I just laugh at our antics. We have little to no boundaries in our friendship, which has made for some interesting outings over the years. Her, my brother Aaron, and our other friend Bree are who make me feel most comfortable, and I trust them with my life.
After the braid wizard finishes, I go back to the mirror and make sure my shirt has no holes in it, and the skirt isn’t fraying too much that I’ll get caught on a stool or something. The more I tell myself the extra pampering is because I’m meeting one of my favorite artists and not for Matt, the less I convince myself. I’m definitely going to avoid all alcohol tonight so that my head stays clear in anything that happens. Nothing good can come from me drinking and being nervous at the same time. Knowing my luck, I’d spill any drink on Cole Swindell and potentially jump Matt.
Since Aaron has to be at The Barn early for security on the sound check, he banned me from showing up until the meet-n-greet starts. He wants to make sure I don’t end up doing something completely out of character like touch Cole’s butt. It’s scary how much my brother knows me sometimes.
My brother is a mean man! He let Bree and Kylie walk through the green room first and gave me a lecture on behaving! It’s like he doesn’t trust something or me. If anything, I’d be the one of the three of us who would stutter through her own name. It’d be like my first meeting with Matt all over again, but with a famous person, who could easily get a restraining order if I touched him inappropriately.
Aaron held me in a straightjacket hold while Kylie and Bree took picture after picture.
Leaning down to my ear, he whispers, “Little Munchkin, it’s almost seven, and I have to get to the doors for the general admission to get in. If I let you go, do you promise to not get me called back here to arrest you?”
Exasperated, I promise, “Yes, Ace. I swear on my puppy.”
He gives a quick tug on my braid before letting me go in mock anger. I’m glad he hasn’t completely lost his sense of humor.
“How dare you swear on my son?”
Laughing at the silly man, “Your son? Sometimes, you have an unhealthy attachment to Ruckus. You’re strange you know that?”
His stormy blue eyes bore into mine. “You wouldn’t have me any other way, little sister. Now get on over there and make me nervous for Cole Swindell’s personal space.”
The man has no faith in me when it comes to celebrities. I was fifteen when I ‘accidentally’ smacked the butt of an artist who will remain nameless, and Bryce had e-mailed Aaron all about it while he was stationed in Biloxi. He has never let me live it down to this day. His joke every concert is that he keeps an eye out for me simply to make sure I don’t do something completely out of my ‘new’ character. We both have changed so much over the last few years that a lot of our past hinders our present and it’s been difficult to let it go. It’s nice when we can revert back to our old banter.
All three of us have taken individual pictures with Cole, group pictures, and bought posters for him to sign. I’ve already saved my favorite picture on my lock screen, and every picture will be added to my screensaver loop. I’ve managed to distract myself from wondering if Matt is out on the main floor yet and whom he is with.
If only my brain could completely blank out from all of my worries forever.
I’ve been at The Barn for about thirty minutes now. I’m looking around for Charlie and can’t see shit. This place is so packed that I’m sure the fire marshal will be here any second to clear people out.
Cole Swindell isn’t coming on for about another hour, and I was hoping to get a glimpse of Charlie before he starts. Some people were able to buy VIP tickets at the front of the stage and the surrounding cocktail tables, but the rest has been standing room only. With how packed this place is, I have a feeling my hearing is going to suffer by the end of the night.
I spot a security guard coming inside from the front door, and I make a beeline over to him. When he notices me walking up, I ask, “Hey man, have you seen or know a woman named Charlotte Hanston?”
Looking at me with an extremely suspicious face and a slight frown, he growls out, “Why are you looking for her? I’m her brother, Officer Aaron Hanston.”
Fan-fucking-tastic. Didn’t know her brother was a cop. I assumed he was only an event security guard from what she mentioned.
He’s a built dude wearing a dark green APD t-shirt, black tactical pants, and the standard cop utility belt.
This should be interesting.
I have two to three inches on him, but he has size and most likely, trained skill, on me. He’s intimidating as shit for someone who also looks a couple years younger than me. There’s darkness in his eyes that I can see, and I definitely find the resemblance between him and Charlotte. They have the same color hair and face shape, but he sports ice blue eyes versus her green apple gems.
He does answer, though, and gives me more information than I anticipated. “Yeah. I won a backstage lotto for meet and greet tickets. I gave them to her since he’s one of her favorite artists. She’ll probably come back out when he goes on stage.” With a hard questioning face, he asks, “Who are you again?”
I stick my hand out. “Matt Reynolds. I’m in the graduate program with her at Broxton.”
He shakes my hand with vigor. “Oh, yea. I’m Aaron Hanston. She told me about you from last week and the coffee shop.” His eyes turn slightly angry. “You need to go easy on her, man. That’s my baby sister. If you and your friends even try to hurt her in any way, shape, or form, I have no problems hurting you. Badge or no badge, my sister is my top priority.”
Giving him back a hard stare, I assure, “No problems here. I like your sister, and I’m waiting on a yes from her to take her out. I explained the situation to her, and I hope she believes me.”
With a weird look in his eye, he immediately laughs back. “Ha, good luck. Be patient with her and don’t mess with her head. You have one warning with me, and you just got it. Don’t make me regret it.”
“Warning heard. I know it’s a lot to ask, but if you see her, will you tell her to meet me at the ticket check-in desk?”
He just nods and walks away still giving me a slightly dirty look. Glad I got the brother threat speech out of the way, though. If her brother’s this scary, I wonder how overprotective her father can be. From what little I’ve gathered, Charlie has a core set of friends and her brother is a strong part of that group, if not the most important part.
After fighting my way through the crowds, I wait over by the desk, tapping the edge to the beat of the background music just to give my hands something to do. I wonder if she will actually show up. I swear I’m like a high school kid waiting by the lockers after school to see my crush.
Cole Swindell is set to come on any minute, but I’m not focused on that right now. I see a determined Charlie power walking up to me. She stops about a foot away, and she glares at me. Her eyes are burning right into me, destroying any resolve I had on controlling arousal. She hasn’t lost any of her spunky attitude, which means she’s pretty mad.
Uh oh. Red flag.
“So now you’re recruiting my brother?”
Her tone gives off slight irritation and definite curiosity. I feel slightly guilty. I didn’t want to ruin her night with her friends and when she’s meeting one of her idols.
Smiling down at her, I admit, “Desperate times called for desperate measures. I did give you fair warning that I would want to see you tonight and possibly steal a few dances.”
She scoffs, “Ha, sure. Okay. Whatever helps you sleep at night.”
I resist the urge to tell her I hope that would be her. Trying to diffuse her anger a little bit, I mentally decide to let her cool down and re-approach later.
Before walking away, I tap her nose and wink at her. “I will get those dances.”
I walk back over to Jeremy and grab the beer from his hands. I have to chug most of it down. No woman in my thirty years has ever made my heart race a mile a minute like she does.
I genuinely want to know her, too. So far I can tell that she pulls on her earlobe when she’s nervous, and her face is an open book. Her eyes, those gorgeous green eyes, are hypnotizing. The twinkle of lust is shining brightly. She’s wearing down to me. I promised myself that if and when she says yes to a date, that I would try to take things slow. I honestly don’t think I can keep that promise. Her body is calling to me like a moth to a flame.
I told her to save me a few dances, and I plan on collecting in a short time. For now, I’m content just standing by the bar, watching her let loose. I want her to be able to feel like that with me. I don’t want the irritation I made her feel earlier. I want to build something with her, and I’ll take whatever she gives me.
To the naked eye, it might seem quick, but I can’t help the attraction I feel for her. The little bits I’ve gotten over the last few months only intrigue me more. I can’t explain it, but I have this innate feeling in my gut that she is meant for me. My eyes have been wide open since moving here and embracing everything that has been thrown my way. I intend to keep moving at this pace. That is if she will let me. I’ll guess she would want to move slowly, but a little encouragement never hurt anyone.
My sister would probably tell me that I need to protect myself so that history doesn’t repeat itself.
I honestly don’t think Charlie would be the kind to cheat, but I thought the same about Kelly, too. My ex is the reason why I wasn’t into actively dating when I first moved to South Carolina.
Charlotte and Kelly are complete opposites. I would never compare the two, but when you’re serious about someone, it’s unavoidable. Kelly was into her looks, social status, and career. We were superficial at best. I was too focused on working to notice during our relationship. Yes, we were together a long time, but I don’t think either of us realized that we were heading nowhere. Proposing just felt like the next step that had to be taken for both of our images and futures.
My parents didn’t hate Kelly, but they didn’t really like her either. My sister, Amy, wasn’t her biggest fan and her opinion mattered to me. It still does. Whatever woman I get serious with will have to get along with my family. What point is there for everyone to be miserable at family events and parties? In hindsight, Kelly cheating was probably the best thing that happened to me. It opened my eyes to what I really wanted in a woman.
At the end of the day, I want the woman who makes me smile, makes the effort for us and loves with her whole heart. For Charlotte, my instincts tell me that I have found her. That, no matter what, I will fight for her. I will make her feel like she is the most important person in the world and to me, she is.
From what I noticed of Charlotte last semester and our few conversations the last few weeks, she doesn’t care about the materialistic things. Yes, she is focused on her future career, but it’s a career that will be there for others, whether they are local or a passing visitor.
I found out through a classmate that she wants to open her own business. I admire that. Coming from a finance point, it will be time-consuming and stressful, but she seems like the type who will do as much as she can on her own and only ask for help when she really needs it.
I wonder what type of business she plans on opening. I hate to imagine her working on a project so large all by herself. I’ve seen so many businesses fail in under a year, and I cringe at the thought of her becoming another business statistic.
My thoughts have strayed so far right now that, for a second, I forgot I was in a crowded bar with my friends when Jeremy knocks me out of my trance.
“So how are things going with the girl, Matt?”
Giving Jeremy a side-glance and avoiding the questioning looks from Tyler, Shay, and David, I reluctantly answer, “They’re going fine, and that’s all I’m going to tell you.”
Jeremy knows me all too well and punches me in the arm. I swear we all have a permanent spot on our bodies from the where other punches.
“Fuck you, dude. Tell us what happened.”
After I finish telling them about finding her brother and making her mad, all four of them burst out laughing. David is the one to talk first.
“Come on, Matt. I knew her brother back in high school before he joined the Air Force. We both played baseball and graduated the same year. Aaron Hanston was always so overprotective over his sister and her best friend. There was no chance he was going to help you get his sister without threatening to beat the shit out of you in some way first.”
“Well, what do you suggest to get on his good side then?”
“If you plan on getting closer to her, make sure he’s occupied with something else, and watch your balls in case she’s as intimidating as her brother. I’ve never met her personally, but I can only imagine the self-defense techniques Aaron has taught her over the years”.
I signal the bartender for another beer, hoping to hide my fucking anxiety.
Expressing the dread that is growing bigger in my stomach, “I really wish she wasn’t so suspicious of me. She thinks that my going up to her last weekend was part of a bet that I was put up to.”
All four of their jaws drop, and there is an eerie silence in all of the surrounding noise until Jeremy asks, “Is it because Leo and I were laughing at you? We know she saw us, but we didn’t mean to imply it toward her. Fuck, dude, I’m sorry.”
Tyler turns to Jeremy and asks, “Y’all really were laughing and pointing at them? What was so funny about him meeting her?”
Jeremy starts blubbering, “He hasn’t ditched us to talk to a girl in years. Back in Chicago, they all came up to him. He hasn’t had to actually work for it in a long time.”
Shay gives both Jeremy and me dirty looks. Her soon-to-be maternal instincts are scary as shit. “If I were her, I would have slapped you across the face for embarrassing me like that in a public place. Her name does sound familiar, though. I think she and her mom come into the salon on occasion. She’s a nice girl.”
She smacks Jeremy in the stomach and orders, “You need to apologize to her.”
David cuts his hand through the center of our little circle to stop the arguing. Putting his two cents in, “All right, you guys, let’s just simmer down. Clearly, this was all just a big misunderstanding. I’m sure once Matt explains it to her, she will feel better.” Turning to me, he suggests, “Isn’t that right, Matt?”
Raising my hands up in surrender, I offer, “You won’t have an argument from me. I still can’t believe she thought that. What kind of jerk-off still tries to play pranks like that?”
Thinking about it further, I continue talking, “I honestly wouldn’t know who or why would make a bet like that. It takes a sad and sick human being to treat another person in such a cruel way. Ultimately, I just want her to say yes to one date so that I can at least lay the groundwork for her to even trust me. If I could get her to trust me then maybe, she will let me get to see what’s beneath the mask her eyes have.”
Turning to Shay, I practically beg her to help me. “Give me a woman’s opinion. What should I do? My sister’s kids are both sick, so I didn’t want to bother her this week.”
She gives me a sympathetic look. “Just be honest with her. Apologize and do something to show her you have some nice qualities under that GQ model mug of yours.” That earns her a s
arcastic glare from me. “Get her used to you being around in a friend way first. Casually talk to her. If you get friend-zoned, make her see that having your best friend as your loved one is the greatest relationship of all.”
With that little speech, she and Tyler share a serene look that only enhances the goal I have to build a great relationship with Charlie.
Now, I can somewhat relax. This night is just the break I’ve needed after another long week. Don’t get me wrong. I love my job. I like doing the research, analyzing cost and figures for clients like the big nerd I am, but with the company still new in Aiken, there is a lot of new work to do.
I would just love to have someone I know I can talk to throughout the day and look forward to seeing whenever I want. I have to keep the faith that things will work out with Charlie. I will follow Shay’s advice as best as I can and knowing her, she will keep asking for updates.
Looks like I’ll get to keep working on having patience. In the meantime, I will have to keep adjusting myself and avoid looking like a bumbling fool in front of Charlie. I also pray I don’t get my ass kicked by her brother in the near future for pursuing his sister.
Tonight was kind of a win-win for everyone. My friends got me out for one real last night of fun before I become a work-a-holic studying nonstop zombie, and I got to meet Cole Swindell backstage. Extreme fangirl moment! His accent and smile in person were enough to make me go weak in the knees. He is so nice and down to earth. I got a picture with him, and he autographed a hat and t-shirt, which I put in Aaron’s squad car for safe keeping. Don’t judge me. I’ve never met such a big celebrity before.
My brother will be getting an awesome birthday present this year for winning that lotto. I’m all kinds of happy right now. Even my little talk with Matt is making me happy. I know I’m caving toward his date offer. I’m still just not sure he’s sincere.
It sucks that I’m still thinking that way; I just don’t want history to repeat itself. High school humiliation was bad enough, especially with the after effects for the rest of the year taking a toll on me mentally and physically. I was made into a leper by those I considered friends.
The Eyes That Own Me (Timing is Everything Book 1) Page 6