Anna laughed. “Never drive with her on the road. She’s the epitome of a crazy driver.”
“I resent that. And don’t believe her lies, Karley. I’m not that bad. I have a bit of road rage sometimes, but it’s always warranted,” Marge defended.
“No, it’s not.” Anna shook her head, reiterating her words.
Luckily we made it to the salon safely. I decided to be daring, feeling confident in what I was wearing, and chose a bright red polish. Marge and Anna chose something similar while Carol picked a dusty rose. I couldn’t help but match the color to their personalities.
Afterwards, we headed to the only Italian restaurant in town where we filled up on bread, salad and pasta. By the end of the night, I was in a fit of laughter, relaxed and enjoying every bit of their company. The dynamics of the four of us fell perfectly into place. I learned a lot about the women in the short period of time, including how they met their husbands. Anna, being only a year older than me, was still looking.
As we left the restaurant, I heard my phone ringing. I was surprised it still had battery since I hadn’t charged it.
“Speaking on the devil,” I said, showing them the front of my phone, the caller ID.
“Damn. They really are pussy whipped,” Anna clucked.
“Anna!” Carol flushed.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Where the hell are you?” Cole barked.
“Is everything okay?” I stopped walking, letting the women pass me.
“You didn’t leave a note, didn’t call us or tell us that you were going out. Where are you?” His tone punched my gut; fear wrapped around me.
“I wasn’t aware that I had to.”
“Karley.” My name was a clipped chide on his tongue.
In that one moment, anger replaced my fear. I wasn’t the scared little girl who surrendered to brute men. I had a back bone. I didn’t deserve the lashing he was giving me. I didn’t do anything wrong.
“Good bye Cole.” I immediately hung up my phone and turned it off.
I climbed into the car and buckled up.
“Everything okay?” Anna asked.
“No, but I can’t change it.”
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“I was just yelled at for not leaving a note or telling them that I was going out. I didn’t take it well and hung up on Cole.”
The women laughed. “Good for you, honey,” Marge cheered.
“They’ll learn eventually. Jose was the same way when we first started dating. I think it’s the panther in them; it makes them more animalistic, more caveman like.”
“Good girl. Don’t you dare let them walk all over you.” Anna clapped my shoulder.
“We better hurry home to diffuse the situation. If I know our boys, they’re having a hissy fit right now,” Marge said, putting the car in drive and speeding off.
I relaxed, comforted by the fact that they weren’t angry with me. I guess that’s what I assumed they would be; I thought they would side with their sons. It was nice to be supported, to feel like I was part of a unit, a family, that supported me.
“Have y’all started looking at houses in Birmingham yet?” Marge asked.
When silence ensued, I frowned. “Are you talking to me?”
“Well, of course, silly. I assumed you’re moving to Birmingham with the boys come December, right?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Oh dear. Me and my big mouth.”
Anna’s brows went near her hairline. She shook her head. “I can’t believe they haven’t told you yet.”
The bottom dropped out from under me. They were leaving. Suddenly, I didn’t feel so good anymore. My stomach churned, nausea combing over me. I placed my cheek against the cold window.
“You okay, Karley?” Anna placed a hand on my forehead. “Shit. She looks like she’s gonna pass out.”
“Here.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Carol pass Anna a wipe. She lifted my hair and pressed it along the back of my neck.
“When I get my hands on those two, son or not, I’m going to give them a piece of my mind.”
“Coming from you, Mom, they might actually listen. I can’t believe they didn’t tell you, Karley. I understand why you’re so upset, but it’s nothing to lose your stomach over. We’ll straighten everything out when we get home.” I sat up, working on breathing slowly, as Anna continued to pat the cold wipe along my neck.
Chapter 24
As soon as we walked in the door, the guys flew into a tangent.
“Where the hell were you?” Cole demanded.
“Why didn’t you tell us she was with you, Momma?” Shane bit out.
“We tried to tell them that you were fine, but you know how hotheaded us weres are,” Peter chuckled. Jose nodded his head in agreement beside him.
“I think you two are in bigger trouble,” Marge began, getting up into their personal space and pointing a perfectly polished finger into their chests. “When the heck were you two planning to tell her about your move?”
They froze, all the anger erasing from their expressions, leaving only awareness; they knew they’d messed up.
“Tell me you didn’t,” Shane said, looking right at his mother.
Cole’s features were pulled tight, but only sorrow was reflected in his eyes. “We were planning to tell you when the time was right.”
“Would that be before or after you moved? From what I understand, it’s only a couple weeks away.”
Shane scrubbed the back of his neck anxiously. “That’s what the meeting was about today. The company accepted our offer.”
“I don’t understand. I thought you were investors.” I dropped my purse on the entry table, crossing my arms over my chest.
“We are, but we’re not stock broker investors; not anymore anyways. Basically we buy run down companies, companies that are in the red and invest money into them, help them get back on their feet. In some cases we start from scratch, others are reparable with a few internal tweaks. Once they’re operating with a profit again, we either sell it, or leave it to be run by capable management,” Cole explained.
“What were you doing here then?”
“The ranch is a business. We mended all the fences, upgraded their farm equipment, purchased a lot more cattle so come spring, we’ll be sitting in a comfortable profit margin.” Shane regarded me with wary eyes. He started towards me. “Darlin’, we didn’t mean to-“
I threw out my arms. “Stop right there.”
Hurt flashed in his eyes, nearly crumbling my resolve. They’d lied to me. I didn’t know if they were actually planning on asking me to go with them or not. I felt betrayed. If I’d kept something like this from them, I couldn’t see them just brushing it off.
“Can one of you take me home? I need some time to think.”
“I’ll take you,” Shane and Cole said together.
“No. Not you, either of you. Someone else.” I looked to the others. I knew I was putting them on the spot, but I didn’t trust myself to stay right now. I needed to take a step back before I rushed into anything.
“I’ll take her,” Anna offered. “Come on, chica.”
“Anna.” Cole’s voice was a warning and plea wrapped in one.
“Cole, you and Shane did things dirty. It didn’t have to come to this. This is all your fault. You can’t blame her for hesitating or retreating. Just give her her space.” My heart warmed at her defense. She reminded me of Karmella, how she would have been had she lived. She was always energetic, a smile on her face all the time; that’s why when she delivered such blunt phrases, it caught you off guard.
“Please don’t run away from us, darlin’.” Shane’s voice cracked. I turned towards the door, knowing I’d break down if I saw them shed even one tear.
“I’ll stay with her. She won’t go anywhere. She just needs some space,” Anna offered.
“Take Bobby,” Shane ordered.
Anna grabbed my hand and led me out t
o her red Ford Mustang convertible. Bobby had no problems catching up.
Chapter 25
As I got in her car, I turned on my phone again, just in case of an emergency.
“Talk to me, sweetie. What was all that about?” Anna was gentle in her probe, but I didn’t want to talk about it. I didn’t want to drum up all the reasons why controlling men scared the shit out of me.
“Are deaf and blind?” Bobby asked, cockiness in his stance.
Anna huffed beside him, waiting anxiously for him to get into the car. “Don’t push me, Robert. I’ll eat you alive.”
“I’ve already told you you can ravish me anytime you’d like.” He winked, slinking into the back seat. I smiled at their banter. My anxiety was still ever present, but they helped distract me a bit.
I fidgeted in my seat, uncomfortably restless as they settled in. Anna turned the key in the ignition and sped off towards the main road.
“What’s there to do around here?” she asked.
“At this time, pretty much the Honky Honk or Club Chango. Not much around here really,” I shrugged.
The second my phone went off, I jumped, shrieking as the ring split through the air. I fumbled to bring it to my ear in time. “Hello?”
“Hey stranger. It feels like forever since I’ve seen you. Jess and I are at the Honky Honk for karaoke and was wondering if you’d be up for joinin’ us.”
“Um, I’m in the car with Cole’s sister and Shane’s brother.”
“Well, bring ‘em. Wait, how old are they?” She backtracked, remembering the age limit to get into the bar.
“They’re old enough. We were looking for something to do, so I’ll see if they want to swing by for a bit.”
“Yay! See you soon.”
I laughed as I hung up. I could tell she’d already had a couple drinks. Not that she was drunk or even loopy, but she was loose. “We just got an invitation to karaoke at the Honky Honk.”
“Do they have drinks?” Bobby asked.
“Yes.”
“I’m there. Let’s go.”
I looked to Anna, waiting for her response. “Sure. What the hell.” She shrugged.
Ten minutes later we were walking into the crowded hang out. Suzie immediately waved us over.
“Wow. I don’t feel fat at all.” Anna frowned as she looked around.
“You’re not alone,” I said. “But you’re prettier than most of the girls in here despite being curvier. So don’t sweat it.” She smiled. I watched a bit of the unease leave her.
“Oh my God! Look at you. You’ve turned into a vixen. Whatever those men have done to you, I love it!” Suzie exclaimed, pulling me in for a hug.
“You definitely need to keep up this look. It’s great,” Jess said. I blushed at their compliments.
“Thanks, but it was actually Anna.” I pointed to her and made the appropriate introductions.
Turning me past Jim, sitting back with a beer and a lazy grin, Suzie directed me to an older gentleman with looks that rivaled George Clooney. He looked a little out of place here, dressed in baggier jeans with a black button up shirt and black air Nikes. “Karley, this is Van Epsteen. I used to work with him back in my modeling days.” That explains the model looks. His peppered hair was just long enough to run your fingers through it; his sun kissed skin was smooth, with minimal sides of aging. He could still model in an older men’s fashion magazine, or star in a men’s suit store commercial.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Karley. Suzie won’t shut up about you.” He extended his hand.
I laughed nervously. “I don’t know what she could have told you, but I hope it’s all good.”
“Nothing bad, I promise.” He smiled, his perfect white teeth gleaming, even beneath the lack-luster lighting of the bar. I took a step back; I couldn’t help but notice his appraisal of me.
Bobby stepped between us. “Let’s go grab a drink.”
“Rude much?” Anna bit out, glaring at him.
He shrugged. “I’m not about to let another man move in on my brother’s girl.”
“You mean the brother that lied to her?” Anna’s hands flew to her hips.
“He didn’t lie; he just didn’t tell her.”
“Same difference.”
“I definitely want to hear about that one,” Jess jumped in. I flushed. That was the last thing I wanted to talk about it.
Luckily, they dropped the subject as Anna and Bobby argued their way to the bar. I sat down next to Suzie.
“So, are you going to sing tonight?” She was nearly bouncing in her seat.
“I don’t know if I’m really in the singing mood tonight. It would probably be depressing if I did.”
“So.” She shrugged. “Your depressing is a million times better than their happy.” She made a motion to the stage where a cute blonde was destroying a Sugarland song.
“I don’t know.”
“What don’t you know?” Anna asked, setting a drink down in front of me.
“You didn’t have to get-“
“She’s refusing to sing karaoke,” Suzie broke in.
“I don’t blame her. You couldn’t pay me to get up there,” Anna said, pulling up a chair next to me. Jess and Van scooted down to make room for Bobby.
“No, but you don’t understand. The girl has a killer voice,” Jess interjected.
“Really?” Anna looked at me with a brow raised. I shrugged, looking down at the reddish-orange concoction she gave me.
“Come on, Karley. Me and Jess will sing one if you will.”
“I don’t really consider that a great deal to be makin’, sugar.” Jim chuckled, his arm going around Suzie’s shoulder.
“You’re not helping here,” she snapped. She turned her attention back to me. “Please,” she pleaded.
“What’s the big deal? Why are you so insistent that I sing tonight?” She was acting strange.
“You have a really pretty voice,” she stated.
“Ok, now I’m getting a little curious. Are you really that good, Karley?” Anna took a sip of her drink.
Suddenly all eyes were on me. “I’m not that good, guys.”
“That’s not what I hear,” Anna countered.
“I already told you, Suzie, if I sang tonight, it’d be depressing. Me and the guys had a fight. I’m just not in the right place.”
She pulled out her wallet and handed Jim a twenty. “Tell Joe to send me as many shots as that’ll buy.”
My eyes widened. “I hope you’re not planning to give them all to me.”
“Maybe.” She winked, lifting her half empty cup of something.
I took a deep sip of my drink. It went down smoothly, tasting vaguely familiar. “What is this?”
“Sex on the Beach.” Anna smiled wide. Moments later her phone beeped. She whipped it out. I had a suspicion that she was texting Cole, but didn’t want to accuse her and couldn’t think of a way to ask without insinuating distrust. I didn’t know her well enough to ask her outright.
Jim returned with a tray full of twenty shots. “Drink up, Karley. I already signed you up. Joe just needs your song choice.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “If you didn’t make Suzie so happy, I’d hate your guts right now.”
He laughed. “We’re doin’ this for your own good.”
“I don’t see how that’s possible.”
He looked at Suzie, but didn’t say anything, taking his seat.
I sighed. “What is it anyways?”
“Vodka and white Rum,” he replied, leaning into Suzie as he sat back.
“I thought you weren’t supposed to mix liquor?”
“You did last time.” Jess snickered.
I sighed. “Fine. But one of you better get me home safely tonight.”
“Done,” Suzie said, smacking her hand down on the wooden table top.
“Oh God. You’re not going to drink all of those, are you?” Anna asked, concern in her voice.
“Nah. Take a few with me. I’m su
re Bobby can drive, right?” I looked at him, sipping his beer.
“Sure.” He nodded.
“We’ll all do one with you,” Jess said, grabbing one off the tray. The rest of us girls copied her, taking a plastic shot cup.
In less than five minutes, we finished all the shots and my Sex on the Beach was gone, my cup sat empty with the others. I was feeling loose, my body having heated what felt like a good ten degrees.
“Alright, Suzie. You win.” I got up a little too fast after the binge; swirling a bit, I caught myself on the table. “Woah.”
“Need an escort?” Bobby asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
“No, uh, thanks.” I turned away from the table to hide what I was sure were red cheeks, and went over to the bar. “Hey, Joe,” I waved.
He handed a customer a beer before coming over. “Hey. What song did you decide on?”
“Against my will, I will be singing a sappy song. Or maybe an in-between song. I don’t know. I know it’s not in your usual catalogue, but by chance do you have Leona Lewis?”
“A couple of her songs, I think.”
“Do you have ‘Happy’?”
“Give me a sec and I’ll check with Warren. He’s running the show tonight.” I shook my head, slinking into a bar stool as he talked into some sort of ear piece. “We got it. You’ve got one person in front of you.”
“Ok, thanks.”
My nerves kicked up a notch when I returned to the table. The alcohol wasn’t exactly sitting well in my stomach despite my heavy dinner. I looked at the clock, surprised to see it was already quarter to ten. Karaoke ended at ten.
“I’m excited to hear you,” Anna exclaimed.
“Oh God. Now you sound like Suzie.”
We all silently listened to the person before me sing. They didn’t obliterate the song, but weren’t quite on key either. It only made me more anxious; afraid that I’d sound just like that. Leona was hard to sing. If I wasn’t on point, it would be blatantly obvious.
“Thank you, Sarah. And now, ladies and gentleman, we have one final singer for this evening. Please welcome to the stage, Karley Garcia.”
I shook my hands, rubbing them down my thighs as I stood. My heart pounded in my chest. The table erupted with cheers, which only made me more hesitant. I bit my lip, heading towards the stage.
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