Jhett reached down to grab my hands and gently pulled my body up next to his as we stood together. I refused to let go of him for fear that I wouldn’t be able to stand on my own, with the way my head was still spinning. “Come on, let’s go and get you at least semi-fixed up. And just to warn you, you have a visitor who won’t leave. Believe me when I say I’ve tried all morning.” He didn’t hide his irritation.
With my arm wrapped around Jhett’s middle, I shuffled next to him and into the kitchen, not even bothering to glance in Ginger’s direction. Instead, I leaned my body weight against my arms on the island counter. It wasn’t that I was mad at her – I made my own choices – but I was irritated that she kept me going, instead of at least having the decency to cut me off.
“Nice threads. Glad you got so dressed up for me.” Ginger sat on one of the barstools, her head resting on her propped up arm. I gave her the same miserable look I gave to Jhett earlier. “Feeling that good, huh?” Ginger joked. “I’m surprised you’re not a zombie right now after last night. You’re a riot to party with.”
Her voice echoed through my skull. Why did she have to be so loud? “Did you come all this way just to harass me some more, or do you actually have something important to contribute to the conversation? Maybe like….saying I’m sorry?” Both Ginger and Jhett’s mouths fell open. “WHAT?” I yelled, as I threw my hands out to my sides and stood up.
“Did she hit her head last night, too? I didn’t think a few drinks would make her that angry,” Ginger asked Jhett. He shook his head and laughed while he sat a glass of water down in front of me next to a couple of tiny, white pills. I didn’t take my eyes off of Ginger.
“Maybe I’m just irritated that no one even considered telling me to stop? Did that ever cross that little mind of yours? Or was it just too much fun watching me make a fool out of myself in front of all your friends? ‘Oh, look at poor Charlie. She can’t handle herself.’ Is that what it was?” If my life were a cartoon, smoke would of shot out my ears.
The color drained from Ginger’s face. It may have been the traces of alcohol still in my blood, or my unnaturally harsh anger at her behavior, but I burned hot again and wasn’t tolerating anyone’s bullshit.
“You were having fun. It feels good to let loose every once in a while. In fact, you were the one who kept asking for refills. I didn’t know you had it in you.” She spoke fast as her words hit me hard.
I got a funny feeling she was telling the truth. Guilt overwhelmed me as my audience looked at me with confusion. I was ashamed in the way I acted. I pushed myself off the counter, a sudden rush of blood going straight to my head. My balanced wavered, just as my stomach tried to make its way up my throat again. Every muscle stiffened in an attempt to stop myself from being sick.
Jhett was at my side the instant he knew something was wrong. “You don’t look good, babe. Why don’t you go back into the-“
I couldn’t choke it down anymore. Flinging my hands out and pushing Jhett to the side, I ran to the closest door I could find. I made it past the wood deck and into the bushes before my stomach emptied itself again. I dropped down to my knees onto the damp ground, while hot tears ran down my face as I continued to heave. This was what hell felt like.
Large hands rubbed my back as I gasped for air. My cheeks became even hotter at the realization that he probably was there the whole time while I retched up the nothingness left in my stomach. Real cute, Charlie. There’s a reason mama told you drinking was for fools. “I’m so sorry,” I mumbled into my hands. It was all I could manage to say to him.
“Don’t apologize to me. You don’t know how many times I’ve been where you are and believe me, I remember just how badly it sucks.” Jhett pulled me up by my elbow and we walked over to the deck steps together. He didn’t hesitate to tuck me into his side, vomit breath and all. “You know, I think those rose bushes needed watering anyway. They’ll thank you for the extras you gave them.”
I moaned into his chest. I was never going to live this down. “Really? You couldn’t have waited a few more minutes after I hurled all over the backyard to make fun of me?”
Jhett’s chest rumbled with laughter. “I couldn’t help it. Besides, after everything you said last night, I deserve to poke some fun your way.” I knew I went too far the night before, but I still couldn’t remember a thing. “I think my girlfriend still owes me a lap dance, seeing as how she passed out right after she promised one to me.”
Jhett’s words made me stiffen. I couldn’t possibly have heard him right. “Excuse me?” I pulled back from his shoulder, allowing enough room between us so that I could look directly into his eyes.
A knowing smirk crept over his lips, and his eyes danced with a matching mischievous glow. “You can tell Hannah she’s wrong.” Jhett leaned in and kissed my forehead. My pulse instantly raced as the fuzzy light-headed feeling took over again. I once again choked everything back down. I refused to get sick. I might have been thinking like a lovestruck teenager, but hearing the word ‘girlfriend’ come out of Jhett’s mouth was butterfly-inducing for me and he knew it. My mind couldn’t formulate a response. I just bit my lip and tried to stay calm. “Let’s get back inside,” Jhett offered. “You’re the lucky one. You get to stay home and recoup. I, however, have to go deal with super bitch Barbie all day. The rest of the kitchen shipment is supposed to arrive, and then we can start getting ready for opening day.”
I rose to my feet with him still at my side and slipped my hand into his, letting our fingers lace together. “I know she’s your sister and all, but that doesn’t mean I have to forgive her just yet. I made my own decisions, and I accept that, but I just wish she could have stopped me at some point,” I explained, as we walked through the open patio door and back into the kitchen. Ginger was nowhere to be found, and I was glad that she might have actually got the hint.
When we were completely inside, Jhett reached up underneath my arms and set me on top of the counter next to the sink, and was gone back down the hall before I could respond. Within moments, he returned with my toothbrush, ready for me to use. I raised my eyebrows. “Are you trying to tell me something? I mean, I know I just yakked all over the rose bushes, but….”
“But, nothing. Brush your teeth. I know how you girls are about that stuff, and it’s killing me to not be able to kiss you.” He began to dig through the fridge and cabinets, pulling out pans for breakfast.
I turned towards the sink and cleaned my teeth; careful not to let him see the smile that appeared on my face. He was right. There was no way I wanted my face close to his after what just happened.
He continued to talk while I finished at the sink. “As for Gracie – you’re right. You both are somewhat to blame for last night. She told me she would be on her best behavior, yet she didn’t stop you from getting worse once you slipped past the point of no return. And because I know how bad you’re hurting right now, I’ll spare you a lecture, but you should know that she already got an earful from me. She’s probably dreading spending the rest of the afternoon with me, now.”
I kicked my feet underneath me. “Yeah. I guess I’m just more upset with myself than at her. I don’t have many girlfriends out here, you know? I would have looked out for her if the roles were reversed, but I think she may just have a troubled heart right now,” I thought out loud, the free space in front of me consuming my vision.
“I know that you like to find the good in everyone, but don’t let her get off that easy. That’s what she’s used to.” Jhett planted a quick kiss on my cheek while he finished making my favorite breakfast – bacon and eggs.
Maybe Jhett was right about Ginger. Maybe she really did expect people to feel sorry for her, and that’s why she acted the way she did; she was constantly on a back-and-forth roller coaster of being happy and being miserable. I didn’t know how she could live her life that way. I couldn’t stand for people to feel sorry for me after Cameron died, but she thrived on it. I had no plans to tell either of them, but I alread
y forgave her. It may be one of my weaknesses, but the good-hearted Ginger was in there somewhere if Cameron was able to love her the way that he did, so could I.
I practically fell into a booth from exhaustion. We spent weeks of nothing but manual labor and tough love, trying to get the restaurant looking like an actual working shop instead of an abandoned building. This also meant that I was face-to-face with Ginger on days that I helped. She had yet to apologize to me and we tried to avoid each other at all costs, which was easy, seeing as how she was known for skipping out and leaving multiple times during the day. Even though I forgave her in my own mind, I was still left with mixed feelings about her. I couldn’t understand how one minute she was so happy for Jhett and I, and the next she was a diabolic mastermind. Something changed in her, but I quickly learned, thanks to the recruited help of Jhett’s friends, that I wasn’t the only one she burned her bridges with recently.
The high-speed fans drummed in my ears as I closed my eyes and relaxed against the wall behind me, letting my feet extend over the red seat. The heat of the summer was in full swing already and I was miserable. I was used to the sticky heat of Tennessee, but this was a different kind of humid all together. We were only about a week away from the fourth of July, the prospective opening date of the not-yet-named restaurant. The planner in me couldn’t stand that Jhett didn’t have a name. It wasn’t because there was a shortage of names being thrown around – no – it was because Jhett couldn’t settle on the ‘perfect’ one.
The clanging sound of metal falling to the ground made my head snap up.
“Dammit. It shouldn’t be this hard. These directions don’t make any sense.” Jhett roared behind the counter, making it hard to suppress a laugh. Danny and Jhett spent the past hour trying to figure out how to install the metal surface of the bar behind the counter. I was actually impressed that Jhett even attempted to look at the directions. He was definitely a figure-it-out-as-you-go guy.
I laughed as the two of them fired insults back and forth at each other. This was a normal life for all of us now, and I got a feeling that things would get even crazier once we opened for business. I agreed to help Jhett work the floor during the day, as long as he worked in the kitchen. He even hired a few other people to help fill in the gaps, but overall, it was just the two of us. Ginger made it clear that she was only there for the business end of things. But honestly, it was the most normal I ever felt in my whole life.
A buzzing noise echoed across the finished checkout counter as Jhett’s phone went off. “Charlie, can you do me a favor? I need you to run back home and pick up some paperwork from the kitchen counter and meet Gracie with it.” Jhett’s greased head of hair popped up from behind the counter in the kitchen.
Meeting his eyes, my nose wrinkled at the mention of Ginger. “Does it have to happen right now?” I complained. Usually I wasn’t whiny, but I was so tired lately that no amount of sleep made a difference. Combine that with the fact that I needed to do something nice for his sister, and I was just not in the mood.
Jhett’s features hardened. “I know, believe me, I know. I just really need you to do this for me. Please?” He leaned against the almost finished metal countertop on his elbows, while flirtatiously batting his eyelashes the best he could in my direction.
“Oh, alright. Just because I like you, I’ll do it. But only paperwork…that’s it.” I pointed my finger at him accusingly. He wore his best up-to-no-good smile that sent my stomach into knots. I got up from my seat in the booth and met Jhett in the hall right before the back door. When he finally reached me, my arms tangled around his shoulder as he pressed me up to him and twirled me around in a circle. A childish squeal escaped my lips. Being in his arms was pure bliss.
Before setting me down on my feet again, he planted a tiny kiss on the tip of my nose. “Have I told you how gorgeous you are today?” he asked, his hands resting comfortably on my hips.
I shook my head and looked down at the floor playfully. “I’m covered in sweat and grime. This is anything but cute.” I shifted my weight from one foot to the other and looked up into his eyes.
“Just the way I like you.” Jhett leaned down and playfully nipped at the tender flesh of my collarbone. I let out a soft but muffled moan next to his ear. “Keep doing that, and we’re going to have to christen the bathroom…” he warned; which had the effect of making my legs practically give out underneath me before I pulled myself closer to him with more force.
“I’m not even going to argue with you this time. I’ll do anything to keep from having to be alone with your sister…” A chuckle came from Jhett, which caused me to pull back away from him. “What? I’m serious.” I threw my hands out in frustration.
“I know. Now go play nice and have fun. I’ll have Danny drive me home when we’re done.” He swooped in for one more quick kiss before turning to go back to the kitchen.
I sighed as I mentally prepared myself for what was about to happen. Have fun? Who was he kidding? Make sure I come out with less scratches than her was more like it.
Irritation pulsed through my veins when I walked up the steps to the door of Jhett’s house. Ginger was supposed to be there waiting for me, but in true Ginger fashion, she was nowhere to be found. She would probably end up strolling through the door in an hour or two, and try to act like I was the one who was late.
Once inside, I shut the door and tossed my keys and purse onto the table in the foyer. In a way, I was thankful for the change of plans. This meant that I might actually get a much needed nap in. Reaching in the fridge, I grabbed a bottle of water, when a sound from one of the rooms down the hall left me frozen in fear.
Panic quickly spread throughout my body. Someone was in the house. It was my worst nightmare. Frantically, I searched the kitchen for the closest sharp object, producing a butcher knife from the block on the counter. I held my breath as I crept on my tiptoes down the hall.
Another boom caught me off guard. It came from ‘my’ room. I hadn’t spent much time in there since I moved in, because things with Jhett escalated pretty quickly. I reached for the doorknob with one hand and raised the knife above my head with the other. Squeezing my eyes shut with hope that I could figure out how to defend myself, I flung the door open with my shoulder.
“DON’T MOVE! I HAVE A KNIFE!” I shouted into the dim room. My adrenaline spiked so high, I could have been one of those people who tossed cars around with one hand. I scanned the room furiously before my eyes landed on a small, shadowy frame in the corner.
“Seriously? That’s what you would do if someone broke in? ‘Don’t move. I have a knife.’” Laughter spilled out from the mocking figure that stood in front of me. I was so scared and confused that it was difficult to focus. I just stood there stupidly with my mouth to the floor. “Okay, let’s just put this knife away before you hurt someone, Rambo.”
I blinked, trying to make sense of what happened. “HANNAH!” I slammed the knife down flat on the dresser and tackle-hugged her, causing both of us to fall backwards onto the bed. “How did you -? Why are you -? Heavens to Betsy, I almost killed you!” I shrieked. I didn’t realize how much I missed her until she was next to me.
“I highly doubt you could’ve done anything to me with that knife. As for how and why – apparently you’ve got a birthday coming up and I’m your early present,” she beamed, bouncing her shoulders up and down in excitement. There were so many more questions I wanted to ask her, but none of them mattered. I finally had my best friend with me. Life couldn’t get any better.
We settled onto the bed, folding our legs under us as we sat across from one another like we were back in high school. I tried to go over everything since the moment I stepped off the plane. Hannah heard most of it already, but she demanded a play-by-play with no details left to the imagination. A week or so had passed since we talked, and now I knew why. Hannah was horrible at keeping secrets. She definitely would have let this one slip.
“You’re joking. I can’t believe she w
ould do something like that. It just doesn’t add up.” She tried to figure out the story about Ginger and the bonfire.
“What about her is confusing you? She’s batshit crazy.” Maybe I was over-exaggerating, but she wasn’t on my nice list at the moment.
“Because she’s the one who called me and bought my ticket out here. She even picked me up from the airport and dropped me off. She said you were feeling homesick, and since it was almost your birthday she wanted to surprise you.” Hannah’s bright eyes shone under her chestnut bangs. I couldn’t tear myself away from the sincerity in them.
“That doesn’t make any sense….” My mind worked in overdrive as it tried to put everything together. Maybe Ginger wasn’t so bad after all. “I still don’t know…” I trailed off in thought.
“What’s there to know? I’m here in sunny California with you while you’re shacked up with some hot Adam Levine look-a-like, and you’re happy. I’ve been your friend for as long as I can remember, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this. You’re glowing, girl.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me up off the bed to spin me around. I couldn’t help the giddiness I felt at her being there, so I happily obliged. “Now where’s this hot hunk of man meat?” She peeked her head out the bedroom door, as if anyone else were there to see us, and took a look around before dragging me back down the hall towards the kitchen.
I choked at Hannah’s comment. “Um, first of all his name is Jhett, and he’s still down at the restaurant, working. When I left he said he would have his friend drop him off later.” We made an abrupt stop at the end of the hall.
Hannah looked around with wide eyes. “I saw this place when I first got here, but jeez, it’s like a schizophrenic hippie lives here. Are you sure he’s a musician?” She laughed to herself as she walked around the counter in the middle of the kitchen, letting her hand run along the edges.
“This is just so crazy to me, Charlie. You know, your mom and dad are really ticked at you. They’ve only told my parents where you are. Everyone else thinks you’re at some elite summer program for college. I mean that’s how you know you’re on their shit list – they’re lying to the country club about you!” She finally made her way into the living room and flopped down on the couch.
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