself not to overreact. Tuck has things he needs to do. I can’t expect him to neglect Major for me. The latch clicks back into place, and I take the first step toward the paddock.

  “Lace?”

  I stall, swallow, and back up a step. “Yeah?”

  “I mean it.” Tuck leans both palms on Major’s side, his gaze intense as he stares out at me from under the brim of his hat. “Be careful out there. You truly do look gorgeous, baby.”

  I get halfway back into the paddock before Maggie comes sprinting toward me. “Shit, man. I thought you’d been kidnapped or something.”

  “I’m fine,” I say, reaching out to take the bag of remaining beer from her so she can catch her breath properly.

  Does she know? Can she tell?

  “Thank God for that.” She sets her hands on her knees. “Phew.”

  “You know,” I tease. “If you didn’t smoke you’d have better stamina.”

  She lifts a hand to wave me off. “Yeah, whatever. Where were you?” Maggie straightens, hands on her hips as she leans back with a frown.

  “Looking around.”

  “Oh. I thought I saw Tuck with you, but I was kind of distracted by the race.”

  The race. Yes… “Who won?”

  “Beau, of course.” She sniffs and then takes a deep breath before asking, “Are you ready to go?”

  “Already?” We’ve been here maybe two hours tops? I suppose that might be long enough. I don’t know what time they wind things up out here.

  “Yeah.” She fakes a smile. “It’s boring from here anyway.”

  “Sure. Whatever you want to do.” I fall into step beside her, and we make our way towards the car.

  The Moto-hoes idle back and forth on the driveway, doing low-speed tricks. I glance over and notice that Beau stands behind Cate, her arms raised over her head and looped around his neck. She leans against him in an intimate way, and gut instinct tells me that’s the reason for our sudden exit considering the remainder of the party appears to pick up where it left off.

  If Beau’s distraction is indeed Maggie’s reason to head home, she doesn’t let it show on our journey there. She chats animatedly about past races between the Mavericks, laughing at her anecdotes while she taps her fingers on the steering wheel to the beat of the stereo.

  I don’t think she registers how quiet I am until we pull in her driveway.

  “You still want to stay the night?”

  “Huh?” I roll my head her way. “Yeah. If that’s okay?”

  “Totally. You seem away with the fairies, so if you want me to take you home, just say.”

  “No. It’s fine. Sorry.” I give her what I hope is a believable smile. “I was running back through the night in my head. That was quite the eye-opener, you know?” And I don’t just mean the race.

  “
I bet it was.” She chuckles, getting out of the car.

  I follow suit, noting that the front room is still lit up. Maggie’s mum greets us when we enter. She tugs her dressing gown tight as she stands. “You girls are home early.”

  “It was dull,” Maggie lies. “So here we are.”

  “Did you enjoy yourself?” she asks me.

  I nod. “It was good.” Perhaps a little too good.

  My limbs tingle at the memory of Tuck’s caress.

  “Well, don’t stay up chatting too late. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Night, Mum.”

  I follow Maggie to her room, the house cloaked in darkness behind us after her mother turns in also. Mags flops down on her bed, leaving me to shut the door.

  “What a night.”

  “You want to talk about it?” I coax, settling on my makeshift bed on the floor.

  “About what?” she tries to bluff.

  I lift an eyebrow.

  “You saw that, huh?”

  “Which part? You gushing over Beau, or Cate gushing after him?”

  “Ugh.” Her whole body convulses dramatically. “All of it.”

  “How long have you had a crush on the guy?” I tug first one and then the other relatively clean gumboot off.

  “Long enough that it’s ridiculously embarrassing he hasn’t noticed me yet.”

  “He’s noticed you,” I correct her, thinking of the bottle exchange. “You talk to each other.”

  “Not in the right way,” she whines, propping herself up on her elbows. “I guess I’m not all pretty and blonde enough for him. No offense.”

  “None taken.”

  Maggie jerks her chin at me before starting on her boots. “What about you? How long have you liked Tuck, huh? Since day one?”

  “No.” Maybe. “I don’t know. He’s grown on me.”

  “I get the feeling he grows thinking about you too.”

  “Eww!” I toss my coat at her.

  She giggles, throwing it back. “Admit it. The thought makes you hot.”

  Maybe a little. I’m doomed. “He can’t be that bad, can he? He seems nice enough.”

  Maggie tugs her shirt off, then shedding her tank without shame. “You really want the run down?”

  “I’m guessing you’re itching to give it to me.” I, on the other hand, undress beneath the sheets.

  “The girls love him,” Maggie groans, standing to drop her jeans. “But when it comes to definite facts on who he’s dated, I don’t actually know much now that I think about it. I mean, he’s been seen with plenty of girls, but they don’t say much about him after.” She takes on a contemplative tilt to her head, idly climbing under the bedding. “Odd.”

  “So his reputation is just that: hearsay?”

  “Possibly?” She snuggles down. “If you want to clean your teeth or anything, there’s a spare brush under the sink. Facecloths are in the top right drawer.”

  “Thanks. I might do that.” I reach for the nightshirt she loaned me and tug it on.

  “Switch the light off on your way out. I’m rooted after this week at the tournament.”

  “Sure.” I slide out from the bedding, the over-sized T-shirt falling to my knees.

  Maggie already has her eyes closed when I reach for the switch, pausing to let my sight adjust to the dull light cast by my phone before I make my way across the hall to the bathroom.

  I shut the door behind me, tilting my phone to find the light and casting the room in a warm yellow hue when I strike the switch. Phone resting on the edge of the counter, I dig around and find the spare toothbrush still in its packaging deep in the bowels of the cluttered cupboard. Turning the hot tap on to warm up, I then retrieve a facecloth and wet it under the flow to clean my face.

  Throughout my nightly routine, my gaze falls to the black screen of my phone, an insatiable need burning deep in the back of my mind. My fingers tingle, muscles in my arm twitching until I give in and reach for the device.

  Within seconds I have Facebook open. Barely another before my eyes land on the reason for my niggle. There in my friend requests is a name that does crazy things to my fluctuating teenage hormones.

  Tuck Brallant.

  I hit accept and set the phone down like the damn thing is on fire. With the facecloth wrung out and hung over the edge of the sink, I peel the new toothbrush out of its packaging, my eyes burning with my effort to remain focused. Screw it. I wake the screen, my lungs tight at the little red circle over the message icon.

  One hand scrubbing my pearly whites, the other navigating my phone, I open Messenger.

  T: Hey.

  Ugh. Boys. One word. Is that all? Two can play that game.

  L: Hi.

  The dots dance while I rinse, spit, wipe my mouth, and then clean the facecloth again.

  T: Where did you go?

  L: Maggie wanted to leave.

  T: You need your own ride.

  You’re telling me, buddy.

  L: Why?

  I want to know what he says. Is he back to playing friends?

  T: So you could still be here with me, lying out under the stars. It’s pretty tonight. Nearly as pretty as you.

  No. No, he’s not.

  The whoosh of my breaths and the rush of my heart as it pounds inside my chest are deafening in the otherwise quiet house.

  L: Why are you so nice to me when the others hate me?

  T: We aren’t sheep. I’m allowed to have my own opinions.

  L: Sorry.

  T: Don’t be. You have a right to ask.

  I’m still halfway through formulating an answer, nibbling on my fingernails while I perch on the edge of the bath when he sends another.

  T: Will you come out again next weekend?

  L: I’d like to.

  T: Maybe I could give you a ride this time?

  L: Maybe you could?

  My face hurts, I smile so hard. I must look crazy as all get out.

  T: Night, baby.

  I giggle.

  L: I’m not your baby.

  T: Sure you are.

  “What on earth do you have on?” Mum physically reels as I slide in her car.

  “Clothes.”

  “Not yours.” She lets out a disgruntled sigh and pulls away from Maggie’s.

  I give my new friend a wave out the window and then slouch down into the seat.

  “For crying out loud, Lacey. Sit straight.”

  “Why?” I roll my head her way. “Who’s here to see?”

  “I am,” she snaps, manicured nails curling around the steering wheel as her grip tightens. “And what on earth have you done with your hair?”

  “Braided it,” I snap.

  I happen to quite like it. Maggie handed me the over-sized Guns ‘N Roses T-shirt and leggings and then stated I needed an updo to go with the glam rocker vibe I gave off. So we sat in front of the TV after breakfast, and she braided my hair while spilling her guts on her fascination with Beau.

  Apparently, it started in Kindy when he gave her the last bucket and shovel in the sandpit, and then sat and watched her build a lop-sided castle.

  “You look like a wreck,” Mum states bluntly. Never the one to beat around the bush, my mother.

  “Gee. Thanks.” I fold my arms as she turns onto the main street. “Where were you last night?”

  “Excuse me?” she snarls, “Who is the parent here?”

  “It was a simple question, Mum.” She’s gone more than she’s home of late.

  He’d never say it, but I think it hurts Dad quite a lot that she’d rather be anywhere but with us.

  “I had an engagement with friends,” she replies curtly. “And yes, I had a fantastic time. Thank you for asking.” She huffs, slowing for a car that navigates a parallel park. “I’m not happy that you chose to wait until I wasn’t home to manipulate your father into letting you out.”

  “I didn’t manipulate him.” I shoot up in the seat. “He suggested I go out to a friend’s place.”
/>   Maybe not to a party, but what he doesn’t know …

  “It won’t happen again.” She stares straight ahead, one eyebrow cocked and lips pursed in that way I know means she won’t change her mind.

  “Really?” I shake my head. “You grounded me to Arcadia, not home.”

  “The rules can be amended if that would help you clarify things.”

  I spot the unmistakeable destroyed back end of Colt’s SUV ahead. “Let me out here.”

  “Pardon?” She flicks her head between me and the road. “If you think I’m going to disrupt my Sunday to come to get you so that you can leap out and run off to do God only knows what—”

  “Colt can take me home.” I point to his Explorer four parks ahead.

  With an exaggerated sigh, Mum pulls up alongside his vehicle. “Tell him I expect you both home for brunch.”

  I shunt my door open, snatching up my phone but leaving the bag of clothes from last night in the footwell. “We don’t live in the city anymore, Mum.” My boots hit the road. “You don’t have to keep up appearances with brunch.”

  Her complaints are cut short when I shut the door, already scouting for where my damn brother is. As much of a jerk as he’s been, I need to talk to him. And fast.

  He steps out of a clothing store three down, pausing when he notices Mum drive past.

  “Colt!”

  His head tilts to one side. “Where are you off to in fancy dress?”

  For crying out loud. “You seriously think I’m in costume?”

  “Why else would you be dressed like a groupie?”

  Deep breath, Lacey. “I need to talk to you.”

  He gives me a last once over where I stand before him. “About what? Would you like to find somewhere for coffee?”

  “Yeah.” I can’t deny the surge of joy such a simple gesture gives me. Maybe we’re not completely destroyed? “Mum wants us home for brunch, though.” I roll my eyes.

  “Humour her,” he says, leading us down the sidewalk. “She struggles with this change as much as we do.”

  “I know.” Although, I get the feeling I’m the only one who’s making an effort to adapt. “Did you see Greer at all last night?”

  He nods. “She was there. Yeah.”

  “Did you talk to her?”