She wasn’t bad really, she just had moments when she couldn’t control herself, it was a defensive mechanism and I knew that but it was funny all the same. She wasn’t as confident as she liked to make out, I knew the real Keeley, which was a far cry from her steely exterior or at least I’d seen the real her when we were alone, she was kind, sweet and fiercely protective. She had all the traits you’d want in a best friend.
I pulled up outside the salon and brushed all the salt from my leggings as I got out the car. Walking into the back room I saw my best friend in a staring contest with the coffee machine. “Hey, I grabbed you a cheeseburger. I’ll just put it here on the table. If Mr Carter turns up early again tell, him I’ll not be long. Kee?” She jumped.
“Jeez, you scared me!” Chuckling, I handed her the fast food bag. “Thanks, Sam, I’m starving.” She opened it up and greedily tucked in.
“Yeah, I can tell. I was saying…if Mr Carter comes in early, can you tell him I’ll be back soon? I’m just going over to the Gracefield’s to see about those tables.” She gave me a thumbs up and an attempt at a smile with ketchup around the sides of her mouth. I decided not to tell her, couldn’t be worse than the time she didn’t tell me I had something stuck in my teeth before a full afternoon of clients. “Thanks, see you in a bit.” With that, I turned and headed for the florists.
I was dreading this but I was an adult and I was going to damn well act like one. The bell above the door chimed twice as I walked in signaling that I was here, it wasn’t a big shop but it was beautiful and the smell as you came in was divine.
Colourful arrangements were displayed all over the place, a particular orange and red bunch caught my eye and I decided to add a bit more colour into our apartment. Picking them up and walking to the counter I peered into the back. “Hello, Mrs Gracefield? Avery? AAGGHH!” I got the fright of my life as Avery popped her head around the door.
She chuckled. “Sorry, Sam, didn’t mean to scare you. Were you looking for my mom again? She’s just gone out to do a delivery. I offered but she insists the walking does her good.” She shook her head. “She won’t be too much longer if you wanted to stay and wait. Can I get you a drink?” I looked at my watch before deciding I may as well stay but passed on the offer of a drink.
She came out and started wrapping my flowers up in yellow cellophane.
“So, how is being back from college?” I was trying to make polite conversation but it just felt awkward.
“Yeah, it’s…I like being back, I just need to adjust to my mom acting like a crazy person watching my every move, that’s hard, and I miss some of my friends of course.” She rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, I guess they can be like that sometimes. How’s your dad?” Mr Gracefield was a rancher, they owned the biggest ranch in town. From what I knew of him, he was a proud, stubborn man and wasn’t someone you’d want to get on the wrong side of. She started playing around with the arrangements before answering me.
“Still in the same old routine he has been for the past thirty-five years.” I could sense the tension. “So anyway, what is it you need my mom for? If you don’t mind me asking, I’m curious like that.” She winked.
“Well some people would call that being nosey.” I winked back. “But I don’t mind, I just wanted to know about some old wooden tables she used a couple years back at one of the fundraisers. I thought they’d fit right into our theme this weekend.” Just at the moment, Mrs Gracefield came walking into the shop and looked from me, to Avery then back again.
“Sam, I trust Avery has got you everything you needed today?” She glanced at Avery again and narrowed her eyes, whatever was going on here, I did not want to be in the middle of it.
“She’s been very helpful, thank you. But it’s actually you I came here to see.” She raised a brow and moved one of the arrangements Avery had just set up.
“Oh? What can I do for you then?” Well, this was more awkward than I expected. I just wanted to get out of here, forget the tables and run. Instead, I stayed put and looked her in the eyes.
“I came to ask you about those old wooden tables you used at a fundraiser a few years back. I think they’re re-using that years’ theme.” Recognition sparked in her face, she knew exactly which fundraiser I was talking about.
“Sure, I think I know the ones you mean. They’re stacked in our old tractor barn. If it helps, I can have John and a few of the ranch hands bring them down. Saturday morning is it?”
I nodded and gave her my number. Before leaving, I thanked them and said they were welcome at the salon any time for a free hair treatment, I wasn’t expecting to ever see either of them ever set foot in there but it was the right thing to do.
I paid and picked up the gorgeous bunch of flowers Avery had wrapped for me and left with a quick goodbye.
Being around Lewis again reminded me of the easy friendship we used to have. We fell right back into the conversations and teasing towards each other. We talked about things I hadn’t thought about since I had left Little Hollow and it was really good to remember that I did have happy memories of this town, instead of painting a gray cloud over it all of the time.
I had some terrible memories of what had happened here but I’d been focusing too much on the negatives. I had to let myself remember all the good memories I had here too and there was a lot of them.
“So what are you going to say to Sam? Declare you’re undying love for her in the hopes that she’ll fall madly in love with you?” He was joking but it irked me.
“I wouldn’t do that to her. I guess I’ll start with the truth of why I left, that’ll be the easy part. The hard part will be explaining why I’ve been coming back for the past eight years and not bothered to visit her. Truth be told, I don’t really know how I can explain that to her. It all sounds so selfish when I think of why I have. But she’s hurting because of me and I have to fix that. I don’t expect anything from her, if she wants me to leave straight away, then I’ll leave with my head held high in the fact that she’ll know I had no choice.” I looked down at my food and picked up a few fries.
“As much of a shock it is to hear you’ve been coming back here, without you even explaining why, I get it. She’s a stubborn one and maybe she’ll act like she doesn’t want to hear it but I think she’ll listen to you. Eventually she’ll understand, you’ll just have to give her some time.” He gave me a weak smile and ate the last few bites of his burger.
“I just wish I could stay around to see that happen. I’ve got to get back to the city, I can’t rely on my guys to run my business for me; it’s my responsibility.” He gave me a knowing nod. “On top of that, I don’t want to be around when Tony gets back, nothing good can come of that.”
“Well here’s to hoping she gives you the time of day.” Raising his glass of milkshake, I clinked my glass with his. Here’s hoping.
“You remember that time in ninth grade when Ruby Carter dumped that whole glass of milkshake on you?” I started to laugh and Lewis had an amused look on his face.
“Sure I remember. I also remember you telling her I liked her and then having to try let her down gently and that’s why she tipped it all over my head. Something I still haven’t got you back for may I add.” He raised his brow and started laughing with me.
“We used to get into all kinds of trouble with the girls.”
“You used to get into trouble with the girls.”
He smirked. “Well exactly, you were always so hung up on Sam you never noticed the girls pining after you. You could’ve had Jenny Murphy of all people.” I scrunched up my nose.
“That girl was a piece of work and not in a good way! I didn’t see the appeal, she was a bully and I wasn’t hung up on Sam, she was my best friend.”
“Ah, I’m hurt.” He feigned hurt with a hand over his chest.
“You know what I meant. Things were different then, life was complicated and I wasn’t about to bring more trouble into my life.”
He nodded before pulling bi
lls out of his wallet. “You can’t fool me; you were head over heels for Sam. Everybody knew it.”
“Connor, be a sweetheart and grab that book off the shelf for me.” Urgh, Jenny Murphy. Why couldn’t she just leave me alone?
“Sure, Jenny.” I reached up to get the book for her, which I realized was actually in reaching distance and felt a pinch on my butt. “Woah…look, Jenny, I’ve told you before, I’m not interested.” She pouted and batted her mascara clumped lashes at me.
“Oh, come on, Hartley, you know you want to.” She trailed a well-manicured finger over my chest. This was a regular conversation she and I had and I was growing tired of it. Taking a step back away from her, she dropped her hand.
“You may as well just go out with me, it’s only a matter of time before you give in anyway.” She kissed her fingertips and placed them over my lips before sauntering off. I wiped at my lips, that girl infuriated me.
I was brought up to be a gentleman by my mom but this girl was starting to get on my last nerve; she wouldn’t take no for an answer. It wasn’t that she wasn’t hot because she was; she had long blond hair and striking blue eyes. Okay, if I had to admit it, she had a rocking body too.
But her personality didn’t match her sweet exterior. She was as sour and conniving as they came. She was captain of the cheerleading squad and had formed in her head a sense of entitlement to anything, or anyone, that she wanted and she didn’t care who she stepped on in the process.
Not my style.
Gathering the books that I’d come for, I checked them out and made my way to my locker where a note was slotted inside.
I smiled as I folded the note back up, I’d hardly seen Sammy all day so I gathered up my things and headed home to drop them off before taking an eager walk to Avenue Park. This was a regular meeting spot for me and Sammy; it was our spot.
Rounding the corner, the big tree loomed in sight but what I saw made my fists tighten and I ran towards the crowd. Pushing through the throng of people, Jenny had a hold of Sammy’s hair.
“That’ll teach you to mess with my man, you little whore.” Jenny continued to rag her hair.
“Your man? He’d never touch you with a ten-foot pole.” Sammy laughed.
I was furious. Why was everybody just watching this happen? Grabbing Jenny by the wrists, she looked up at me. “Get the fuck off her. Right now!” She let go immediately at the sound of my low, menacing voice. She stared at me, giving Sammy time to throw one last punch. Ouch. It wasn’t a girly punch either, it was the kind that made Jenny’s head jolt back.
I tried not to laugh as I took Sammy’s hand and pushed through the crowd to head into a quiet part of the forest that surrounded the park. I stopped abruptly and turned towards her “Sammy? Look at me.” She shook her head, her matted hair swaying around. “Sammy, please.”
Again she shook her head so I took her face in my hands and brought it towards mine to get a closer look at her. Apart from a little scratch on her cheek, there didn’t seem to be any damage. “Are you okay? What happened?”
She swiped away my hands and looked away. “I was just sat waiting for you when she came charging up with all her little followers and started shouting at me, saying you were hers.” She snorted. “She started to tug on my hair when I laughed at her.” She shook her head again. “Don’t worry, I’m fine, she’d only just got there when you turned up.”
I started pacing. “You are not fine. This is not okay! I’m so sorry, Sammy.” She looked at me then with hurt in her eyes.
“Don’t apologize, it’s got nothing to do with me who you date, Con, I just wish you’d given me a little warning first.”
I was puzzled. “You’d think I’d actually go out with someone like her? Come on, Sammy, you know me better than that.” I sat down against a tree and she joined me.
“I didn’t think so, just wanted to check you hadn’t lost all your brain cells just yet.” She chuckled and nudged my arm with hers. We were both silent for a minute, contemplating the situation. There was no way Jenny would let Sammy get away with embarrassing her like that, we both knew it.
“There was actually a reason I wanted to meet with you, you know, before bitch-barbie turned up with her crew,” she said, causing me to chuckle. I gave her my full attention. “I’ve decided to drop out of school.”
What? My face must’ve gave away my thoughts as she held up her hand, effectively cutting me off before I could get a word out.
“Before you start giving me a lecture, I’ll still be doing my school work; I’ll still get my GED. I just need the money more than spending hours at school doing what I could be doing in less time at home.”
I thought about it for a minute. “I could help out you know, get a job.” It didn’t sit right with me that she would have to quit school while her mom sat at home drinking all day.
“I don’t want or need your money, Connor, I’ve made my decision. I met with the principal today and she supports it too. I’m a good student and they’re going to help out where they can. I can keep up.”
I didn’t doubt that for a second, I guess it was for selfish reasons that I wanted her to stay in school. I didn’t want to spend the next three years there without her.
“Just let me know if you ever need any help. You know I’m there to have Tommy whenever you need me to.” She nodded. “No, I mean it, Sammy.”
She leaned her head on my shoulder and sighed. “What would I do without you, huh?” I had the urge to put my arms around her but I reeled myself in.
“You ok, Red?” Before I knew it, she’d turned and punched me in the arm.
“I told you not to call me that!” The scowl on her face made me laugh, she was going for menacing but she just looked cute.
“Okay, firecracker.” I held up my hands trying to suppress another chuckle. “But you’re good though, right?” She slowly smiled.
“Yeah, I’m good. What’s one more public humiliation going to do?”
I grabbed her hand and pulled her up with me. “The only one that was humiliated there was Jenny Murphy. You pack one hell of a punch.”
I rubbed at my arm, I wasn’t talking about her physical punch though. She’d been punching through my walls every day, with every smile, laugh and wise crack.
She gave me a lopsided grin before trudging out of the forest.
She was breaking through my barriers and I didn’t know how to handle it.
I waved goodbye to Lewis as I got in my truck. We’d made plans to meet at the fundraiser tomorrow night. But now that I was on my own, I had time to think about what I was going to say to Sammy. I could only tell her the truth; I couldn’t plan for any more than that.
I knew she wasn’t going to take my presence there well but I was hoping being in such a public setting would be on my side.
I dropped my keys trying to put them in the ignition so I bent down to pick them up. They fell beside my old, ratty work boots and it occurred to me that apart from these, I’d only brought my sneakers with me. There was no way I was making a public appearance wearing either of them so I headed in the direction of the nearest mall, which happened to be forty minutes away.
On arrival, I stepped out in the parking lot and headed in the direction of the shoe store at the back end of the mall.
“Good afternoon, sir, how may I help you today?” A pretty blonde batted her lashes at me.
“Hi, I’m looking for a pair of boots, similar in style to these but in much better condition.” I gave her one of my best grins. She smiled back and started bouncing in the opposite direction.
“Right this way are our men’s boots, today’s your lucky day, we have 10% off all footwear. My names Brittany, I’ll be right over there if you need anything.” I thanked her before looking at the wide variety I had to choose from.
I picked up a pair of tan ones not too dissimilar from my own worn ones as well as a darker pair and called Brittany back over to get my size.
“Sure, I’ll be back in a minute
.” She gave me a wink and rushed off to the back before returning in record time. “Okay, these should be just fine for you. Did you want to try them on? Of course you want to try them on.” She rolled her eyes at herself and giggled, obviously a little embarrassed, so I smiled to ease her discomfort. She probably wasn’t much older than twenty and I didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable around me.
“Thank you, Brittany, much appreciated.” She gave me a quick smile before darting off.
I honestly didn’t care which ones I picked. I only got two different pairs to take up some time out the rest of my day, the less time I had to sit in that room by myself, the better.
I settled on the darker brown over the tan ones and paid before heading back through the mall to my truck. Sliding the box along the seat, I opened it again and stared at the boots. What was I doing? I’d turned into a woman stressing over what I was going to wear. I was only going to a casual fundraiser and I knew I wasn’t going to be there long.
Shutting the box, I shook my head and laughed at myself before starting the drive back to Sharlington.
“Betty, how are you?” I asked when I got back to the B&B.
She looked up from the book she was reading to reply, “Fit as a fiddle, you know me. Goodness me, is that the time? I better get started on dinner. Will you be joining us tonight?”
Her face was so inviting that I couldn’t turn her down. “Of course, let me just go put my things in my room and wash up and I’ll come down to help.”
She patted my hand. “Mac, you’re a guest here. Take your time washing up, dinner won’t be ready for another half hour.”
I made my way up the stairs after being shooed away. I didn’t feel like a guest, this felt like an odd kind of home to me. It always had, which was part of the reason I kept coming back here instead of some fancy hotel. I never was one for grand things, as long as I had a place to sleep it didn’t bother me. The simpler my life the better.
One Moment (The Little Hollow Series Book 1) Page 9
