There was finality to her words. I wasn’t welcome back. If she only knew what was wrong, I knew she’d understand my reaction. She’d more than understand. She’d feel the pain with me.
I sighed, rubbing the scruff on my chin. “Okay. I guess I’ll see you then.”
For the life of me, I couldn’t understand why McKenzie was so upset. As I left the room, I caught Jackie’s expression. In a single glance, I could tell she was trying to convey a message to me. I had, yet again, missed something vital. What was I not seeing? Either way, all the leverage I’d had when I woke this morning was gone. McKenzie had rebuilt her walls and fortified them with titanium. Bill was right; winning her back wasn’t going to be easy. My only saving grace was the fact that McKenzie still intended on seeing me at the festival. This was my last shot. If I screwed it up, last night would be nothing more than goodbye sex. That wasn’t an option I was willing to live with.
C
hapter Thirteen
Dark clouds rolled across the sky, mirroring the mood I was in. Even with the reprieve from the scorching Texas sun, the wind and heat still dominated the land.
I stood at the mouth of 6th Street and Georgia, staring down a long, somewhat winding road, filled with swarms of people. The entire street had been blocked off for the festivities, yet every shop, bar, and restaurant was wide open for business. A variety of music blared from within these establishments, creating an atonal effect, yet no one seemed bothered by the contrast of sound. The delicious aromas of barbecue and southern fried foods floated through the air, making my mouth water.
All day long I’d carried a weight on my shoulders, wondering how to fix things with McKenzie. After picking up my new cell phone, I had to filter through countless emails, text messages and voicemails. Most of which had been from a very pissed off Olivia demanding that I call her back as soon as I got my new phone. She’d even called Gavin, requesting to speak with me. When he told her I’d lost my phone, she demanded that he tell her what hotel we were at. According to him, she wasn’t too happy when he refused and she even went to Morgan in an attempt to obtain the information she desired.
“Howdy,” an older gentleman greeted the three of us. His overalls hung like a curtain on his thin frame. He pushed his gray hair under a ratty baseball cap. A large mass jutted from beneath his bottom lip, making it difficult for him to keep his mouth completely closed. “You folks from ‘round here?” He spit a wad of brown liquid on the ground.
Gavin covered his mouth about to gag from the nasty mess the man expelled. “No, sir. We’re from Florida,” he muttered.
“Florida, eh. What brings you to these parts?”
“We’re guests of the Evans family,” Jared replied.
After that I barely paid attention to the man and his incepted questions. All I could think about was finding McKenzie. My eyes wandered from face to face, searching for the only person who mattered. It came as a relief when I found her.
Dressed in a pale blue collared shirt with pearl buttons, a short denim skirt, and cowboy boots, Mickie looked as though she belonged on the cover of a country music album. What little bit of sun there was in the sky seemed to rest right above her. The light illuminated the gold strands of her hair which hung over her shoulders in large curls. A small girl clung to McKenzie’s finger while she danced around her legs. Once again, I was reminded of what a great mother this gorgeous woman would make.
All day long I’d fought the urge to call her. She’d made it perfectly clear this morning that she didn’t want to see me again until the festival. And while that struck a chord with me, it didn’t stop me from thinking about her. Time was running out. I had to leave tomorrow, and I was no closer to winning her back than I was when I arrived. Somehow I had to make her understand that my heart truly belonged to her. I had to make her realize she didn’t need to run anymore.
I pushed my sunglasses up my nose, continuing to watch McKenzie from a far. She appeared so happy and carefree. The girl I knew back in Florida was ever present at this moment. People passed, each stopping to say hello to her and her dancing partner.
Gavin leaned into me and whispered, “She looks beautiful.”
“She does,” I replied.
“What are you waiting for?”
I shrugged. “You know.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Yes you do.” I wasn’t about to tell him what happened again. It was bad enough he and Jared ragged on me the whole day wanting details of my evening. Was I really the only guy left in the world who believed one shouldn’t kiss and tell?
“Just because she asked you not to come back, doesn’t constitute her being upset with you. She told you she’d see you tonight. Did she not?”
I shrugged again. “She did.”
“And when she asked you to breakfast, there was nothing in the invitation that indicated you’d be engaged in a daylong event, was there?”
I rolled my eyes. “No, counselor, there wasn’t.”
“Then, it’s quite possible she had other things she was slated to do today. Therefore she suggested you didn’t return because she might not be there.”
Maybe my sister had been right. Maybe I was growing a vagina. Over thinking wasn’t typical for me, but concerning McKenzie that’s all I ever seemed to do. But I wasn’t about to admit defeat to Gavin. I flipped him the bird, feeling his smirk without needing to look at him. “That’s quite possible,” I agreed.
“Then quit being such a pussy. Jesus, you’re acting like Andie when she’s PMSing.” He shook his head, waving his hand in front of him.
I laughed and slugged him in the arm. “Oh, shut up.”
Gavin slugged me back. “I’m just saying, little bro,”
Jared leaned into Gavin, hissing, “Save me.” I glanced around, and about died laughing when I realized the old man was still talking to Jared.
Gavin and I looked each other in the eye and nodded. Without saying a single word, we dispersed, going separate ways, leaving Jared with the old man.
I tucked my hands into my pockets and started toward McKenzie. Her tiny partner had dashed off, leaving her alone to enjoy her drink. She looked up from her glass in my direction. I was certain she’d seen me. I wiggled my fingers in a tiny wave, quickening my pace to reach her.
My pace was halted when Gage appeared, picking her up from the ground in a hug. McKenzie laughed, hugging him back. She smacked his chest and he placed her back on the ground. I felt sick. I could’ve easily vomited right then and there. Images of me ripping the bastard’s arms off and beating him with them played through my mind like a bad movie. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to keep breathing. I wouldn’t lose my self control. I wouldn’t allow him to get to me. McKenzie made it perfectly clear that there was nothing between them. She’d been honest about who and what Gage was, so I had to trust her. This was innocent. Even still, seeing that man touch her made my skin crawl.
I stepped backward, ready to bolt, only to run into someone. I tensed and inhaled through my teeth. “I’m so sorry,” I apologized, as I turned around to face my victim.
Familiar brown eyes and shaggy blond hair came into focus. “It’s all right, man. No harm. Where you off to?”
I glanced back at McKenzie and Gage who were chatting. She laughed at something he said, sending another wave of hate through me.
Pull it together, Wise. He’s only a friend.
Jared peeked around me, catching sight of them. “Ah. I see.”
In a horrible attempt to appear cool, I shrugged my left shoulder and laughed. Even to me that laugh sounded flat and fake. “There’s nothing to see. They’re just two old friends who work together.”
Jared gave me a look of disbelief, but didn’t attempt to argue with me. “If you say so. How about we go find Gavin?”
I forced a smile and nodded. “Sure. I think he went that way.” I pointed in the direction where I’d last seen my older brother. As we started walking, I fought the urge to check out what was going on with McKe
nzie and Gage. It wasn’t my business, and staring them down wouldn’t help my case any. “Hey, Jare, how’d you get away from the old guy?” I asked out of the blue. Anything to get my mind of McKenzie and the orangutan.
“I’m seriously going to kill you and Gavin for leaving me with him. If it hadn’t been for him needing another beer, I’d still be stuck over there.”
I laughed. “I didn’t want to get stuck with him.”
“Drew! Jared!” We looked around, searching for the person calling our names.
“Over there.” Jared pointed to Lindsey who was sitting at a picnic table with Bill, Glenda, and Gavin, waving us over.
Glenda hooked her arm into Gavin’s and by the look on his face she’d already discovered new ways to embarrass him. As we made our way to them, I found myself wishing Andie were here. She’d enjoy witnessing Gavin’s humiliation, but most of all, she’d enjoy seeing what a real family looked like. For all my father’s money and prestige, we lacked the solidarity of family unity.
“It’s about time,” Glenda squealed, patting the open spot beside her.
“You just want a Wise sandwich,” I teased, sliding in next her.
She hooked her other arm into mine. “Damn skippy. I’m the luckiest lady here. I have two very good looking fellas on my arms right now. Just call me the belle of the ball.”
Gavin groaned, covering his face with his hand.
“Well, one good looking fella,” - I pointed to myself - “and the other is just moderately handsome.” I thrust my thumb toward Gavin.
Glenda pulled her arm out from mine, reaching over to pinch Gavin’s cheek. “I don’t know about that, Drew boy. Gavin here has some very kissable lips.”
Gavin’s eyes widened. “What!” he exclaimed.
The table broke into a roar of laughter.
While everyone was distracted, my weakness won out. I looked back toward where we’d left McKenzie and Gage. From what I could see, there was now considerable distance between them. They’d been joined by others and were talking animatedly. McKenzie buckled over in laughter, steadying herself on one of the ladies beside her, who appeared to be laughing just as hard as she.
“Whatcha lookin’ at?” Glenda asked, following my gaze. “It’s good to see her laugh again. It’s been too long.”
“Ma!” Bill scolded. “That’s none of our business.”
“Pish posh.” Glenda waved her hand as if to dismiss her son. “I’m an old woman. Everything’s my business. Besides, I’m only speaking the truth.”
“What do you mean?” I asked; my curiosity piqued.
Glenda leaned forward, resting her wrinkled elbows on the table. Bill gave her a warning look which she ignored. “I mean exactly what I said. It’s good to see her laugh again. When she came back here two months ago, she was a shell of the woman she once was. That sparkle in her eyes had disappeared. She didn’t laugh. She barely smiled and even that was forced. The only time we ever saw a semblance of our McKenzie was on Mondays when a certain bouquet of flowers arrived at the shop.”
I took off my sunglasses and dropped them on table. There really was no need for them since the cloud coverage was so thick that the sun had been siphoned from the sky. It was nice to know that I made her smile, but it ripped my heart from chest that she was so unhappy. “But that’s now changed?”
Glenda smiled, placing her hand over mine. “As of last night.”
My gaze dropped to her withered hand, giving it a gentle squeeze before bringing it to my lips. “Thank you, Granny. I needed to hear that.”
“Hear what?” McKenzie’s sweet voice rang from behind me. I jerked around, looking up into the eyes of my angel.
“That he’s the sexiest fella here,” Glenda heralded without skipping a beat.
I gave a nonchalant shrug. “Who can argue with such wisdom?”
A slow smile bloomed across McKenzie’s face. “Mr. Wise, have you finally met your match?”
I cocked my head to the side, glancing back at Glenda then to the McKenzie. “I did when I met you.”
“Lame!” Gavin groaned through a fake cough.
“Seriously, man. You can do better than that,” Jared groused.
“Have you no respect for my daughter?” Bill teased.
“Leave him alone, guys,” Lindsey defended me.
McKenzie’s head fell forward in laughter. I waved my hands around, silencing my naysayers. “Fine, fine. That wasn’t my best line.”
“Then fix it, Drew boy,” Glenda prodded, her blue eyes gleaming.
I tapped my chin, pretending to ponder what to say next. “Hmm. Let’s see.”
Glenda pushed me, nearly knocking me off the bench. “Ask her to dance.”
“Yes, Drew. Ask her to dance,” Lindsey squealed, clapping her hands in excitement.
“That’s not necessary,” McKenzie refuted.
The way she said that didn’t sit right with me. So, I stood up from my seat and offered her my hand. “May I have this dance?”
Gavin snorted. “This should be fun to watch.”
Jared propped his fist under his chin, a strange smirk on his face, as if he knew something and wasn’t telling. “Why do you say that?” he intoned.
I cut my eyes between my brother and Jared, giving them a ‘go to hell’ look. Anyone who knew me knew I hated to dance. Not that I couldn’t dance. Hell, I could do nearly every kind of dance known to man. Let’s face it, when your twin sister starts studying dance at the age of three, well, you get forced into becoming her partner. Maybe that’s why I hated it so much. Usually when people asked if I danced, I told them I didn’t know how. That was exactly what I told Olivia when she wanted to go out dancing. It worked too, but that little piece of information apparently had trickled down the gossip chain.
McKenzie eyed me curiously. “I thought you didn’t dance?”
I leaned in and whispered into her ear, “I thought you loved to dance?”
A beautiful red hue colored her cheeks. “I do.”
“Well, then. Let’s dance.”
McKenzie looked at me then down to my hand. She glanced around the table at her family, who all pressed for her to go.
“Okay, let’s dance.” She shook her head, laughing softly and accepted my hand.
I turned back to my adoring audience. “Better?”
“Much better,” Gavin noted.
“It’s a start,” Jared chimed in.
“Knock ‘em dead,” Glenda shouted.
I escorted McKenzie into the middle of 6th Street, where a makeshift dance floor had been set up. A trailer turned stage vibrated with the music of the live band playing a fast-paced song that would’ve kept us moving. Once we reached the center of the dance floor, the song changed.
A middle aged man, wearing extremely tight jeans, a brush popper, and a black cowboy hat, started to sing a haunting melody. His gravelly voice crooned with regret and sorrow. The lyrics carried a sense of nostalgia. Almost as if the song had been chosen specifically for me. He sang of how he was happy that he didn’t know how things would end, because if he had, he would’ve missed the dance.
I tried to block out the lyrics, as McKenzie turned to face me and wrapped her arms around my neck. I placed my hands around her tiny waist, drawing her closer to me. We swayed silently to the slow beat of the music. The more the cowboy sang, the stranger I felt.
“So,” I mumbled, breaking the silence.
“So,” she repeated.
An awkward silence encompassed us. It felt as if this moment in time was fleeting and if I didn’t grab it, I would lose everything I held dear. I looked up at the sky, searching for something, anything to say to her. “You look really pretty today.”
Brilliant! I mentally slapped myself. What was I? Twelve?
She hid a smile, not meeting my eyes. “Thanks.”
Our feet shuffled across the wooden flooring. Most women struggle with allowing a man to lead, but not McKenzie. She matched me step for step. I twirled her out,
smirking at the utter surprise that appeared on her face when I drew her back into my chest.
“I thought you said you couldn’t dance,” she said with a hint of sarcasm.
“And I thought you knew better.” Slowly, I dipped her back.
Pulling her back up, she flattened her hands to my chest. I wondered if she could feel how fast my heart was racing. I flashed her my best smile and winked. “You have danced with me before, if you recall.”
Red heat surged her cheeks, but sorrow filled her eyes. “That I have.”
Our dance at the beach was nothing like this one. That dance had been about two souls finally coming together as one for the first time. It was alive and full of passion. A moment stuck in the time that would remain a vivid memory for all of eternity. This dance, however, carried hurt and sorrow. There was no passion, only regret. I couldn’t shake the feeling that this felt almost like a goodbye.
A mass of conflicting emotions flickered across her face. Anger, hurt, need, want, passion, love. It was all there. Yet, which part of her was winning, I couldn’t tell. She rested her head to my chest and the world melted away. In her arms, nothing else mattered. All the pain we’d caused each other; the running away, the lies told, our past, none of it mattered. We’d fix this. I’d fix this. That’s what I was here for. To make what was wrong, right again.
I tangled my fingers in her hair, breathing in her in. That urge to hold on overwhelmed me.
Stay.
McKenzie looked up at me, as a single tear trickled down her cheek. With the pad of my thumb, I gently wiped it away. “What’s wrong?” I murmured.
She shut her eyes tight, trembling in my arms. “Nothing,” she breathed.
That wasn’t an acceptable answer for me. She’d pushed me away one too many times. I cupped her face in my hands, forcing her to look in my eyes. Those walls, dark and heavy, stared back at me. “It is something. Mickie, talk to me.”
She shook her head, focusing her watery eyes into the sky. “It doesn’t matter anymore, Andy.”
“It matters to me.” The band stopped playing. Around us, the crowd clapped and cheered. McKenzie stepped back from me, crossing her arms over her chest. “Mickie, please,” I pleaded.
The Certainty of Deception Page 16