Lone Star Longing (Hearts of Broken Wheel, #1)

by Fredrick, MJ

  Con was right. He didn't have any business thinking of Lacey as anything more than another friend. He didn't have anything to offer, nothing more than the fool she was with.

  “So I’m going to San Antonio this week,” Lacey announced to the table. “Jesse is coming in, and I want to surprise him at the airport.”

  “He’s not flying into San Angelo?”

  Something in her face dimmed. “He’s going to stop in San Antonio and see his family first. I wanted to surprise him. Anyone want to go with me?”

  “Dude, it’s over five hours away,” Ginny groaned. “No matter what they have, it’s not worth five hours.”

  “Don't you want to spend time with him on your own?” Poppy asked. “It’s been months since you’ve seen him.”

  “Well, I thought someone could take me, and I could come back with him. He left his truck at his mom’s.”

  “That makes sense, I guess?” Poppy’s skepticism echoed in her voice, and to be honest, echoed Beck’s own thoughts.

  “I’ll take you,” Beck said, and ignored the hard elbow Con plowed into his kidney.

  Lacey turned those pretty brown eyes to him. “You will?”

  “Yeah, I don't mind driving, and I can take care of some business while I’m there. I’ll take you. What day are you thinking about?”

  “His plane arrives Thursday. His mom sent me the flight information so I can meet him at the airport.”

  Beck’s heart ached at her enthusiasm. He didn't think this guy was doing right by her, but what did he know? He didn't know what this guy was going through, but clearly Lacey wasn't his priority if he was flying home to his mommy first.

  Again, not fair. He didn't know the relationship this guy had with his mom. Pretty much everyone had a better relationship with their mom than he did.

  “Thanks, Beck. It’s going to be fun.”

  “It’s going to be a long damn drive, is what it is,” Con muttered, and rose to go get another beer.

  Chapter Eleven

  LACEY WAS BOUNCING on her toes Thursday morning. She and Beck had agreed to leave before dawn to make sure they got to the airport on time. She had made breakfast tacos for the road, and had sandwiches, chips and bottles of water for lunch, since the route didn't offer many places to stop.

  “You sure this is what you want to do?” her dad asked from the kitchen table, where he sat drinking his coffee. He wasn't usually up so early but had gotten up to see her off.

  “Why not?”

  “You wouldn't rather wait until Jesse comes here?”

  Could she admit to her dad that her fear was that he wouldn't come? That he would ignore her and spend his entire leave in San Antonio with “the boys?”

  But her dad knew her pretty well. He probably figured out that was her fear. Maybe he had the same fear, too.

  Headlights turned into the driveway.

  “Beck’s here.” She crossed the room to kiss the top of her dad’s head, and he squeezed her hand a long moment before he released her. She picked up the cooler and her overnight bag and hurried into the dark morning to climb into Beck’s truck.

  “Saw a pack of coyotes on the way into town,” he greeted her. “Running right down the side of the road.”

  She shuddered as she swung the cooler into the back seat of the cab. “They give me the heebies when they travel in a pack.”

  “That’s what they’re meant to do. They’re safer that way.”

  “They’re meaner that way.” She buckled in, barely able to contain her excitement. And if she was honest with herself, the prospect of seeing Jesse was only part of what had her so excited. The idea of something new, something out of the ordinary, thrilled her almost as much

  And knowing that after today, she’d have a better idea of where she stood with Jesse, and could better plan what was going to happen next in her life.

  “I made breakfast tacos for the road. I didn't know what you liked, so I made potato and egg, and bean and cheese.”

  “I’ll do a bean and cheese.”

  She chuckled as he pulled out of the driveway and she reached into the bag. “You’d think I would have thought of a way to tell which is which without opening them all.”

  Using the dashboard light, she held one taco up to it and unwrapped the foil. Potato and egg, naturally.

  As was the next. She set both of those on her lap before she unwrapped the bean and cheese.

  “You are really hyper for someone who can’t have coffee this early in the morning.”

  “It’s an adventure. I guess you’re used to them, but I don't leave Broken Wheel too often.”

  “You weren’t this excited about going to the doctor.”

  “Yeah, well, I was nervous about that. Maybe I’ll get more nervous the closer we get to San Antonio, but right now I’m just happy.”

  “Good. That’s good. I like it when you’re happy. I hope you don't mind but I brought a thermos of coffee, because I’m not really a morning person. I mean, I was, but I got out of the habit.”

  They drove in silence a while, Beck kind of struggling to eat his taco as he drove. Lacey fished out the napkins she had packed and reached over to wipe a glob of beans from the corner of his mouth.

  He looked at her sideways, as if she’d stung him.

  “Sorry. Just thought I’d get that before it fell on your shirt. I should have asked.”

  “No, it’s okay,” he said, resting the taco on its foil in his lap and turning onto the road leading to the highway. “Thanks. For the taco, too. It’s really good.”

  “My secret recipe,” she said with a grin. “Open a can of beans, warm them up with some cooking oil and some spices, and add freshly grated cheese.”

  “What time did you wake up?”

  “I’ve been up since four. I should mention before we start that I will probably have to stop a lot to go to the restroom.”

  “There aren’t a lot of places between here and there, and some of the places are less than savory.”

  “I am prepared for that reality.”

  He laughed. “As long as you are. Since four, huh? You’ll be asleep before the sun comes up.”

  “I bet I won’t. At least not until about ten.”

  “So have you given any more thought to what you were talking about before? About moving to San Angelo?”

  “Yeah, I’m not going to do that. Austin should be back in town in a couple of months. I’ve decided he can do the honors, after all. It will be weird, but it’s his job, right? As much as I like Dr. Fredrick, and I’ll keep going to her as long as I can, it doesn’t make any sense to upend my life just because I don't want my friend up in my business.”

  “I don't remember too much about high school but didn't you date him for a while?”

  “No, we were just friends. After his mom was accused of all those horrible things, he needed a friend, and we were just kind of there for each other. Poppy was the one who had the crush on him. As skinny as he was. She swore she loved him for his brain. But he was too determined to get out of town to tie himself down with a girlfriend.”

  “So is she seeing anyone now?”

  “She goes out with Trey every once in a while, but it’s not serious. Just companionship. They don't have all that much in common.”

  “So is she excited that Austin is coming back?”

  “We haven’t really talked about it. My fault, for being so wrapped up in my own drama, I guess. I wonder.”

  “What about Con? Is he seeing anyone?”

  That was an odd question. “No. I mean, you know he got married? But it didn't last very long. I feel sad for him because I know this isn’t how he saw his life turning out.”

  “I had no idea about him getting married. To who? I mean, I thought he and Britt were meant to be, you know? We all did.”

  “Yeah, well, I mean, neither one of them really knew how to handle the tragedy. Instead of turning together, they turned away from each other. It was really horrible to see. I’ll never
forget So what about you? What are you going to do now that your mom’s house is almost done? Are you going to go back to work for Riley?”

  “I don't think he’d take me back, not the way I left him.”

  “That’s a shame.”

  “I guess, but I can’t blame him. And I don't know if I want to do the whole traveling from place to place anymore. It’s been kind of nice to have a home base the past few weeks.”

  “You don't think you’ll get restless?”

  “Maybe. But so far I’m not. I’ve actually been thinking about seeing what’s available in the basin.”

  She shifted in her seat to look at him. “I bet there are a lot of jobs available there for an engineer.”

  “Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. And if I do that, maybe I’ll get an apartment in San Angelo or Midland, depending where the job is, and come back on weekends to check on Mom, and maybe that way she can stay in her house.”

  “Oh, she would love that. She’ll never let either of us know, but she really likes all the changes you’re making out there.”

  “How can you tell?”

  “She’s more active, haven't you noticed? She walks around more, goes outside more now that the porch is fixed. Maybe we can get her a chair or something so she can sit out there and enjoy it.”

  “Yeah, I think that’s a good idea. I’d like to get her away from the TV, stimulate her brain a little more, you know? She’s not as old as she acts.”

  “She would be happier in her home. How close have you come to looking for a job in the basin?”

  He laughed. “Just thinking about it. Not even looking online to see if there are such jobs. And it would be a learning curve.”

  “And the money wouldn’t be as good.”

  “No, but I don't need a lot. I mean, I saved a lot of my old salary, which is why I’ve been able to not think about it this long.”

  “Must be nice.”

  “It is,” he said, flashing her a grin.

  She was content to ride in silence after she finished her taco. She poured him a cup of coffee from his thermos and watched him sip it carefully. She was glad she’d never been a big coffee drinker because it smelled heavenly. She put her face close to the opening of the thermos and took a deep breath.

  Ahead of them, the sky was brightening. The horizon was so clear, she could see a line of red along the curve of the earth. She leaned forward in her seat, not even wanting to blink as she watched the sky change colors, the clouds reflecting the light in breathtaking colors. She pulled out her phone and was disappointed that the screen didn't reflect the vivid colors she saw in front of her. Nonetheless, she snapped a few images through the windshield and sent them to Poppy.

  Well, tried, because they were in the middle of nowhere and her phone had no reception.

  She sat back and just let herself enjoy watching the sky go from navy to violet to sky blue before she dove for her purse and her shades.

  “You can nap if you want to,” he said. “Not much to see for a while.”

  “I might.” She angled the air conditioning vents away from her and closed her eyes against the bright sun. “I feel a little bad since I asked you to take me, and then I’ll go to sleep.”

  “Don't worry about it. I’m used to riding by myself.”

  “Instead of with a woman who talks your ear off?”

  “Nah, you don't talk that much. And I like it. Nap if you want to. I’ve got this.”

  SHE SNORED. OKAY, MAYBE she didn't always snore, maybe it was because of her position, sitting up with her head angled to the side. Or because she was pregnant.

  But she was over there, the other side of the cab, snoring. And he thought it was adorable.

  Damn, he was taking her to see the father of her baby, and he couldn't stop thinking about how he wanted her for his. So much that he was thinking about going to work in the Permian Basin, working in the oil industry. To be honest, part of his decision to become an engineer in the first place was because he thought he’d find work in the basin. He’d lucked into the job with Riley when he saw the ad and answered it, impressed Riley with his quick thinking. The rest was history. The whole trajectory of his life had changed with that one interview, and was about to change again.

  But he was willing to try, partly because of the pregnant snoring woman who was about to see the father of her baby after months apart.

  His head knew what he was getting into when he agreed to this trip. His heart...not so much.

  Now he remembered why he liked to drive. He got a lot of time in his own head. But maybe now, that wasn't the best place to be.

  They reached San Antonio a full two hours before Jesse’s plane was supposed to land. They’d eaten the sandwiches she’d packed, so they weren’t hungry, and neither of them were familiar enough with San Antonio to trust that they could make another stop and still get to the airport on time. Lacey decided on the mall a few exits away from the airport, so Beck pulled in. Stretching their legs after that long trip would feel good, though they had pulled over every chance they got so Lacey could use the restroom.

  She leaned on Beck a minute when she got out of the car, and looked up at the tall facade of the building.

  “I’m suddenly pretty nervous.”

  “Yeah, I figured that when you stopped talking a half hour ago.”

  “He doesn’t know I’m coming. I didn't tell him. It’s a surprise. What if he doesn’t want to see me?”

  Honestly, Beck had that impression anyway. If the guy wanted to see her, the mother of his child, he would have come to her first, wouldn't he? That’s what Beck would have done. But he didn't know this guy, and he wouldn't cast judgment.

  Yet.

  They walked into the air conditioned building, and Lacey held onto his arm as if to orient herself as she looked up, around at all the racks of clothes, the rows and rows of glass cases with jewelry and makeup and perfume.

  “Our whole town could fit in here. Our whole town could have something new to wear every day, and still there would be clothes left over.”

  “Yeah, well, San Antonio is a big city, and has lots of tourists, especially from Mexico, who come shopping here. So they have to have a lot of options.”

  “This is just crazy.”

  He didn't think she blinked as he guided her through the anchor store into the mall proper, and he didn't want to rush her as she window-shopped. He wondered, if she saw something she liked, if she’d have money. He knew she had a steady full-time job, but he didn't know her finances, and what she was saving for the baby.

  The cookie kiosk lured her, and she bought a half dozen for herself, and a big cookie for Beck, as a thank you. He loved watching her enjoy every bite of her first, then her second cookie.

  “I was going to save some for Jesse, but I may not.”

  “Speaking of, I’d better get you over there.” He didn't like this part of the plan, not at all. He was to drop her off at the airport, then go about his business, taking for granted that Jesse would take care of her from there, that she wouldn't be abandoned.

  Then again, did he want to witness their reunion? Did he want to see Lacey throw herself into the arms of another man, see that other man pet her belly, look lovingly into her eyes?

  He understood her motivation. Maybe Jesse wouldn’t like the fact that another man brought her to San Antonio, hours from home. Maybe she was trying to avoid a confrontation.

  She was sadder than he expected when they left the mall, and he could see her nerves setting in again.

  “You have my number if anything goes wrong with the plan.”

  “Beck. You know I have your number. Don't worry. Everything will be okay. Where are you going after you drop me off?”

  “I’m going to the plumbing supply shop, I need to get some fixtures for the kitchen. Then I’ll play sightseer for a bit, get myself a hotel room, and head back in the morning. So if you need anything between now and like nine tomorrow morning, you let me know.” He slowe
d his speed as he turned into the airport, followed the signs for arriving flights. They were still a bit early, but he figured that cushion would give her time to find her way around.

  “You don't want to haul that cooler around, do you?” he asked when he dropped her off at the gate. Just leave it in the car, and I’ll get it back to you later.”

  “You don't mind?”

  “I don't mind.”

  “Thank you. I wasn't sure how I was going to manage all this.” She flung her duffel over her shoulder, her purse, and carried her remaining cookies in the white paper bag. “Thanks for this, Beck. I don't know how I can ever repay you.”

  “Don't worry about it. Let me know if you need me.”

  “Thanks, but I’ll be fine.” She gave a delicate shudder, then a bright smile. “It’s going to be fun.” And she closed the door.

  Chapter Twelve

  THE AIRPORT WAS ALMOST as big as the mall, with wide open spaces, but at least every area was clearly marked. She checked the board, and her stomach relaxed when she saw his flight was on time.

  The waiting area for arriving flights was at the base of some escalators, and Lacey looked around for some chairs, since she was about forty five minutes early, but there weren’t any. Weird.

  A hospitality desk stood nearby, though, manned by a lady in a vest and cap that signified her as the welcoming committee.

  “Is this where I wait for incoming flights from North Carolina?”

  “Sure, you wait here, and they’ll come down the escalator to get to the baggage area.” The woman motioned to the baggage carousels down the hall.

  “There’s no other place for them to come in? Because I’m surprising my boyfriend and I don't want to miss him.”

  “Oh, well, if he doesn’t have baggage, he might exit up on top, so maybe you want to wait up there?”

  “Thank you. I think I’ll do that, to be on the safe side. He’s been overseas for a few months, and I didn't want to wait any longer.”