Peace in My View

by C. L. Rosado

  “There the guys are, having a drink, with out us.” I say, pointing them out to Liv.

  “ Yeah, they are gonna need it, I’m sure,” she says picking up her phone and typing out a text to Gentry. I watch as he pulls his phone from his pocket. After looking our way, he shoots us a heart-stopping smile. Like literally, I think my heart just stopped. Good gawd, that man is hotter than a three dollar pistol. When he looks back to his phone. I fan myself. I hear the notification that Liv received a text and ask,

  " What did he say?"

  "He said, ‘ They are up next’.”

  " What? they are singing, too?"

  “Yup, it’s a surprise,” she tells me. Her eyes go wide with a cheshire cat smile on her face, and she starts clapping wildly. I turn my attention back to the guys and watch as they stop to speak to the DJ while another rendition of "I Will Survive" finishes up. What the heck? Did they change clothes?

  “Liv, did they change clothes, or am I drunk?”

  Looking their way she examines them for a minute before speaking.

  “ No, but they are wearing jackets now... What the…? How weird!” Yes very weird. It's mid summer in Texas. There is no way they got cold. We both watch in complete silence as the guys take the stage. Both guys grab the mic stands, dragging them away from the front of the stage and taking several steps away from each other. They stand in front of their mics with their backs to the crowd. The music starts to play through the speakers, and Gentry and Peck start to move to the beat. Peck is the first to turn around and start singing Jason Derulo's “Want You to Want me.” Liv immediately starts clapping and hollering profanities, while he dances around like he is channeling Jason himself.

  Just when it gets to the chorus, Gentry turns around and starts belting out the lyrics, and oh my god, can he sing! Must run in the family. Maybe it's the alcohol in my system, but he may be better than Jason Derulo. Surely, it's that. Holy freaking hell, he is gorgeous! I can't help but scream and holler at the two of them rocking the house. Peck takes over during the next verse while Gentry jumps from center stage. All the women are going crazy for him as he makes his way to our table, dancing with the mic still in his hand. When he reaches us, the song is back to the chorus:

  “Girl, you're the one I want to want me

  And if you want me, girl, you got me.”

  He is right in front of me, singing straight to me.

  “There's nothin' I, no, I wouldn't do, I wouldn't do

  Just to get up next to you.”

  Oh my good gracious. I feel my cheeks burning as he continues his show. When Peck takes over, Gentry leans in and whispers in my ear.

  “I only want you, Ariana.”

  Liv is bouncing in her seat, and all I can do is smile. The smile on my face is so big my face hurts as he turns and makes his way back to the stage to finish up with his friend. The whole place erupts in cheers when they finish. They smack hands and do a chest bump before leaving the stage as they make their way back to the table.

  Liv stands and high fives both guys. Gentry makes his way to me. He reaches forward taking my hand in his. With a small tug, he brings me to my feet. We stare in to each others’ eyes for what seems like for ever. Everyone disappears.

  Chapter 12

  Gentry

  Liv and Ariana just excused themselves. Peck pulls me back by the shoulder and whisper-shouts in my ear,

  “Dude your cousin is choka.” I laugh at his surfer talk. “Oh and you are so caught inside. Be careful, Bro.”

  Peck has no idea just how caught inside I am, just how far I’m in. I might just be in love with her.

  “ Help me cutback.” He knows exactly what I’m saying and nods his head. We find a song and make a plan. When the girls return from the restroom, Liv is up, and she absolutely nails it! We all congratulate her when she is done. I hope mine and Peck’s goes just as smoothly. I down my beer and prepare myself mentally before excusing myself from the table. I hear Peck tell the girls he is gonna follow me because he needs to whiz. I shake my head at my crazy friend just as he catches up to me. We fake heading to the restroom and sneak out the front door.

  Once we are outside, Peck and I make a run for my truck and hop in. It takes about fifteen minutes round trip to get to my house. We head in, and I send Peck to my room to grab the things we need. I go check on my momma. She is getting worse, and I hate leaving her for too long without checking in.

  I open her door and make my way to her bed, making sure not to wake her. I lean in to listen to her breathing. Once I’m certain all is well, I gently kiss the top of her head and leave the room. Now to find Peck and get back to the girls.

  “You got everything?” I ask, finding him already back in the living room.

  “Yup, How’s your mom?” he asks.

  “Good. Let’s get back. I’m gonna need a shot or two before we do this.” Peck just laughed, and we hightail it to my truck. I drive as fast as I possibly can to get to Andy’s before the girls start blowing up my phone. Liv knows what’s up, though, so she will keep Ari distracted for as long as she can. When we pull back up at the bar, some people have left, and there is a closer parking spot. I take it.

  Peck and I head in, flash the bouncer our stamped hands for easy passage, and make our way to the bar for shots. I look to the table to see the girls watching the Barbie on stage murdering Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush”. Some people should not attempt karaoke.

  “The DJ is calling us next,” Peck says bringing my attention back to the bar, and Peck hands me another shot. I slug it back just as my phone dings, notifying me I have a text. It’s Liv.

  Liv: Wth? When r u up?

  Me: We r up nxt! :)

  I look over to our table again and see Ariana looking at us. I give her my best panty-dropping smile. God, she is easy on the eyes. I sure hope this works.

  Peck tipped the DJ extra to let us do our thing. I follow him to the little stage in the center of the room and try to focus. It’s not our first time doing this together, but it is the first I’m doing it for a girl. In Florida, we did karaoke a lot because Shell’s had it every night except Sunday and Wednesday. Peck and I were always at Shell’s. The music starts, and Peck sends me a sideways look and mouths “You ready for this?” I nod, and he turns to face the crowd. I take a few deep breathes and get my game face on. God, this better work. Peck is killing the high notes of Jason Derulo’s “Want to Want Me” only losing his breath a few times from his crazy dance moves. The chorus is my part, and it’s coming fast! “Go time,” I tell myself and turn around to get in step with my boy. I sing the chorus through once and get ready to make my way to my girl next go ‘round.

  I time it out so that just when Peck finishes his part, I jump from the stage and make the short distance through the eager crowd to Ariana. Her eyes are wide with surprise, but there is a beautiful smile plastered to her face. I sing to her, making direct eye contact the whole time, wanting to make sure she gets it. When I’m done, I lean in and whisper in her ear,

  “I only want you, Ariana.” I turn and make my way back.

  Please, let this work. If I can just take down the wall she has put up, we will be fine. Peck and I clap our hands together and do a chest bump. He says, “That was the shit, dude.” The crowd is going crazy still when we make it back to our table. Liv gives us both high fives before I move toward Ariana. Grabbing her hand and pulling her to me, the whistles and cheers fade to black as I transport into the alternate universe that is Ariana Tate. Man, she is the sexiest woman in this whole place. Her smile is like that of a small child who got everything she ever wanted on Christmas morning, and I got to make her mine.

  “I only want you, Ariana. I’m falling in love with you.” Oh wow. I didn’t mean to say that just yet. “Please, give this a shot,” I plead.

  “OK!” she says with a smile.

  “OK?” I ask, and when she nods. I pick her up and spin us around. “Lets get the hell out of here,” I say bugging my eyes, smiling cr
azily, and biting my lip. She just laughs. I’m addicted to that laugh. Who am I kiddin’ I’m addicted to everything about her. I give her a little tickle so I can hear her laugh again, and she doesn’t disappoint.

  We tell our friends we are ready to go, and we all grab our things and make our way out to my truck.

  “Um, I know I’m not drunk; when and why did y’all move the truck?” Ari asks.

  “That’s good. You can drive us. I definitely have a buzz, and we found a closer spot when we left to grab our props for karaoke,” I tell her.

  “I was wondering where you guys disappeared to. I knew it couldn’t possibly take y’all that long in the restroom! Liv kept trying to tell me you were probably—oh, never mind,” she shrugs.

  I laugh very loudly and over the top, bending over to keep myself from falling. “What did Liv say we were doing?” I ask.

  She just shakes her head, but Liv not being shy at all practically yells it,

  “ I told her you were probably taking a poopy.” This has all four of us laughing as we get inside the truck. Ariana is driving, so we get in the front together, and Peck hops in the back with Liv which I happen to know is exactly where he wants to be. I know I am. On the drive back to Ariana’s, I can’t help but look at her. I guess I’m more like staring her down. She keeps glancing my way and smiling. I’ve missed her so badly. I know I have a stupid grin on my face and doe eyes. She is absolutely stunning. She has her hair down tonight which I love except for the fact that I can’t really see her elegant neck. I can’t stand it. I reach across and move the hair out of my way and slowly run my knuckles down her neck. Keeping her eyes on the road, she exhales deeply letting me know she likes what I’m doing. “You like that?” I whisper. She only nods.

  “Hey, we are still back here. You mind keeping your hands to yourself, Romeo? ” Liv complains. I totally forgot my cousin and best friend were there.

  “Sorry,Liv,” I mumble. I look back to Ari who has a huge smile on her face. She is like a breath of fresh air that I can’t help but need.

  Chapter 13

  Ariana

  “Oh crap, Oh crap! Hurry up and open the door,” Liv says, bouncing beside me while I dig my keys from my bottomless pit of a purse.

  “I’m trying! Calm down,” I tell her.

  “Calm down? I’m about to go in my panties!” she exclaims.

  “Maybe, if you quit saying CRAP, you wouldn’t,” I tease as I open my door. She hates to talk about going number two, even though she joked about the guys doing it.

  Narrowing her eyes, she says to me, “Really? I don’t need to crap. I just need to pee!” and stomps to the restroom. I turn to the side to allow the guys through. Apparently, we are having a sleep over because no one, aside from me, is sober enough to operate a vehicle.

  “Gentry, you and Peck can either share the guest room or one can take the couch,” I explain, pointing towards my living room. I have one of those sectionals with the large chaise attached.

  “Or I can share with you?” I just ignore Gentry’s comment because of what comes out of Peck’s mouth.

  “What about Olive Oyl?” Peck questioned with somewhat of a slur. I busted out laughing which caused Gentry and Peck to do the same. I’m bent over clutching my stomach when Liv walks back in the room.

  “What the heck is going on? What’s so funny?” she gives me a look that says I’ve lost it. I try catching my breath. I direct my attention to Peck, hooking my thumb towards Liv.

  “Olive Oyl has her own room here.”

  “Why didn’t you say so? That’s where I will sleep then.” he states simply. He’s obviously been infected by the truth serum, but doesn’t have a clue who he is dealing with. Liv will never go for it.

  “The hell you will! I don’t let just any ole captain board my ship!” Gentry and I both laughed.

  “ I just wanted to cuddle.Why do you have to be so mean?” Peak pouts

  “Uh-huh, Sure you did,” Liv quips

  Peck’s smile is deep; he just shrugs his shoulders before looking to Gentry and saying,

  “I’ll take the guest room then, you take the couch.”

  “Just down the hall to your left,” I tell him as he makes his way past us. It’s already 2:00 A.M., and I’m beat. “ I’m going to bed. Y’all good?” I ask my best friend and her devastatingly handsome cousin, who is sporting the cutest pout I have ever seen, these guys are something else tonight. Liv being the grouchy drunk she is, just turns and leaves.

  “I was hoping we could talk,” Gentry says in a whining voice.

  “You’re drunk. I’m tired. How about we talk tomorrow?”

  “I am buzzed, thank you very much. I would love to talk to you tomorrow, but I’m only gonna stay until I can drive because of Momma.” I hadn’t even thought about his mom tonight. I suck.

  “How is she doing?” We hadn’t talked much at all since I walked in to find Bea straddling him on the barstool at Muddy’s. I did know that his mom had stopped treatment because it wasn’t helping. Eleanor’s cancer was terminal, and it was only a matter of time before Gentry lost his mom.

  “She has good days and bad days. She would love to see you. She misses you. We both do…. Listen, I wanted to talk about the Bea situation. I know what it looked like, and well, I was drunk and wallowing in self pity. I was being stupid, but I didn’t ignore you, Bea had taken my phone and turned it off. She is crazy. I didn’t know about it until a friend told me. You had already left and wouldn’t take my calls.” Liv has already explained all of this to me, and I believed it. It just hurt so much to see him with her.

  “I know. I forgive you, and I believe you. Really, I do. I just… needed a minute. I’m sorry, I had Brocarditis.”

  “What the hell is that? Did it hurt? Will you be ok? I can’t take anymore.” I almost feel bad for making him panic, but just almost. I can’t help but giggle from the look on his face.

  “It’s heart inflammation, and all things that end in itis' hurt, don’t they? But yeah, I will be just fine as long as you don’t ever do that to me again.” His brows pull together, and I think he may laugh; I want him to laugh, but then his face falls. He takes a deep breath and looks me in the eyes,

  “Ari, I promise, I will never allow that to happen again.

  He takes a few slow steps towards me and wraps me in his arms, pulling me in close. I can’t describe the peace I instantly feel. I had missed this, missed his hugs and his smell. God, I loved his smell. He kisses the top of my head before pulling back just enough, “Did you make that up?” I just nod and smile. Dipping his chin to look into my eyes he says,

  “I know we haven’t known each other long, and I have no idea where it may go. If I have learned anything over these last few days, it’s that I want you right by my side.” I so wanted that, too. How do you fall for someone so deeply, you barely know?

  Gentry and I fall asleep together on the couch. I sleep better than I have in days. When I wake he is gone and I’m sad by his absence, but I know he needed to get home to his mom.

  1 month later

  Chapter 14

  Ariana

  Life is like a whirlwind lately. Between helping out at Gentry’s and working full time, I’m not sure of the last time I have been home for longer than a few minutes, unless it was to sleep or wash clothes. Eleanor is declining quickly and has now been put on hospice. They came in and showed Mona, Gentry, and me what needs doing . We will be taking shifts throughout the week. Liv and her mom will help a few hours on weekends.

  All of us are working together to give Eleanor and Gentry the support they need. Eleanor is constantly worried Gentry will run. Gentry is overwhelmed and sometimes looks like a caged animal. He is taking it all in stride, but you can tell he is falling apart. Peck is still in town, for the moment, helping Gentry with his ranch duties when he is on Eleanor duty.

  Eleanor has just finished her lunch and is relaxing on the couch in the living room. It’s my day to be her caretaker. I grabbed her some f
resh water and took a seat beside her on the sofa. She seems to be having a good day although she is looking more sickly after losing her hair from the chemo she was on. She’s wearing what my grannie always called a Moo-Moo, and she looks super comfy, though the look on her face would suggest otherwise.

  “You OK, Eleanor?” I question her. She nods her head a few times before turning to look me in the eyes.

  “Can we talk about Gentry for a minute?”

  “Of course. Shoot.”

  “Well, first I wanna say, I know he isn’t perfect.” I laugh, and she rolls her eyes.

  “Glad we got that outta the way.”

  “Anyways, I love him. He is my only child, and when you have a child, you will understand more what I’m about to say. He is a mess when it comes to loss, and he is going to lose me sooner rather than later…”. She takes a few deep breathes before she continues. “ When he was a kid, he was rotten, and we would let him do whatever he wanted, whether it was playing ball or raising this animal or that animal. His Daddy and I would accommodate whatever crazy adventure he wanted to take. We weren't the best parents, but we did what we thought was best. As a teenager, he was an all-star at any sport he tried. It wasn’t long before he was interested in everything his Dad did, and of course, he excelled at it. At 13, he would be up every morning before his Dad, feeding all the animals. He could work cattle, and run and drive all the equipment. He used to keep a journal of what cows we had, what field they were in, and always knew when one was calving. If he wasn’t at school or practice, he was working outside on the ranch.” He actually sounds like the perfect child the way she is talking about him. I keep my mouth closed while she reminisces, only nodding when she looks my way. Right now, she is just staring into the past without a word, wiping her cheeks and drying a few tears she has shed before she turns her attention back to me.