Wild Card: Boys of Fall

by Mari Carr

  She smiled. “I’m glad.”

  “And Wade’s schedule isn’t as grueling as Trent’s. It’ll also help that we have the same home base. I’ll still be traveling back and forth to Nashville, but I’ll be here more than I’ll be away.”

  “You can work on the ranch part-time then.”

  He lifted one shoulder. “If that’s okay with your dad, I’d like that.”

  Lorelie hopped from the bed to grab her dress. While his words last night had made her happy, this morning’s talk had given her genuine hope. Everything was going to be fine. Better than fine.

  Perfect.

  9

  Toby: Still time to change your mind. Bus is driving near Quinn this morning. They could take a quick detour to pick you up

  Silence

  Toby: Or not. Wanna give me a hint here?

  Silence

  Toby: So I looked up Quinn on Google maps. You could be in Houston in just a few hours

  Silence

  Toby: Goddammit. Glen?

  Glen: I’m staying in Quinn. Need to talk to you about the possibility of playing with Wade Bennett again

  Toby: Wade?

  Glen: Yeah

  Toby: Two of you were great together. Trent won’t be happy

  Glen: His happiness means nothing to me. Working on finding my own instead

  Toby: I’ll make a few calls

  Glen: Thanks

  Coach was in the kitchen when he and Lorelie returned to the house. Glen couldn’t beat down the sudden nervousness as they planned to sit down and talk to her father about what came next.

  They had intended to head up to their rooms to change their clothes. After all, she was still in last night’s dress and his shirt was wrinkled and stained from using it to dry her tears last night.

  Unfortunately, Coach had clearly been waiting for them. “Lori? Glen? You two got a minute?”

  Lorelie gave him a so-much-for-that shrug and changed direction, heading toward the kitchen. Glen followed.

  “Hi, Daddy,” she said as they entered, bending over to kiss her father on the cheek.

  “Daddy, is it?” Coach asked.

  Lorelie dropped down into the chair next to her father’s, while Glen remained in the doorway. Probably a coward’s place, but he wanted to get a weather report before he stepped into the room. Coach was wise enough to read the writing on the wall. Glen had been having sex with his only daughter all night…and morning.

  Lorelie didn’t feel the same need for self-preservation. “I’m sorry I didn’t text you, but your light was on last night when we got home. I figured you saw the headlights. And you knew I’d been fixing up the barracks for Glen, so…”

  Coach chuckled. “You’re twenty-eight years old, Lori. I hardly need an explanation.”

  “Yeah, but, well, it’s just common courtesy, isn’t it? And I feel bad.”

  “Don’t feel bad.” Coach looked over his shoulder at Glen. “Still here, huh?”

  Glen nodded. Then took a deep breath and walked into the room, claiming a third seat at the table. “I’m not going back out on the road with Trent.”

  Coach smiled. A genuine smile that warmed Glen right to the core. “I’m glad.”

  It was only two words, a simple statement, but it packed a powerful punch. Lorelie and her dad both wanted him to stay. And given Wade’s reaction when Glen said yes to his proposition on the phone, he’d say at least three people were happy with his decision. It would take him some time to get used to the idea that there were people in his life who actually wanted him around.

  Lorelie went on to tell Coach about Wade’s offer and Glen’s desire to continue working on the ranch. Coach didn’t blink twice at that and said he was welcome to work there as long as he wanted. She asked if it was okay for Glen to move into the barracks, and again, Coach never hesitated, simply said the cabin was his.

  Then Coach asked a question that managed to slow Lorelie’s roll. “You going to move out there with him?”

  She flushed. “Dad.”

  Coach chuckled. “I think we both know that’s where you’re going to be sleeping. And you’re getting a little old to be living at home with your old man. I’m fine here, Lori. You won’t be that far away, and I think it’s time you spread your wings a bit.”

  “I’ve only been here a couple weeks, Coach. If Lori needs more time to—”

  Coach looked him straight in the eye. “I proposed to Lori’s mom on the third date. My folks and my friends thought I was crazy. But I knew I loved her, knew that feeling wasn’t a flash in the pan or just lust. I’ve seen the way you two look at each other. Noticed it that night way back in October. What you’ve got is the real deal, something special. You can either roll with it or try to play by some set of relationship rules put in place by society. Fact remains, you’re going to end up in the exact same place—just farther down the road.”

  “And where’s that?” Glen asked.

  “Living together out there in those barracks, planning your wedding and talking about making me some grandkids.”

  Glen laughed, while Lorelie looked horrified. “Seriously, Dad? I just convinced him to stay last night. You’re going to scare him away with all that.”

  Glen reached for her hand. “Lori…”

  “Yeah?”

  “I’m not scared. You want to move in together?”

  She stood up from the chair with an exasperated huff. “You’re both insane,” she said as she walked to the kitchen counter, putting a stray coffee cup and plate in the sink. When she turned around again, she added, “Must be why I love you both so much. Birds of a feather and all that.”

  “Is that a yes?” Glen asked. The idea that they could spend every night for the rest of their lives waking up in each other’s arms took root, deep and fast.

  She nodded. “Of course it is.”

  Lorelie turned back to wash the dishes, but stopped and turned off the water after just a few seconds. “Um, Glen?”

  “Second thoughts already?”

  She didn’t turn to face him as she shook her head. “There’s a big bus coming down our driveway.”

  “What?” He rose from the chair, Coach right behind him. The three of them stared out the window as the bus Glen had just purposely missed rolled toward them.

  “Fuck,” he muttered.

  The bus came to a stop just in front of the house and the one person Glen had hoped to never see again stepped off, taking in his surroundings liked he’d just landed on Mars.

  “Isn’t that Trent?” Lorelie asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “He looks different.”

  He looked like shit. His hair was shaggy and sticking up, as if he’d just rolled out of bed, a far cry from the cowboy hat he never—never—was seen without, mainly because he was going bald.

  Trent was in a faded, stained T-shirt and ripped jeans, both of which needed a trip to the Laundromat, or even better, to a trash can. And his face was wearing at least three days’ worth of beard. On some men, that looked good, but Trent couldn’t grow a full beard, so instead the thing came out in patches, some places covered, others bare.

  “I don’t suppose I could talk you and your dad into staying here while I have this conversation? The man’s not pleasant.”

  Lorelie looked at him with wide eyes that basically told him he was nuts. “I’m coming with you.”

  A quick glance at Coach confirmed he was already halfway across the kitchen and headed for the front door. “We got your back, son,” Coach said, over his shoulder.

  Glen grinned, then considered staying in the kitchen himself. It was obvious Coach and Lorelie could handle Trent just fine without him. It was tempting. But not fair. To Trent. Even if the asshole did deserve it.

  Glen stepped out onto the porch and walked a few steps beyond Lorelie and her dad, who’d already claimed their spots.

  “Trent,” he said as the man climbed the stairs. “Thought you were in Houston.”

  “We’re hea
ding there now,” Trent said. “As soon as you get your sorry ass on the bus.”

  Glen balled his hands into fists. Trent had apparently gotten stupider in the weeks since he’d been gone. He never would have had the balls to speak to Glen like that before.

  “Not going. I quit.”

  Trent’s expression turned even darker. “What is this? Some game to get more money? Fine. You can have a raise. Now let’s go.”

  Glen shook his head. “No. Not enough money in the world to get me back on that bus.”

  “What am I supposed to do?” Trent’s tone lost some of its edge, desperation creeping in. “Apologize? You’re the one who fucking punched me!”

  Glen considered explaining to the idiot why he’d hit him, but decided Trent wasn’t worth his time. The man believed his own press, had for years. There was no reasoning with someone whose head was buried so deep inside his own ass. “I’m moving on, Trent.”

  For the first time since he’d approached him, Trent looked at the other two people on the porch, first taking in Coach, who stood with his arms crossed over his chest in a way that all but dared the man to mess with them.

  Then his eyes landed on Lorelie—and a hateful smirk crossed his lips. “Because of her? You’re giving up your spot in my band for a bit of pussy? She’s not even that fucking pretty!”

  Trent should have been flat on his ass out in the yard, bleeding. That was sure as hell where Glen had planned to put him. With his fists.

  But Lorelie caught his arm as it reared back, holding it tightly.

  “Don’t, Glen,” she said softly. “He’s not worth it.”

  She was wrong. He was worth every punch, every broken bone, every drop of blood. “Let go of me, Lori. Man needs to be taught a lesson. One he obviously didn’t learn the last time.”

  “Glen,” Coach said. “Calm down, son.”

  He let out a slow breath. Glen was no match for the two of them. They were the closest thing to a family he’d had in over two decades. Hell, in his whole life. His family had been dysfunctional and broken from the get-go. They’d never meant to him what these two people did. Which was unnerving, when he considered how short his time here had been. How had they gotten so deep under his skin? How had this whole town gotten there?

  He knew how. They’d all given him things he’d never had. Trust, support, a chance to prove himself, laughter, friendship, love. They had challenged him to see beyond his own selfishness, and in doing so, helped him to discover the man he wanted to be.

  He dropped his fists, let his arm go limp.

  Lorelie held tight for just a moment more.

  “So that’s how it is,” Trent all but snarled. “You’re pussy-whipped. Jesus, Glen, I didn’t realize you were such a wimp. A loser who’d let his dick—”

  And then Glen saw it again. The old Batman fight scene in action.

  Bam! Whap! Kaboom!

  Only this time, he was on the sidelines as Lorelie went after the man, taking him down with one punch.

  Glen was impressed. It had taken him two.

  She followed up her wicked right with a couple of kicks after Trent hit the porch boards hard, punctuating each strike with a string of angry words. Glen suspected the words probably hurt Trent more than the blows, when he saw Trent’s reaction to them.

  “How dare you talk to him that way? You wouldn’t be here if you had an ounce of talent! You know you need Glen because you’re nothing without him. Nothing! So stand up, tell him that, and then get the fuck off my property!”

  Trent stumbled as he tried to rise, his movements hesitant as his eyes remained glued on Lorelie. He was clearly afraid she’d attack again.

  “The tour is in the toilet, man,” Trent said after a minute or so. “People are asking for refunds. They figured out I was lip-synching after you left, so Toby said I had to start singing for real. Without your voice…”

  “They thought my voice was yours.”

  Trent nodded miserably. “None of the other guitarists we’ve hired know the songs well enough and they don’t sound like…”

  “Me.”

  “My career is gonna be ruined if you don’t come back!”

  It was the most humble words he’d ever heard from Trent.

  And they didn’t change a thing.

  “I can’t go back. I’ve got friends here in Quinn.” He looked over his shoulder at Lorelie and her dad. “A family. And a home. For the first time. I’m not leaving it. Not for money or fame or you.” And then, because he genuinely felt bad for the man, he added, “I’m sorry, Trent.”

  Trent wiped the dust from his jaw, looking somewhat surprised to find blood mingled in as well. “Your girlfriend hits harder than you. My jaw fucking hurts.”

  Glen grinned as he turned and reached out for Lorelie, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. “Appreciate you testing that out for me. I’ll be sure to tread lightly around her.”

  Lorelie rolled her eyes at him, her smile as sweet as lemonade on a hot day.

  “If you change your mind…” Trent started, still holding out hope.

  “I won’t.”

  Trent nodded slowly, then descended the stairs gingerly. Apparently he’d landed on his ass a little too hard. He climbed back on the bus and then, just like that, Trent Maxwell was out of his life.

  The man was forgotten before the bus hit the end of the driveway.

  Glen turned to look at her. “So you wouldn’t let me hit the guy when he insulted you, but he was fair game for you?”

  “I didn’t like what he said about you.”

  Glen put his hands on his hips. “And I was over the moon with the way he talked about you? Dammit, Lori. What if he’d swung back? He could have hurt you.”

  She looked at him as if he’d grown another head. “Oh yeah, right. Like any punch he might’ve thrown would have landed. With you and my dad here. And Oakley and Joel standing right there.”

  She pointed toward the side of the house at his back. Sure enough, there were the ranch hands. He hadn’t noticed their arrival.

  “Y’all been there the whole time?” Glen asked.

  Oakley grinned. “Long enough to see Lorelie defend your honor.”

  “Fuck,” he muttered. He figured it wouldn’t take them five minutes to have that story spread throughout Quinn. He’d never live it down.

  “So you’re staying?” Joel asked. Glen wasn’t sure, but he thought the man actually looked happy to hear that news.

  Glen nodded. “Yeah. Looks like you’re gonna have to work a little harder if you’re still trying to run me off.”

  Oakley rubbed his hands together. “Damn. I do love a dare.”

  Lorelie pointed her finger at both ranch hands. “I swear to God, if either one of you—”

  Joel threw his hands up in instant surrender, pretending to be scared. “Stand down, Oak, or she’ll come out swinging.”

  They all laughed.

  “Don’t you boys have work to do?” Coach asked at last.

  Oakley and Joel meandered back to the barn as Coach opened the screen door. “You two start packing and I’ll help you move your stuff over to the barracks. Of course, it seems to me if you’re going to call that place home, we might want to come up with a better name for it.”

  Home. He had a home.

  Then he realized it wasn’t the place that made him feel that way. Without her, he wouldn’t want it.

  “Don’t care what we call it,” Glen said, Lorelie still tucked in his arm. “As long as Lori’s there with me.”

  Lorelie gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Keep talking like that and my right hook is going to get rusty from a lack of use.”

  “Better that than your kisses,” he said, stealing a kiss to punctuate his point. “I love you, Butterfly.”

  “Ditto, Music Man.”

  Coach chuckled. “You’re gonna do just fine here, Glen. You’ve got the same spirit as my boys of fall. Welcome to the family.”

  Epilogue

  Sadie:
Hey, where did you and Glen go?

  Silence

  Sadie: Lorelie? Did you guys go home? You’re missing a great game

  Silence

  Wade: Glen? The gang is looking for you and Lorelie

  Silence:

  Wade: You picked the wrong game to ditch. The Titans are killing it tonight

  “Turn off your cell. That constant buzzing is distracting me.” Glen started to reach for her phone, but she got to it first. She pushed the off button and then pulled him back toward her, the two of them resuming some pretty hot-and-heavy kissing.

  “So this is how you evaded your protectors back in high school?” Glen murmured when her lips moved from his mouth to his neck.

  “Mmmhmm. They were too busy playing to worry about me.”

  “Trumpet player, you say?”

  She giggled. “It would appear I’ve always had a thing for musicians.”

  Lorelie began kissing his neck again and for a second, Glen let her distract him from why he’d really dragged her here.

  “Lori, hang on a second, darlin’.”

  She pulled back reluctantly. Very reluctantly. He grinned. He was one lucky man. The past six months had been the best of his life.

  The songs he and Wade had recorded were getting some serious airplay and they were starting to talk about a potential tour. Lorelie was excited about the prospect of joining them on the road for a few of the concert dates. It was all she and Charlene could talk about lately.

  Coach had become more of a father to him than his own dad had ever been. And the man was starting to hand over more and more of the ranch duties as well. Coach would occasionally talk about the day he retired, and how the land would belong to Lorelie and her kids one day. Up until yesterday, Coach had always said it that way. Lorelie and her kids.

  Yesterday, he said it would belong to them—to Glen and Lorelie and their kids.

  It wasn’t exactly a subtle hint for Glen to get off his ass and propose, but Glen had taken it to heart.