by Joanne Ganci
“Yeah, sure.” James looks over in our direction. “Ahh, you must be Max.” He looks me up and down, clearly unimpressed. His gaze shifts to Lydia, “I’m with this asshole, you could do better. Happy birthday, Lyd.”
He leans over and kisses Lydia on the cheek. Then he turns around, grabbing the keys out of Julian’s hand, and leaves. I’m still trying to figure everything out when Rachael starts laughing, causing everyone else to follow suit. “Dude. Your face is priceless,” Beanie guy, I mean Zack, says. “I’ll save you the trouble. We’re all with Rachael, and Julian and I are together too.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t—”
“You’re good, bro. We’re different. I’m surprised you didn’t hear about us the second you stepped foot in Midland.”
“I can’t say I’m one to sit in on the gossip.”
“You must not have gone to Jack’s since you’ve been back. Betty makes it her job to fill everyone in on everything,” he laughs. “We really have to get going. Bye Lydia, Happy birthday.” He comes over, giving her a big hug.
Rachael follows his lead, stopping to whisper something in Lydia’s ear, that makes her giggle. Julian steps up and gives her a massive bear hug, shaking her around, making her giggles go wild. “Juliannnnn!”
He puts her down and ruffles her hair. “Night sis. Happy birthday, old lady.”
“You’re older than me!”
“Yeah, but I get better with age,” he tells her, winking. He takes the time to glare at me and follows his lovers out of the kitchen. We hear a shriek followed by giggles and the door shutting loudly.
“They’re too much. But so freakin’ adorable!” Mary says.
“More like vomit-inducing,” Lydia says, mock gagging.
Mary laughs and slides over, wrapping her arms around Lydia. She wishes her a happy birthday and turns toward me. Before I can say a quick goodbye, she jumps up and wraps her arms around me. “You treat her right, Maxwell,” she whispers in my ear. Backing away she smiles at both of us and makes her exit.
Thoroughly stunned, I stare off at the opening to the living room where a parade of Lydia’s family and friends just left through. Part of me wishes I stopped looking over there when Parker comes through with a scowl on his face. “Why is he here?”
“Parker, stop! I invited him,” she chastises, but I don’t miss the muttered, “apparently.”
“Whatever. I just came down for some water and aspirin. I’m going to bed,” he grumbles. We watch him as he moves about the kitchen, and the second he leaves my gaze immediately goes to Lydia. I’m surprised to see that she’s already looking at me.
“I didn’t want to say this in front of Parker, but why are you here, Max?”
“I’ll always come if you ask me to, Blondie. Plus,” I feel around my jacket pockets for her gift. “I had to give you this.” I pull the long, rectangular present from my pocket and hold it out for her.
“Wh-what’s that?”
“If I told you, then it wouldn’t be a surprise. Go ahead, open it.”
She takes it from my hand and stares down at it. “You didn’t have to get me anything.”
“I wanted to.”
She looks up at me and smiles. “Okay,” she nods. Slowly she takes off the wrapping to find a black velvet box. Snapping it open, she reveals the charm bracelet with a single charm on it. “Is that Tinkerbell?”
“Yeah,” I tell her, my hand coming up to cup the back of my neck. I can’t tell what she thinks, and I feel my cheeks heating as I wait for her reaction.
“Why Tinkerbell?” she asks, her big blue eyes wide and curious.
“When we went out on our date, I thought you looked like Tinkerbell’s naughty country cousin.”
Laughing, she looks down at the bracelet. She walks over to the kitchen island and sets the box down. Pulling the bracelet out, she drapes it over her wrist. “Could you get this clasp for me, Cowboy?”
A smile covers my face, and I move next to her, catching her wrist in my hands and turning it over. I make quick work of fastening the clasp and stroke my thumb over her wrist once I’m done. My eyes dart up to her when her breaths start coming out heavier. Her eyes are closed and I watch her as she lets out a heavy breath and her eyes flutter open. Caught in another heated staring match, I can’t help but run my thumb over her wrist once more before dropping it altogether. Clearing my throat, I tell her, “I should get going.”
She nods, then shakes her head, as if to clear the fog. “You have a much farther drive than everyone, are you sure you should be driving home so late?”
Her caring words hit me square in the chest. “I’ll be fine, Blondie. I’ve got a big truck. Puddles aren’t a threat.”
A bark of laughter escapes her mouth, “Shit. That was loud.” Her hand snaps up to cover her mouth, quieting her laughter, but barely. She stumbles forward, and I catch her. Her hands automatically move to my chest, to steady herself. If I don’t leave now, I’m definitely going to lose control and kiss her. Maybe I can just steal one kiss? The only problem is, I don’t know if I could stop there, and with how much she’s had to drink, I don’t think she would stop me. That’s a recipe for disaster, and I would never take advantage of her like that. Leaning down, I press my lips to her temple. I’ll admit I linger a bit too long, when she releases a contented sigh.
I pull away from her, and gaze into the deep pools of her eyes once more. Cupping her jaw, I run my thumb over her cheek. “Happy Birthday, Blondie.” Dropping my hand, I give her a quick hug and start walking toward the front door.
Just before I open it, I hear her call out my name. I turn my head, to look over my shoulder. She holds up her wrist. “Thank you. I love it.” A quick smile and a nod, and I move outside, running through the steady rain to my truck. Then I drive the entire way home with a massive grin on my face because my girl fucking loves me.
Lydia
28
“Earth to Lydia!” My gaze snaps up to Riley, when she starts snapping her manicured fingers in my face. “Damn, girl! I knew you were jumpy, but what’s with the deer in the headlights routine?” she asks in her husky drawl.
I can’t seem to find my voice, so I just turn my phone over to her.
Max: Sounds great. See ya in a couple hours, Blondie.
She throws her head back, her candy red hair swaying, as she laughs hysterically. “You asked him to hang out. Why the hell are you freakin’ out?”
“I don’t know. He wasn’t supposed to say yes. He should have been busy working or something. What the fuck am I going to do?”
“Go down to his farm and take a ride...on his tractor, obviously.” She’s laughing so hard, she barely got the words out to finish her terrible joke.
“You are absolutely no fucking help, Riley.” I huff. Tossing my phone onto Parker’s coffee table, I sink into the couch. Maybe if I’m lucky, it’ll swallow me whole and I won’t have to worry about any of this shit.
I hear the distinct sound of a boot kicking the door open, telling me Parker finally wheeled himself out from under that rickety hunk of metal he’s been fixing up for months, in between jobs. “I can hear your cackle from all the way down there, Riley. Please tell me y’all made some lunch while you were up here.”
“Excuse you?” Riley rises from her position on the couch, standing a couple inches taller than Parker with her fire engine red heels. “I could one hundred percent take your ass, Parker Joseph.” He steps up to her, so they’re mere inches from each other. I perk up a little, not entirely sure if this will come to blows or not. Parker’s mouth ticks up at the side, and I sink back into the couch.
“Damn right you could.” He leans in and kisses her cheek.
She relaxes her stance and slaps his ass when he starts to walk away. “You know it! Now take your fine ass into that kitchen, and make me a sandwich!”
“You guys make no sense. You know that, right?” It’s true. Riley blew into town a few years ago, like only she could. She’s always dressed to the
nines, different color—each one seeming to compliment her umber skin tone more than the last—in her hair every time I see her, and nails impeccably done. When I first saw them together, I was wondering: what in the hell is this goddess doing with my quiet mechanic brother? They are polar opposites, but they’ve been great friends since she came into town.
“You know I love to keep people guessing. Plus, your brother is a terrific wingman or Beaver Dam. Whichever is needed. Aren’t you Parker?”
Popping up from my lounged position I look over at her, “Beaver Dam?”
“Yeah, you know. It’s like Cock Block, but for women. Sometimes you just need a little cliterference, and your brother’s always got my back,” she tells me with a fucking straight face.
I lose my fucking mind laughing, “That is fucking gold! You’re amazing!”
“You should have seen this fucking dude that was practically worshiping the ground she walked on the other night. It was fucking pathetic,” Parker snorts. “I almost didn’t want to step in, he clearly needed to get laid.”
“That was never going to happen.” She rolls her eyes and narrows her gaze on him.
“I know. That’s why I stepped in. The second he saw me wrap my arm around you, he scurried off.”
“And I didn’t have to reject him. Wins all around.”
“Except for the guy,” I add.
“He wasn’t my type. I like ‘em dirty. He was way too clean cut for me. I need a man that’s gonna keep up with me.”
“I don’t think there’s anyone that could ever keep up with you, Rye,” Parker points out.
“True,” she nods her head, staring off with this look of longing on her face.
“You’re going to find someone, Riley,” I tell her, putting my hand on her knee to try to comfort her.
“Oh, don’t you worry about me, honey. I think you have enough worrying to do for yourself in the man department.”
Great. I almost forgot.
“I thought you rejected that prick.”
“Oh, no. She’s going to see him after she leaves here. She’s gonna go ri—”
“RILEY!” Parker and I shout in unison.
“What? I was talkin’ bout his tractor! Cause you think it’s sexy. Y’all got your minds in the gutter,” she laughs.
“You’re the worst.” I shake my head at her, smiling. I still don’t know how I feel about hanging out with Max alone, but I’m so much more relaxed after Riley’s antics. It’s hard not to have a constant smile on your face when she’s around.
∞∞∞
I pull up to the farm, my entire body humming with nervous energy. The heft of my charm bracelet, glaringly obvious when I shift the car into park. I look down at the Tinkerbell charm, and a smile winds its way onto my face. Max really is the fucking sweetest man I’ve ever met. I wish this made things easier for me, but I’m even more conflicted than I was before. There is just so much history between us, and I’m having a hard time sifting through the good and bad to figure out what I want. The one thing I can’t ignore is that I want to be around him. It barely registered that I had texted him, only truly hitting me when his reply came in.
I didn’t think far enough ahead to ask what we were doing, but considering we never got to go for that ride—and riding his fingers certainly doesn’t count—I came prepared. After I left Parker’s I went home and changed into my boots, a tank top, flannel, and my best jeans. What? All of my other jeans were dirty, it’s just an added bonus that my ass looks fantastic in these.
I shut the door to my purple Mini Cooper and shove my keys into my pocket. Looking around, I don’t see anyone. I know Max worked the farmer’s market today, but he said he would be back by now. I shoot him a text to let him know I’m here and head over to the stables to wait for him.
Just before I walk through the wide opening of the barn door, I hear his melodious voice. I can see the cords of his headphones hanging down from his ears, so I know he has no idea I’m here. Standing just in the opening, I take a moment to admire him. He has a gorgeous black horse set up at the end of the barn with cross-ties. He’s perched on a stool, working his way through cleaning out the horse’s hoof. His tight black t-shirt is stretched to the brink over his broad shoulders. My gaze flows down his back, admiring the muscles, that I can already see a difference in since he came home. He was definitely in shape when he got here, but working on the farm has done wonders in defining his already impressive muscles.
Even with the distraction of his sexy shoulders working, I take note of his singing. He always had a beautiful voice, with that country twang that just soothes the soul. When he would perform back in the day, he would captivate his audience from the moment the first note rang out. It was never a surprise that someone took note of him, he’s incredibly talented. The song he’s singing changes and I recognize the gut-wrenching words of Lee Brice’s I Drive Your Truck. The captivating emotion behind his voice wraps around me, reaching right into my chest, taking hold of my heart.
I’m so lost in his words, I shut my eyes and just bask in his raw talent. When he stops singing, I take a moment before opening my eyes. When I do, I’m surprised to see him standing next to the horse looking over at me. “Why’d you stop?”
“I didn’t realize I had an audience. How long you been standing there?”
Walking closer to him, I tell him, “Just a few minutes. That was beautiful, Max.” He looks down at the ground, seeming embarrassed that I caught him singing. “I thought you would be used to an audience by now, Mr. Country Star.” I smirk, trying to lighten the mood.
“It’s been a long time since I had someone I care about listen to me sing. Dad never came to any of my shows, and Mama could only get away to see a few of them.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Nah, I honestly preferred it that way. Singing and Midland were two different parts of my life. When they mixed, it felt like a betrayal. Every show that Mama came to, I couldn’t help but think of home and dwell on the fact that my career is what brought me away from it.” The pained look on his face as he sifts through those memories breaks my heart a little. I didn’t realize how conflicted he was. I was always under the impression that he just walked away, free and clear. I didn’t think that his dream would be tainted in any way, and I kind of hate myself a little bit for doing that to him. I open my mouth to speak, but I can’t find the words to apologize for what I did to him. Before I get the chance, he clears his throat. “You didn’t come here to listen to me whine about my bullshit.”
“Max…”
He gives me a small smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “I figured we could go for that ride,” he says, before turning around and moving over to where the saddles are hanging up. “I just got done cleaning up Jerry, here. Let me get him tacked up, and we can work on getting Mandy ready for you.”
Deciding to let the conversation go, I walk up next to Jerry, holding my hand out to let him smell me before petting him. “This one of the geldings you were telling me about?”
“Yeah. His brother, Tom, is out in the pasture. He’s not nearly as fond of the saddle as Jerry. I need to work with him on it some more.” He comes over, lays the saddle pad across Jerry’s back, and goes back over to the wall.
“Tom and Jerry, huh?”
“Hey, I didn’t name them. That was dear ol’ Dad. Pretty sure Uncle Caleb had some influence too.”
I chuckle, while my hand grazes down Jerry’s flank. “That doesn’t surprise me. They always had the sense of humor of children when they got together.”
“You’re damn right about that one. I’ll just be another minute, did you want to get Mandy out of her stall?” he asks, stepping up to Jerry’s left side. I’m distracted by the drool worthy flexing of his biceps as he hefts the saddle up and over, gently placing it on Jerry’s back. I watch as his muscles dance, while he adjusts the saddle. When he stops moving, I realize I’ve been standing there staring at him.
“Uh...wh-what did you say?”
Blinking up at his face, I see the humor swirling in his gray eyes, showing off the little crinkles around them. Between his eyes and the satisfied smirk on his face, I know damn well he caught me checking him out.
“I asked if you wanted to get Mandy out of her stall, Blondie. If you’d rather objectify me, I’m perfectly okay with that.”
“I can do both, thank you very much,” I retort over my shoulder, as I stomp off toward Mandy’s stall. Did I really just say that? His bark of laughter that follows me tells me, I definitely fucking did.
I grab Mandy’s halter off the hook just outside of her stall and open the door. Closing the door gently behind me, I turn around and greet her. “Hey, girl.” She picks her head up from her feed, giving me a little side eye. “It’s been a long time, gorgeous,” I coo. Slowly she makes her way over to me. Just as I did with Jerry, I hold my hand out, giving her the chance to smell me. After a couple sniffs, she picks her head up and nudges my shoulder. She continues to nudge me, in a horsey hug and tears start to prick my eyes. “Aww, baby. You remember me, don’t you? I’ve missed you so much. I’m so sorry I haven’t been around.” I embrace her gently, running my hands over her withers and down her shoulders, whispering to her softly.
Max
29
When I finish tightening the cinch and checking everything, I look up to see that Lydia has disappeared into Mandy’s stall. “What could they possibly be up to in there, Jer?” I question, absentmindedly stroking his flank. His answering whinny makes me chuckle. “I know, boy. I’ll be right back.” I lean over and give his chest a quick scratch before making my way over to check on the girls.
“That’s right, baby. I’ve missed you too, girl,” Lydia says softly, in that tone I’ve always heard her use with the horses. She’s always been so at home with the horses. I remember when I first took her to the farm. We had only had Mandy for a few months, and she really wasn’t fond of anyone beside my parents. I was giving Lydia a tour, and as I’m showing off Bucky, she got completely sidetracked. Going right over to Mandy. At first, I didn’t notice, but when I turned around, I saw her approaching the young mare. I opened my mouth to warn her, but when she held out her hand Mandy didn’t shy away. Their instant bond was made so much stronger over the years, and we all jokingly called Mandy, Lydia’s horse.