by Magan Vernon
“Okay, Missy. Let’s do this.”
***
The steaks were cold, and no one took out the side dishes by the time Missy and I walked downstairs, still talking about Jean and how he saw potential in Jordan’s photos and wanted to set up a phone call for next week.
Dad smiled from the head of the table with Missy and Erwin at one side and Jordan and me at the other.
“I’m glad to see my two favorite girls getting along so well,” Dad said, grinning widely.
“Don’t get too used to it unless you plan on finally taking us on a trip to New York,” Missy squealed, finishing her second glass of wine.
“New York? You’re moving to New York, Abs?” Dad’s eyes grew wide.
“Well, yeah, her and loverboy! The artist and the photographer!” Missy squealed.
Dad raised an eyebrow.
“I take it you told Missy, and that’s what you two were gabbing about upstairs and not just this lipstick,” Jordan asked, pointing at his own lips.
I rubbed my lips together, feeling the smooth pink gloss between my lips. “Yeah. Missy actually knows some photographers in New York from her pageant days, and one is interested in taking me on for an apprenticeship.”
“Do you have a place to live? A plan for a full-time job or school? A budget?” Dad asked, forcing me to look in his direction with his deep voice.
These were all the questions he asked me four years ago, and I didn’t have any answers, so I just cried. But not this time.
“I’ve saved up a lot since high school graduation and have been working full time since I finished my associates. Living with Mom, I’ve saved some money, and there are quite a few bakeries and coffee shops I already scoped out to give my resume to. I have enough saved for at least a year to live off, and I hope by then I’ll have a job that’ll pay rent and other necessities.”
Dad nodded slowly and then a small smile appeared on his lips. “Well, Abbey, it looks like you finally have it all figured out.”
I shrugged. “I’m trying.”
“And what happens if it doesn’t work out? Do you come back here and live with your mom? Go to school in Dallas?” He cocked an eyebrow.
“Keith,” Missy hissed.
I raised a hand. “No. It’s okay. I can answer.” I turned to face my dad fully and felt Jordan’s hand go to my knee, squeezing it lightly.
Four years ago, I didn’t have him by my side for these conversations. This time, he was with me. This time, we were going to be together every step of the way.
“I don’t plan on failing, Dad.”
Chapter 15
We were only a block down the street from Dad and Missy’s before Jordan pulled over; he slammed the car into park then pulled my face to his and sealed his mouth over mine.
I was breathless when he finally pulled away and pressed his forehead to mine.
“What was that for?” I asked.
He smiled against my lips. “For being you. For agreeing to come to New York. For planning. For being the most amazing version of yourself. You did all this. For me. For us. For you.”
I licked my lips. “Well, I guess you’re pretty convincing.”
“Don’t sell yourself short. I couldn’t convince you four years ago. Now I have this amazing photographer’s apprentice going with me to New York.”
I rolled my eyes. “Stop.”
“I’m only stopping because I want to get to Christy’s before it’s pitch black outside, but when I can get you alone, I’m going to show you how much I appreciate everything you’re doing. And that will equal more than the one measly orgasm in the dressing room.”
I clenched just thinking about his roaming hands and tongue.
He kissed me again softly before putting the car back into drive. He started out of the subdivision and onto Hwy 78 back to Friendship.
The Q Creek Ranch was situated off Highway 6 and the place where every person in town had their wedding reception or any big activity. The crepe myrtle trees lining the road to the circular drive in front of the two-story stucco building sparkled with the lights strung through them.
A bunch of cars were parked in the concrete parking lot in front of one of the many barns, and music wafted from the back of the big building, lit by string lights going from the house almost as far as the eye could see.
“You sure you don’t want to put on that dress? I won’t look if you want to change …” Jordan wiggled his eyebrows as he slid his plaid shirt and trucker cap back on.
“To give you better access? I don’t think I need to tempt you anymore,” I said with a laugh before opening my door.
Jordan took my hand, and we walked toward the twinkling lights.
Dozens of trees lined the property and created a canopy to hold the lights and shield the makeshift dance floor where a few people were rocking out to some old school Bon Jovi in their plaid shirts and Doc Martens.
“Abbey! Finally!” Christy squealed, and I looked up to the two-tiered deck where Christy was hanging out near the galvanized metal bar, manned by the Mohawked Clay Carrington.
“So much for trying to sneak off with you. I guess I’ll get us some drinks,” Jordan whispered in my ear, squeezing my hand before he headed toward the second bar near the dance floor.
Christy looked like she popped right out of an old teen movie with her yellow plaid vest, mini skirt, and knee highs. Her hair was in some intricate braided updo with some yellow pom poms, and she grinned from ear to ear.
“Is that smile telling me that you finally told Clay how you feel about him?” I asked.
Christy laughed, tossing her head back. “That would mean us having a real conversation! Come on! Let’s not discuss boys! Come dance with me!” She took my hand and pulled me toward the dance floor as an old boy band song started playing.
Christy put her arms in the air, moving to the beat, and looked over at the bar, smiling before she leaned into me. “I’m so glad you and Jordan are back together. I think he’s really good for you.”
“Thanks,” I yelled over the music.
“I hope you’re going back to New York with him,” Christy added, moving her hips to the rhythm of the music.
“How did you know I was even considering it?” I yelled.
Christy laughed. “I knew he’d go back and hoped he wouldn’t leave you again.”
“Well, yeah. We’re leaving at the end of the month.”
“What?” Christy squealed.
“Yeah. Stepmom even set me up with an apprenticeship with a photographer.”
Christy grabbed my hand. “Come on. We need to go somewhere quieter! I need deets!”
She pulled me off the dance floor, marching toward Jordan. “Hi, Jordan,” she said, grabbing his two glasses. “Bye, Jordan. I’m stealing your girl before you take her to New York!” Christy winked then pulled me with her to an area a few feet away from the dance floor on the first floor of the deck where a few tables were set up along with a buffet of finger foods.
Christy set our drinks down then took a seat at a bistro table. “Okay. Spill.”
I sat down across from her and took a drink of my beer. “I basically told you everything. We leave at the end of August. I’ll start the apprenticeship and hopefully get a part-time job at a coffee shop or bakery.”
Christy smiled, shaking her head. “I can’t believe it. You’re finally getting out of here and going to New York! That’s amazing!”
“You could always end up on the East Coast too, you know. I mean after you get your degree, you can go anywhere,” I offered, taking another drink of my beer.
Christy pursed her lips, setting her glass down. “I took some time off school.”
“What?” My eyes widened.
She sighed. “I didn’t want to bog you down with my issues, but I’ve been struggling for a while at UT. Even after moving into my own apartment off campus, I still just can’t seem to get my shit together, so I told my parents I needed a break instead of coming home every
weekend. They were hesitant, but agreed I can take this year off and see if I want to finish at UT Dallas or something.”
“Christy … I had no idea …”
“No one did. That’s how I wanted it to be.”
“Can I ask what happened, or do you not want to discuss it?” I asked.
Christy sighed. “Just a combination of things, I guess. I was so used to life here and moving away just always made me feel lost. I thought with going to school with Teagan that I’d have backup. You know, a partner in crime like we were in high school, but that’s a whole other story…” Christy muttered, downing the rest of her drink.
“But less sad talk! It’s my birthday, and we’re celebrating my bestie going to New York!”
Before we could chat any further, a gruff hand grasped Christy’s chair, and I followed the black button-down shirt up to the steely eyes of Clay Carrington that were fixated on Christy.
“Is there a problem, Mohawk?” Christy asked.
Clay smirked. “Yeah, Princess. Your slutty redheaded friend is belligerent drunk and tried to grind on Abbey’s boyfriend, and when he turned her down, she went and started puking behind the DJ booth.”
My and Christy’s eyes widened as we shot up out of our seats.
The music had stopped, and everyone stood in small circles, staring and whispering.
We parted the crowd until we were behind the DJ booth where Teagan was slumped over, her boobs practically falling out of her bright pink mini dress, and a big pile of orange goo at her feet.
“Teagan? Are you okay?” I murmured, pushing her long hair out of her face.
She looked up, her long black streaky tears falling down her face. “Life’s so unfairrrr!” She sobbed.
“Let’s get her inside,” Christy muttered.
I shook my head. “I got her, Christy. You go have fun.”
“Are you sure?” Christy asked, looking from me to the dance floor where Clay was talking to the DJ.
“Yeah. I’ve done it a million times. I’ll get her to the guest bathroom.”
Christy nodded and helped me get Teagan to a standing position. I put my arm around Teagan, and we started toward the house.
The cool air conditioning of the den hit my face as soon as we entered the main house. Rooms used for dancing and other activities were upstairs, and downstairs were two guest rooms and a bathroom that brides used for weddings or sometimes had overnight guests or cleaned up drunk ones.
“Thank God you came to my rescue, so I didn’t have to deal with bitchy Christy judging me,” Teagan slurred as I opened the door and turned on the light to the bright white bathroom.
“You shouldn’t talk about her like that,” I muttered, looking at Teagan in her reflection as she slumped over the sink, wiping under her eyes.
“Why? Because she’s a rich bitch who throws these parties? Pfffft.” Teagan blew a raspberry.
“Teagan …”
Teagan drunkenly laughed. “You know, I didn’t even want to come tonight, but like, Christy begged me, and then Joey was all ‘don’t be a bitch.’ Can you believe that douchebag would say that to me? I mean I fucked the guy like a few times, and then when I thought he got me pregnant, I fucking freaked. It took me another month before I got my period, but I was going to kill that fat fucker if I didn’t.”
Every hair on my body stood on end. I couldn’t have heard her right. Maybe it was just two different thought processes, and Joey was one guy, and the guy who she slept with was another.
“Um, what?” I asked, more out of sheer shock than anything.
“Come hold my hair, Abs, Imma puke again,” Teagan slurred, motioning for me in the mirror.
I narrowed my eyes. “Go fuck yourself, Teagan. Everyone else already has.”
She stared at me wide-eyed in the reflection before I opened the door and slammed it behind me. Drunk Teagan might not have given me all the information I needed, but she gave me enough that I finally saw clearly.
This explained the fight at the bowling alley. Why Joey told me the girl he was with was just stressed at school and not really pregnant.
Joey and Teagan had hooked up a few times in high school, but I thought once she left, and it was just the two of us, that they were over. That Joey and I were something, though I’m not sure what.
Even though we’d both moved on, it stung. It stung really fucking hard that my supposed best friend was sleeping with my sort of boyfriend.
“Hey, is Red okay?” Clay asked as I sulked toward the bar.
I didn’t respond and reached behind the counter, grabbing the first bottle I could reach off the top shelf.
“Hey, want me to make you a rum and Coke with that or something? You could have just asked,” Clay’s gravelly voice called, but I already had the bottle to my lips and let the liquor burn going down my throat as I gulped down at least a fourth of the bottle. If not more. I wasn’t exactly keeping track.
“Whoa, slow down there, champ,” Clay said, taking the bottle from my lips in the middle of my sip. I jumped back when I felt the cold amber liquid flowing down my shirt.
“I don’t know what Red did back there to make you want to chug the bottle, but whatever she said ain’t worth it. You should go find your man on the dance floor and dry hump him instead of hitting the bottle,” Clay said, pointing his chin out past the dance floor where Jordan was standing with Noah and Joey, sipping from plastic cups.
“Thanks for the pep talk, Clay, buddy,” I said with a smirk, patting Clay’s chest.
The alcohol hadn’t fully hit me yet, but I wasn’t a hard liquor girl, and I was sure it wouldn’t take long. I’d either be puking like Teagan or worse. But I needed the liquid courage. I needed something.
I pushed past the crowd on the dance floor, and half stumbled to where Joey, Noah, and Jordan were standing; now staring at me with their eyes wide.
“Whoa, Abbey, are you okay?” Noah asked, looking at me intently.
“Peachy,” I enunciated then looked at Joey. “But you and I have to have some words, ol’ cheating ex-boyfriend of mine.”
Joey put his hands up. “Hey, no need to go for nasty names, and if we’re going there, you made out with Noah numerous times while we were hanging out.”
Noah shook his head. “I’m staying out of this one.” He took his drink and headed toward the bar with Clay who kept a watchful eye on us.
“Hanging out? Is that what we were? Is that why you found it pertinent to beg for me to take you back when you knew full well you were fucking my best friend behind my back?” I spat.
Jordan stepped between myself and Joey, his back to Joey’s front and looking down at me. “Hey, Abs. You’re upset, and your drunk girl is crying right now. Why don’t I take you home, and maybe when you’re sober, you and Joey can discuss this,” Jordan said calmly.
“Yeah, and maybe your so-called boyfriend can tell you why you’re just now finding out about this while he’s known for a month,” Joey called over Jordan’s shoulder.
I blinked once then twice, staring up at Jordan’s now blurry face. I wasn’t sure if it was from the alcohol or from the tears I didn’t realize were falling from my eyes.
I didn’t care for Joey like I did Jordan, but I felt betrayed. By my best friend. By the guy who if Jordan didn’t come around could have been my future. And all this, all this Jordan knew?
“What is he talking about, Jordan?” I whispered.
“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it,” Jordan muttered, putting his arm around me and trying to pull me in the other direction toward the side of the house.
“No!” I screeched, wiggling out of his grip and whirling around to face Joey who stared at me with the stupid smug smirk on his face.
“What the hell are you talking about, Joey? And don’t give me the usual bullshit Bianchi answer. I want something real. For once.”
Joey crossed his arm over his chest, stretching his plan white t-shirt. “The night at the bowling alley, Teagan slapped me becau
se I wanted to come clean to you about everything. Start over and get something real. Teagan got pissed. She got drunk, hit me, and then decided she’d get a ride out of Jordan, though, as she likes to tell it, he couldn’t get it up for her after she said she was on her rag and ended up blurting about us. I only found out about it when he wanted to get in that little pissing match with me at your mom’s to fix the fence. Said it was just going to stay between the three of us because there was no point in hurting you over it.”
I whirled back around to see Jordan at my back, his blue eyes wide. “Tell me this isn’t true,” I begged, my teeth chattering.
Jordan licked his lips. “Abbey, listen … I didn’t want you to get hurt …”
“Well, it’s too fucking late for that, isn’t it? Secrets? Lies? You’re no better than they are, Jordan Webber,” I growled before stomping toward the front of Christy’s house.
“Abbey! Wait up!”
People murmured around me but parted like the Red Sea as I walked past. I pulled my phone out of my pocket. I needed to get out of here. A ride home. Some fresh air.
“Abbey, are you okay?” Noah’s husky voice rang at my side.
I looked over my shoulder to see that Clay had stopped Jordan and Joey from following me, his tattooed arms out to the side to stop both boys.
I glanced at the contacts on my phone, and one name stood out to me before I looked up at Noah. “I’m fine. I’m going to have my stepsister, Sofie, pick me up.”
Chapter 16
“Hello?”
“Sofie? Is that you? Can you hear me?” I yelled, stepping toward the front of the house.
“Um. It’s kinda loud, but yeah, I can hear you,” Sofie replied with a big yawn. Great, I woke up a pregnant woman. This was probably one of those sins or something I should have paid attention to in church. Either way, it would probably give me bad karma, but I already had enough of that to last a lifetime now.
