Meadowlarks

by Ashley Christine

  “Do you really think I'm going to let you out of the house now?” I slowly walk over to her with my hands on my hips.

  “Oh? This old thang?” She pulls the hem of the dress up to one side, showing even more skin than she already is. My heart starts to race at the sight, and I narrow my eyes at her.

  “I miss you.”

  She leans over the dresser and looks closely at her reflection as she applies mascara to her long lashes. “I know, baby. I miss you, too.”

  “No.” I sweep her hair from her back and stand behind her, leaning in to slowly kiss her shoulder. “I mean, I miss you.”

  “Mmm. Mr. Blackstock, are you trying to seduce me?” she asks in a low, raw voice.

  I don't say anything back. I trail my hands down her body, down to her bare legs and back up, lifting her dress with my fingertips. She's still leaning over the dresser; she's put the makeup down and is holding herself up with her palms flat on the wood. I can hear her breathing slowly but heavily, and she's got her chin resting on her shoulder to look back at me. Her white lace panties are barely covering anything, and I run my fingers up the back of her legs, over her behind and around her waist.

  “Blaine, I...” She breathes. “You're going make me...”

  She stands, and I turn her around and hold her hands together, putting them on my chest, over my heart.

  “I love you, Addy.”

  She kisses me, her hands in my hair, then holding my face. “I love you, too. So very much.”

  I exhale deeply, and she leans her forehead on my chin. “When I get home, you better be awake.” She looks up and me and grins. “Or else.”

  I don't even need to know what or else could entail; she makes it sound so intriguing I'm actually considering falling asleep.

  “Cole! You are fucking hot!” Riley beams when we walk into the kitchen; I even see Jeremiah widen his eyes at the sight of her.

  “Blaine, are you sure about this?” Riley asks.

  I smile. “Have fun! She's only gonna get one of these things.”

  Riley is wearing another long strapless dress, her tan skin glowing either from the sun she got today or the pregnancy. Both, I'm sure.

  Leah, Zoe and Camille are all wearing brightly colored cocktail dresses. They look like they should be endorsing bubblegum or Rodeo Drive or extras in another Legally Blonde movie. I can just see the local girls’ faces when these five walk in, a high-end motley crew indeed.

  “Bye, handsome.” Riley kisses Alex's cheek, and he blushes. “Behave now, boys!”

  I almost tell them to do the same, but I know they will. Well, Riley and Addison will without a doubt. The other three? Well, let's just say it wouldn't surprise me if they lassoed their first cowboy tonight. Look out, men of Sheridan.

  Jer, Alex and I play some poker and drink some beer. A baseball game is playing on the TV for background noise.

  “She's having a girl,” Alex mumbles, looking down at his cards, and his forehead wrinkles. “Two pair! Ha!” He tosses his winning cards downs and laughs.

  “Wow! Congratulations, man.” I toss my cards, too, pouting on the inside that I thought I had the game won with my two kings.

  “Awe, yeah!” He wraps his arms around the stacks of blue, white and red chips and pulls them into his small pile.

  “I mean about the baby.” What a moron. I roll my eyes.

  “Oh, yeah. Thanks, man.” He grabs our cards and starts shuffling them. “Jer said she could move in for a while until I get my...our own place.”

  “She's planning on living here for good?” I ask as I feel a little twinge of jealousy as I think of Riley spending all her time with Addison; between that and work means even less time for me.

  “Well, maybe not forever. But she thinks this would be a good place to raise a kid.” He shrugs and deals the cards out to each of us. “Plus, she can sell real estate anywhere.”

  “What about her son? What about his dad?” Jeremiah asks and tosses a card down, wanting to be dealt another.

  “He's some dickhead deadbeat, never been around the kid.” Alex curls his lip like he's disgusted by the thought of him.

  It's midnight when Alex's phone buzzes. He answers it quickly. “Riley? Hello?”

  I crack another beer and take a sip, curious as to why she's calling. I haven't heard from Addison all night.

  “You're okay, though? Do you need to go to the hospital?”

  Jeremiah and I both sit up in our seats and stare at him, waiting for him to tell us what's going on.

  “Okay...yeah of course...twenty minutes. Bye.”

  “What's going on? She okay?” Jer plays with some poker chips in his hands nervously.

  “Yeah, she's just not feeling well. She wants me to pick her up at some club. And I'm the only one here who hasn't been drinking.”

  I'm surprised and relieved when Alex tells us they're at the karaoke bar in town and not some strip joint. When we pull into the parking lot, the music is thumping out of the building. Some awkward voice is almost screeching a Stones song, and we all chuckle to one another and open the door to the bar.

  The inside is just like the bar in Cody, except it less western-themed and more flashing lights. There’s a big stage at the front with some scrawny kid up there who, judging by the group of kids cheering him on from a table near the stage and his Birthday Boy t-shirt, just turned twenty-one. The butchering of Painted Black ends, and Jeremiah is the first to spot the girls.

  “Over there!” he calls out.

  They're sitting together at a round table, all colorful and clapping kindly for the birthday boy, who stumbles over a chair while walking past them.

  Poor kid. I smirk.

  Alex finds Riley and bends down beside her, holding her hand. She smiles, and I can read her lips that she tells him she's okay. When I get closer, I realize I don't see Addison anywhere.

  “Where's Addy?” I pull a chair up and sit beside Leah.

  “Oh, she's in the bathroom. She'll be out in a sec!” She grins like she's up to something mischievous and casually sips on her pink drink.

  “You okay, Riley?”

  “Yeah. Thanks, Blaine. I just felt a little light-headed.” She fans her face with her hand. “I think it was all the lights.”

  Soft music starts to play, a guitar and a violin, and my eyes trail up to the stage. A beautiful voice starts singing, and I'm frozen.

  Cowboy take me away...

  How have I not ever heard her sing like this before? My hands are tingling, I have goose bumps on my arms, and I can't believe what I'm hearing.

  She's smiling, slowly swaying back and forth and tapping her fingers on her thigh with the hand that's not holding the microphone.

  I'm so captivated I don't even notice that Leah crept up there with her and was singing in the background. All the kids at the birthday table are gaping, completely blown away, probably like everyone else in here. Riley is sitting back in her chair, a huge smile on her face, like she's witnessed this before. She seems thrilled to finally see her best friend open herself up and sing in front of people.

  Addison gazes at me throughout the song. I don't even think I've been able to blink. She's a siren, singing to me, seducing me with her melodic chorus of adoration.

  The song ends, but I don't notice until I hear everyone clapping. People are whistling, and every guy at the birthday table is standing and cheering.

  “Yeah, Addy!” Alex puts his hands around his mouth and shouts loudly over the crowd.

  I get up and walk over to the stage. She stands at the edge and smiles down at me.

  “Hi.” She grins.

  “Hi, yourself.” I run my hands up over the leather of her boots, up her bare skin and pull her down into my arms. “You're amazing.”

  “Right back at ya.” She wraps her arms around my neck and leans down to kiss me. I completely forget that we're in a bar full of people, until I hear the cheering pick up again.

  “Go, buddy!” someone yells.

&nb
sp; “She's smokin'!” says another.

  “Cowboy! Take ME away too!” a woman shouts, and I turn to smile. I slowly lower her back to the floor, back to earth from our short ride in the clouds, and she blushes and heads back to the table.

  “Addy that was so crazy!” Zoe says excitedly and leans in to hug her when she sits down.

  “You know that was all for you, right?” Leah elbows me. “Riley's fine.”

  I look at Riley, and she smile sweetly.

  “Thank you. I love you.” I take Addison's hand in mine and lift it up to kiss her soft skin.

  “So, what are you going to serenade me with?” She smiles and the girls all laugh.

  “Oh, no. The cab of my truck and the shower are the only two places you'll ever hear me sing.” I hold my hands up with declination and shake my head.

  Addison doesn't sing again, but Leah and Jeremiah attempt a Johnny and June song, quite successfully, I think. Everyone cheers and applauds when they stand holding their hands together up in the air.

  We sit and listen to a few more singers. The birthday table all get on stage (with the exception of the Birthday Boy), and they sing him some song about big asses that I've never heard of. A few staff members have to help to drunk kids off the stage, and we all clap and whistle for them.

  Oh, to be twenty-one again.

  The moonlight is pouring into the open window, the cool night breeze slowly crawls into the room, down the wall and across the floor. It makes its way up the bed and over our bodies.

  We lay in bed face to face, our arms over the covers with our fingers interlocked, talking about the day and how much we enjoyed it.

  “I didn't know you could sing like that.” I smile and close my eyes, remembering how she stood on that stage and captivated the whole room. No flash, no smoke machines or pyrotechnics—just a beautiful girl in a white dress singing a song to the man she loves.

  “Well...” She blushes. “It's not something I brag about. My mom always said I should be a singer, but my heart is in medicine.”

  I lift her hand up to my lips and kiss it gently.

  “I'm glad you liked it.” She smiles. “It describes how I feel about you perfectly.”

  She moves closer, her warm body against mine, and she feels the stubble on my jaw with her fingers. “You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, Blaine.”

  I kiss the side of her mouth. “I love you.”

  “I didn't think I could feel this way again.” Her eyes start to water. “Or have someone love me like this.”

  “Baby, don't cry.” I frown and wipe a lone tear falling down her cheek. “You deserve the world; I want to give you everything.”

  “After Jacob…” she sniffles. “I didn't feel like I was worth anything.”

  I inhale deeply at the thought of him, the sickening pit in my stomach when I picture him hitting her over and over again. I wince and close my eyes, exhaling. “Addy…” I breathe.

  “I know what you did in Maine. Alex told me.”

  “He did?” I’m surprised. When did he tell her?

  “He told me after you proposed to me.”

  “That piece of shit is lucky I didn't kill him.” I inhale again, thinking of how satisfying it was driving my boot into his gutless body. “We don't have to think about him again, baby.”

  She kisses me. Her soft lips are warm, and she tastes like lime and tequila again. Margaritas. “I can't wait to marry you,” she breathes in between heated kisses.

  Taking her hand, I lift it over her head, and she rolls onto her back. I climb on top, parting her legs with my knee and resting between them. She moans softly as I kiss her face gently, lowering further and further down her body, her fingers still intertwined in mine. We make love deeply, passionately, completely raw. It feels like it's been so long since I've touched her, so long since I've felt her lips on me and her body around me, squeezing me. I'm lost in her hotness.

  I have to grip the headboard and she runs her hands down my chest, her thumbs rolling over each of my abdominal muscles as my body thrusts and contracts. Like the rolling of a wave, I'm a fluid motion.

  I hold on to the wooden board as hard as I can and growl loudly as she comes undone underneath me, crying out for me, calling my name. Her gaze and clenched muscles cause me to explode, and I crush my eyes closed as tight as I can, rippling out my gratification.

  I fall onto the bed beside her, our chests rising and falling together, catching our breath. I smile and put my hands behind my pillow, resting my head in them. “Shit…”

  “Mmm hmm,” she hums and turns on her side to lay her head on my chest, my heart thundering under my skin.

  Not a moment later, we hear our house guests cat-calling and yelling from their rooms. The sounds of them slapping the wooden floors with their hands makes me laugh out loud explicitly.

  Addison buries her face in my chest out of embarrassment. “I forgot they were here!”

  “You ride that cowboy!” one of them shouts, I can't tell which one.

  “Goodnight, girls!” she yells back, completely mortified.

  The next morning is exactly as we both expect—completely obvious smirks and giggles from all four of them the moment our feet touch the bottom step leading into the kitchen.

  “Good morning, ladies.” I smile, trying my hardest not to bow; I'm sure Addison wouldn't be too impressed. “How did we all sleep last night?” I decide to stick to cheeky remarks. Yeah, that'll make less of an impact, I'm sure.

  “Oh, we slept just fine...” Camille grins, but Addison cuts her off before she can elaborate in more detail.

  “Okay, okay! That's enough!”

  “What? Did I say something wrong?” Camille puts her hands on her hips and smiles at the others. “Or was I too loud?”

  They all burst into laughter, Addison included, and she's gone from peachy blush to crimson in two seconds flat.

  I finish filling my mug with coffee and sneak outside, quietly calling the dogs to follow me out.

  “Hey! Where are you going?” One of them calls after me through the screen door.

  “Off to work. Have a good day, ladies!” I chuckle, and I'm glad I'm not the one left in there getting interrogated left, right and center. Sorry, baby.

  Tonight all the girls are going back to Maine, even Riley, though she'll be back in a few days with whatever belongings she can fly with and her son, Isaac. She told Addison she was going to wait to have him come out with her parents for our wedding, but she later changed her mind. I hope Alex is ready for all of this.

  “Bye! I'm going to miss you all so much!” Addison hugs each of them tightly, all the ooh's and sobs between each embrace. I stand there looking out of place, not sure what I'm supposed to do during their goodbyes.

  “See you in a few weeks! I can't believe you're getting married, Addy!” Leah starts to tear.

  “Oh, Leah! Relax.” Riley rolls her eyes and leans in to hug Addison, sandwiching her belly in between them. “See you soon, babe!”

  Addison leans into me, her head on my shoulder as we watch them walk into the entry for their gate. I've got to say: I'll miss the liveliness and laughter while they're gone, but it'll be nice to get back to some peace and quiet...and no audience to cheer us on.

  She falls asleep on the drive home from the airport.

  “Baby, we're home.” I lean in and unbuckle her seat belt and lift her into my arms to carry her inside.

  “Mmm. I can walk.” She groggily tries to stand, giggling softly when she stumbles on the steps of the porch.

  “Clearly!”

  “Hey, now.” She grins, and when we get upstairs, she pulls off her jogging pants and climbs into bed. She’s out like a pretty little light.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Today is April twenty-fourth. Today is also Addison's 27 birthday. I woke up extra early this morning to make her breakfast: omelettes, French toast and sausage.

  “Mmm, that smells so good!” She says, standing at the bottom of th
e stairs, jogging pants on, and rubbing her eyes sleepily.

  “Hey! You're supposed to stay in bed for this!”

  She walks over to the island and sits down on a stool.

  “Happy birthday, my love.” I walk over and turn her stool so I'm standing in between her legs.

  “Awe, thank you! This looks so yummy.” She scans the counter top and picks a piece of red pepper out of the omelet, putting it into her mouth.

  “Eat up; I have a big day planned for you.”

  All the signs on the drive give my surprise away that I'm taking her to Yellowstone. I remember coming here when I was a kid. My school did a day trip here, and I remember back then how much fun it was. Not much has changed; we wander around the vast landscape, mesmerized by geysers and waterfalls.

  Addison's mom calls her during lunch to wish her a happy birthday, and she almost starts crying at something her mother says.

  “I know, Mom! Yes, I promise. Okay, love you too.” She beams and when the call ends, she wraps her arms around me, breathing me into her. “I love you so much.”

  “I love you.” I squeeze her tightly. “How's your mom and dad?”

  “Oh, well she found out about Riley and the baby.” She smiles. “She said she wished she knew earlier. I'm surprised she didn't find out sooner, but they're both excited to become grandparents.”

  “What's that look about?” I ask her, trying to determine what her expression means.

  “Oh, nothing.”

  “Umm, yes. Something.”

  “She just thought I would be the first to have kids.” She shrugs. “Whatever happens, happens.”

  I'm starting to wonder if she does actually want to have children someday, but today isn't the day to talk about it. I change the subject. “Are you ready to go?” I hold her hand and pull her toward the parking lot. “I have another surprise.”