Botie…

I wake up to a banging on the side of my truck. “Wake up asshole! Your dad sent me out looking for your sorry ass and it’s too early in the damn morning. This better be a damn good story. Your dad was worried that you were going to give that woman a bad reputation by having your truck parked in her front yard overnight and I was wondering what decade your dad was living in, but I came looking for you anyway and guess where I find you—at our fishing hole smelling like you spent your night in a damn brewery. I can smell you from here and you didn’t invite me. How dare you treat your lifelong buddy that way.” I just want Trask to shut up so I can remember what happened. My mouth is as dry as the damn desert and my head is pounding. I try to sit up and my stomach contents lurch, but I am able to keep it down. I sit up and pull myself up and over by the steering wheel and open the door. I then look at the passenger side floor board and that is all it takes. I lunge from the truck and make it out in time for everything in my stomach to come up. “Damn, Botie, you just threw up all over my work boots.” I couldn’t care less. I just want him to shut up. “What the hell happened to you? The last thing I knew you were seeing Lyric at her house for a homecooked meal.” The night comes rushing back to me all at once. What the hell did I do? I am ashamed for the things I said to that sweet woman. I empty my stomach again but it’s more like dry heaves. When I am through, Trask hands me a bottle of water. I first swish some in my mouth and wash my nasty mouth out and then I take a long drink. I think I am going to up-chuck again, but it stays down and then I take a slower drink. It goes down better and it helps with the dry mouth for a few seconds. I feel like I could cry but there is no way I am crying in front of anyone.

“Tell me what happened?”

“I went to dinner at Lyric’s and we were having an enjoyable time and getting to know each other. I know she is my one. I had her and then I blew it. I asked her to be my girl and we had the sex talk. You know the awkward one about our first, only she didn’t want to know my first sex experience, but my first love and it went downhill from there. We talked about Hawkins and Talia and I didn’t know I was still so raw about it. I told her that I invited them for the Fourth of July and she said something—I don’t even remember what it was—and I got nasty with her.” I stand up and stretch my back. “My mom and dad would be ashamed of me and I am ashamed of myself. She asked me about helping with the barn and I told her if she spread her legs for me then I would do the labor for her. I told her you could give her exactly what she wanted.” I don’t see it coming. Trask slams his fist in my face and he doesn’t stop until I start throwing up the water I consumed. Then Trask backs off and catches his breath and starts yelling at me.

“You are a total ass, Botie. Lyric has been through enough without throwing Hawkins and Talia’s shit at her. What did she say? Was she taking up for you and you got your little feelings hurt because Lyric was talking bad about your precious Talia? You did the same damn thing to me right after it happened, but I’m a man and I can whip your ass any day of the week. Did you leave her crying by herself? Don’t you even know that’s what her mom did to her all her life—taking everyone else’s side but Lyric’s. When you screw things up, you do it good. I should tell your mom and dad, so they can chew your ass. Don’t forget that Haddie and Nick are going to be on your ass too.” Trask is disappointed at me but by this afternoon he will be helping me figure out a way to fix this. What the hell happened to the side of your Truck? I pick myself up and look at my truck and the memory of Lyric smearing those fried pies down my truck with fire in her eyes comes to mind. She was so beautiful.

“That would be what is left of my mom’s fried blackberry pies that I took for dessert last night. Lyric was so enraged that she smeared them down my truck and it was the most beautiful sight I have ever seen even though I was busy spewing garbage out of my mouth.” I need to make her forgive me.

“You have made a mess this time. It’s usually me but you have topped me, and you have fallen in love again. Let’s get you home before your dad sends out the law and we’ll figure something out or find someone that can help you. I don’t know how women think but you better be ready to grovel—a lot—and Botie, don’t ever do that to Lyric again. I considered going after that beauty, but I knew the two of you had a connection. I am not one to shoot down my best friend, but if you do this shit again then you don’t deserve her, and I will not hesitate to get me a piece of that girl. She’s had a hard time and I have a big shoulder for her to cry on.” I look at Trask and he is serious. “You need to deal with this thing with Talia. I don’t want to see Lyric hurt.”

“I didn’t want to admit it to myself, but I am in love with Lyric. I don’t know how it happened, but it’s true. I love her, and she won’t even talk to me, so I can tell her, and I can’t blame her.” I need her to forgive me.

“You’ve had your tear in your beer and it’s time to strategize and fight for her. Come on Botie, you are a stubborn jackass so use it.” Trask is right, and I am glad he is on my side.