by Arow Jones
Skye dresses me in a black mini skirt, a sheer mint top over a black tube top and my tall black kitten heel boots I like to wear when I ride my bike. The last time I wore them was when I saw JT at the bar.
Kenny drives us in the GTO. It’s still early but the bar is already over flowing with people. We cram ourselves into a small table near a pool table. Skye waves over to Rob. He signals to one of the waitresses. He knows what we like. A few minutes later our table is loaded with pitchers of beer, shots of tequila, and water.
The music is pumping. We’ve already gone through a pitcher and drinks sent over by some admirers.
“Let’s dance!” Skye pulls us onto the dance floor. My worries are for tomorrow. Tonight is about us. I let my body move and sway the beats. We’re giggling and rubbing up against each other.
The dance floor is full. Bodies bump into one another. I feel a hard body pressing against my back. It’s one of the admirers, Scott, from earlier. He’s gorgeous. Hard tanned cowboy body, blonde hair, blue eyes. His hands lightly skim my sides then rest on my hips. He presses closer to me. My hands reach up around his neck. My body is responding to him but it’s JT on my mind. I close my eyes and let myself imagine Scott’s hands are JT’s. It’s his breathe blowing on my neck, making my nipples harden. I can feel his tongue, his lips. “Lily, you are so hot!”
His words jar me out of my dream. I let go of his neck and spin around, putting some distance between us. “Not so bad yourself Scott.” We dance a few more songs before I excuse myself to the ladies room.
My head is spinning from the music and alcohol.
I’m in the stall when I hear women’s voices.
“She’ll be out on her ass before she knows it.” The voices giggle. “He’ll never marry her. She’ll have to leave and then he’s all mine.”
“I heard he was supporting her.”
“He has to, it’s part of the deal. He’s a charitable kind of guy.” When the door shuts I come of the stall. So that’s what he thinks of me? I’m a charity case. My stubborn tears threaten to spill. He’ll never want me. He doesn’t need me. He doesn’t need the ranch. I know he has more money than he knows what to do with. In the morning I’ll see if Skye will let us stay at her place, just until I can make arrangements. Nick said I couldn’t keep anything, not even the horses. I’ll have to convince JT to let me at least visit Five.
I stave off the tears and take a deep breathe. I am here to have a good time. So, I make my way back to the dance floor where Scott is waiting for me with a fresh beer in his hand.
Eighteen
“Look all the ladies tonight! I’m getting my game face on.” Grayson is in town this weekend. He convinced me to come out tonight. Chase and I do this every week anyways but I let him think it’s because of him I came out. Truthfully, I wanted to take a look at this Kenny guy.
We’re standing at the bar, drinking bottled beer when I feel two arms circle my waist from behind me. For a fleeting moment I hoped it was Lily but my stomach goes sour when I smell her perfume. Blanche.
“Hey baby. I was hoping to run into you.” I ignore her but I know she won’t just go away. “Looks like someone is having a good time.” She’s looking at the dance floor. I follow her line of sight. “Isn’t that Scott Randall? Pro-Rodeo bull rider? I heard he was hanging out in town. On his way to Boulder for the Rodeo next weekend. They make a cute couple. Don’t you think?” She moves to the front of me, never taking her hands off me. I’ve still not moved. My eyes are fixed on Scott’s arms around Lily.
He bends down to whisper something in her ear. She giggles in response. She takes his beer from his hand drinks. I can see the perspiration on the bottle drip onto her chest where her sheer top is slightly open. Her beautiful mounds are barely on display but sexy as fuck. He reaches down and touches the wet drop with his finger. I can feel my chest tightening. My fist grips my bottle so hard I think it will shatter if I don’t let go.
As if she can hear me willing her to look at me she turns. At first her eyes soften. Then she sees Blanche. Scott looks over. He leads Lily over to us. She’s scowling at Blanche.
“Blanche, honey. Long time no see.” Scott’s jovial greeting makes me want to hurl.
“Oh Scott, you are such a gentleman, keeping little Lily company. Isn’t he sweet Lily?”
“Hmm. How do you two know each other?” Her eyes dart back and forth between Scott and Blanche. Blanche’s smile tells me all I need to know. She has a reputation and every cowboy with a stock portfolio is on her radar. Scott grins right back at her.
“Everybody knows Blanche, if you know what I mean?” Lily gives him a look of distain. “Her daddy’s a big time sponsor of the rodeo in Boulder. Blanche here come out and visits us. Part of the… personal relations, and all that.” He looks at me. “Why don’t you two join us? My boys are fixing us up with a couple a tables.” He points over to where Skye is sitting with a couple of guys. In true Skye fashion they are fixed on her every word. I look over to Grayson who seems to be watching the same thing. I nod over to him. He silently agrees. We follow Scott and Lily over to the group.
Some chairs get dragged over. More pitchers of beer come over. Blanche tries to sit on my lap but I set her on a chair and sit on the one next to her, across from Lily and Scott. Everyone is chatting away. I try to politely engage in conversation but my eyes keep straying to Lily.
“I thought you were here with Kenny?” Her eyes dart to mine. Scott looks at her with question.
“I thought you said you were out with the girls tonight?” She doesn’t answer. She just looks at me with daggers in her eyes. Chase and Grayson stop talking. We’re all interested in her answer now. Skye giggles.
“Of course Kenny came with us. Kenny and Lily are like two peas in a pod. Ain’t that right Lily? I’d be jealous if Kenny wasn’t such an amazing person.”
My fists are clenching. Amazing huh? “So where is this Kenny person?” She looks out on the dance floor.
“Oh, uh, right there.” She waves to the crowd. “Over hear sweetie!”
I’m looking for a guy walking over. My knuckles have turned white. Blanche is sighing next to me. She rubs her hand down my arm to coax me. “Honey? That is Kenny.” Instead of a guy I want to pummel I see long legs in motorcycle boots and a tight black strapless mini dress. Her hair is midnight black hair, long and straight, framing a beautiful oval shaped face with bright hazel eyes. Chase stiffens next to me.
She walks over and stands, looking for a seat. Chase beats Scott’s friends to the punch and offers her his seat.
“McKenzie.” She smiles at him and takes a seat. He leaves his hands on her chair, standing behind her. Then he looks at me.
“This is the Kenny you were going to beat the shit out of for spending so much time with Lily?” Snickers and giggles fill the air. I feel like a totally dipshit now but I grin and take it all in.
“Yup.” I look at her and smile. Chase swipes her hair to one side. He leans down and whispers loud enough so Lily can here. The expression on her face is unreadable but her eyes say she wants to kick my ass right now.
“Nothin’ personal blossom but if you had a set of balls JT would be ripping them off of you right now.” She smiles and puts her hand on the hand that is on her shoulder. She turns to me.
“Take this totally personally JT. If you hurt Lily I WILL rip your balls off with my favorite pair of pliers.” Scott whoops and hollers. Others join in the laughter. A smile finally graces Lily’s face but I can see confusion in her eyes. After a long ten minutes of everyone ribbing me for my obvious misunderstanding about Kenny Rob comes over with a tray of tequila shots. He sets it on the table and turns to me.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this rounds on JT. An apology of sorts. He winks at me.” I’m grateful for his generosity on my behalf. He knew since the poker game, which means Kip knew. Son of bitch. I feel duped and totally relieved.
Skye lifts her shot glass to toast. She looks at Grayson. “To lasting friendship,
” turns to Chase, “prince charming,” then turns to me “and true love.”
“Here, here.” Conversations resume. Some go off to dance, others drink contentedly. Scott is talking quietly to Lily.
Blanche grabs my arm. “Come dance with me.” I see Lily look over at me. I think I’ve made it obvious what my jealousy was all about. I’m not about to hurt Lily by dancing with Blanche. I pull her hand off my arm.
“No.”
“But JT?” Her whiny voice grates on me. One of Scott’s friends reaches over and grabs Blanches other hand. “Come on Blanche, let’s show him how hot and bothered he makes you.” She pouts at me then turns to him, following him into the crowd of dancers. I’ve no doubt she will try to show off but I only have eyes for Lily.
I switched to water about an hour ago. The drinks kept flowing. I haven’t seen Chase and Kenny since the toast. Grayson hasn’t left Skye’s side. He switched to water right after I did. The crowd has thinned out. It’s near closing time when Rob calls out. “Last call!”
“Awe, Rob, come on!”
“Sorry Skye, got to close up.”
“I’m staying with JT. Come over and party with me there?” Grayson asks Skye. I look at him and shake my head. “Oh come on! We’re grown men now. You don’t still have that stupid girl rule? Besides it’s Skye.” She hits his arm.
“Hey!”
“Shh, just go with it.”
“Oh, oh! We can go back to the barn! The bar there is fully stocked! I checked when I went to get the liquor for our beauty and booze night.”
“Beauty and booze night? What the hell?”
“Don’t look at me, man. Must be a girl thing.”
“Lily, please, please, please? You promised!” Lily looks at her then me.
“Okay. Why not.”
I text Chase to meet us at the car. Scott looks at his phone. “You gonna be at the Rodeo next week.” Before she can answer I say, “Yes. We’ll be there. Business.”
“Oh, you two in business together.” Lily opens her mouth to answer but again I answer for her. “Yes.”
“Okay then. He gives her kiss on the top of her head. “Thanks for tonight. Come find me?” She smiles and nods then cocks her head at me.
“You know, you’re beautiful when you’re angry.”
“Shut up!” I get up and walk over to her. She gulps. My hand reaches hers. I turn it over and kiss the inside of her wrist, keeping my eyes on hers. “Make me.”
Nineteen
I can feel my buzz starting to fade. We decide to bring snacks up to the barn and keep drinking. Skye and Grayson want to play drinking games. My head is spinning. I don’t drink this much or this often but I don’t want the lovely buzz to go away yet so I agree.
Skye is sitting on one end of the black leather L-shaped sofa with her bare feet in Grayson’s lap. He’s massaging her feet. Chase and JT are sitting in the matching recliners. Kenny and I are sitting on the ground, in front of the recliners. In the middle is an oval shaped glass table top sitting on a pedestal made of intertwined horns.
I stretch my legs out in front of me and tug on my skirt. I have no doubt JT could see down my shirt if he looked but I’m too relaxed to care.
“Okay, so who wants to go first?” Grayson looks all too happy to have Skye in his hands. She kicks him playfully.
“Hang on, let’s start with some rules. We’re playing ‘I’ve never’ y’all remember how to play that? One person says, for example, ‘I’ve never ridden a donkey’ then everyone who actually has done that takes a drink. Got it? Okay. G, go first.”
“Why do I have to go first?”
“Because. Just because. Go!”
“Okay, okay. I’ve never ridden a donkey.” All the girls take a drink. “Wait, what? When have you girls ridden a donkey?”
“Donkeys can be ridden too. Sir Lancelot is at CU.”
“Ooookkkkaaaayyyyyy. Your turn.” He points to JT.
“Hmm. I’ve never gone skinny dipping.” Everyone takes a drink except me.
“What? Seriously?”
“Sorry Sugar, you’re missing out.” I slap his leg. “Ow. So violent.” He smiles at me. Hmm, I wouldn’t mind getting spanked by JT. I have a favorite riding crop. My mind is officially in the gutter.
“You go then!”
“I’ve never had sex.” Grayson coughs. Everyone suddenly looks uneasy. Chase puts his hand on Kenny’s shoulder. Her smile is brief and polite but doesn’t last for more than a millisecond. In the gutter, covered in slime.
“Fuck it.” I take a drink. I’m little stunned. I can’t believe I just fessed up. I can imagine JT wondering, how has I’ve stayed a virgin this long? As if Grayson is reading my mind he voices the same question. Skye kicks him harder this time.
“Insensitive much?”
“Ow, geez, sorry. It’s just that I’d totally do you. Ow, okay, stop. I’ll shut up.”
“I don’t have a chastity belt or anything. I’ve just been busy. Okay, who’s next?” I quickly brush the subject aside like it’s no big deal. It’s not like I did it on purpose but every time I got close to a guy all I could picture was JT. Mmm JT. I can feel one of his legs against my side. I don’t turn around. If I did I know I would be eye level with his crotch. I don’t know if I could handle that kind of temptation. My body perks up whenever we’re near each other. His nearness sends my body into a frozen tizzy then melts with his touch. JT speaks up.
“I’ve never gotten a tattoo.” Everyone takes a drink.
“Okay, show and tell. I’ll go first. Grayson yanks off his shirt to reveal one of his many tattoos. One, in particular is a feather on his chest where pieces are flying across and up to his shoulder where two birds are flying together.
“Why two birds?” Kenny asks.
“One for me and one for the girl I’m going to fly off with.” He laughs. “Show me yours.” She stiffens. No, wait, let me guess.” He taps his finger to his lips. “Tramp stamp?” Chase sits forward now. “Ankle? No, hip. Yeah, cherry blossoms on a branch on your left hip.” She smiles and throws a pillow at him. “Okay, I confess. Skye’s cousin did mine too and happen to let some info slip on his cousin and her friends visiting her. We were close.”
“How close?” Skye sits up this time. Grayson waggles hi eye brows. “Slut.”
“Perv. You asked!”
“Ugh! Well since you started it…” she turns her back to Grayson and slowly lifts her dress up. Her cheeks are bare except the thin straps of her white g string. I cough to get her attention. “What? It’s nothing he hasn’t seen before.” Grayson actually blushes until she lifts the dress even higher to reveal a tropical colored sparrow on the lower right side of her back. His fingers lightly touch the bird.
“Sparrow. When did you get this?”
“Um.” She pulls her dress back down. “It’s not the one I got with the girls. You’ve already seen that one.” This time she blushes. I’m definitely not the only one with a secret, though not so secret, crush. “We’ve all seen JT’s. Your turn Lily.”
“Okay, um, mine’s really not that big of a deal. I turn my back to Grayson. It’s the Lucky Five symbol on the back of my neck.”
“Yes, but why?” Skye is pushing me. The night we got our tattoos we decided to choose things that reminded us of something of lasting importance.
“No, I get. The ranch is important to you. JT did the same thing. It’s kind of like remembering a legacy, right?”
“Yeah, something like that.” I resume sitting with my back to the recliner and legs stretched out. I don’t bother to move my hair back to cover the tattoo. Somehow letting it show to JT feels right. His hand rests on my shoulder. I feel him moving until his breath is at my ear.
“I get it.” His lips press gently on the tattoo. I involuntarily shiver.
We keep taking turns until we’ve exhausted the liquor in front of us. At some point in the night my hair was at my back again. I could feel JT’s fingers playing with the strands. I’d thought about
cutting it this summer but now I’m glad I haven’t. I like that he likes to touch me. His touch is comforting.
Just before dawn JT picks up a blanket. He takes my hand and leads me to the back porch of the house. I’m too tired to protest and too giddy about our hands joined. When we get to the porch he unfolds the blanket and wraps it around me. I’m glad for it. I can see my breath in the cold air. He sits down on a rocking chair and pulls me onto his lap. I lay my head on his chest. He doesn’t say anything. We just sit, rocking, watching the sun rise.
Twenty
Having Lily in my arms feels so right. She laid her head down on me. I rub her back with on hand and hold her on my lap with the other. After a few minutes I feel her body completely relax. Her eyes close. Her pink lips slightly parted as she sleeps. My eyes close shortly after.
The next time I open my eyes the sun is bright. I’ve probably only had a few hours of sleep but it’s the best sleep I’ve had in a while. I get up and stretch. I hear her clearing her throat. She’s looking at where my shirt rode up when I stretched my arms above my head. Even though my shirt is already back down I tug it down anyway. She looks away and blushes.
“So…”
“Oh, here, coffee.” She hands me a welcomed cup of hot coffee. “So, the Rodeo?” I didn’t ask her when I told Scott we were going. I didn’t want to give her a chance to say no.
“Yup.” I already have an idea forming in my head. She’s going to hate it but she needs it just like she needs me. I hand her the cup back. “Thanks. I have some things to do but we’ll talk during the week.” I kiss her on the cheek before I leave. She’s probably wondering why I left so quickly but the thought of her face lighting up when she sees my surprise made me want to grin like crazy. I wasn’t going to be able to hide it from her if I kept standing there looking into her beautiful eyes.
