Chapter Fifteen
Reed and I had fallen right back in to the old pattern we had created. Hanging out throughout the week, staying up late talking became somewhat natural.
During the week he stayed busy with the jobs he had lined up throughout town, remodeling a bathroom here and building a back porch there. Between the side jobs and the bar, he stayed busy. It made him happy, though, you could see it in his eyes.
Halloween fell on a Thursday, and I planned to take Rhett out to visit a few places. The candy wasn’t really the reasoning behind it, it was more to show off how cute he looked.
His little Woody costume fit him perfectly, and the boots Reed got him pulled it all together. I planned to start at my parents’ house. My momma was itching to fill up the memory card for her new camera. I still couldn’t get over the fact that it was permanently attached to her. She photographed everything. I do mean everything. Some I deleted when she wasn’t looking.
I could understand capturing the embarrassing photos to share with Rhett’s girlfriends when he got older. Those photos were fine, but nowhere had I ever heard of embarrassing photos of the mommy. I would not have some of those moments following me forever.
By the time we made it back home, Rhett was exhausted and beyond cranky. Once he was bathed and in his jammies, I took advantage of his cuddling mood. Wandering the room with his little body held snuggly in my arms, I swayed from side to side.
“I love you, Buddy,” I whispered against his temple as I watched his eyes begin to grow heavy. “Daddy loved you too. One day I’ll tell you all about what a great guy your daddy was. How excited he was when he found out he was having a son. He had it all planned out.” I carefully lowered myself to the recliner and rocked gently.
“He said he was going to teach you how to throw a curve ball...how to dunk the basketball and make all the little girls swoon.” I grinned and let my head fall backward against the chair. I pictured the time Blake talked about making our son into a ladies’ man.
“He’ll have them lined up around the block, babe. We are going to be in trouble with this one. He’ll wink, and they’ll have weak knees. My boy is gonna be a ladies’ man.”
I laughed, and Blake kissed my protruding stomach.
“What’s so funny?” He traced around my belly button and looked up at me. “My little man is going to be the shit. The coolest clothes, the sweetest moves.”
A distinctive thump against Blake’s hand led us both break out in laughter. “See, I told ya, even he knows I’m right.”
I had no doubt Blake would have been training Rhett to be a little player, making even a grown woman smile. Blake always tried to appear tough, rebellious, and maybe even a little cocky. That was just an outer shell; he was the opposite. His heart was made of gold, and he was so kind and gentle, the exact man you would want as the father of your children. The kind of man they respected, and he knew just how to treat a lady.
When I knew Rhett was in a deep sleep, I placed him in his tractor bed. He was in love with this bed. It even had a horn. Crazy, I know, but the perfect bed for my sweet boy. I flipped on the nightlight on the top of his dresser. I pulled the door shut, leaving it slightly cracked.
***
Friday flew by without too much drama. One of my students ate glue, another colored his teeth with a green crayon. Other than that, things were smooth.
Just after three, my phone beeped, indicating a new message.
You free tonight? Lucky’s having a band. You girls should stop by.
R
It had been awhile since I had gone out. Maybe a couple hours away would do me good.
Let me check with Maria. I’ll let ya know.
Sounds good. R
Once I gathered all my things, I met Maria just as she was walking out of her classroom. She looked as if she had suffered from one hell of a day. Her hair was sticking out on the side, ponytail crooked, and her eyebrows were scrunched up.
“What happened to you? Were you mauled?” I could no longer contain my laughter. I attempted to hide it the best I could behind my hand. It was a completely failed endeavor.
“Never, and I do mean never, will I ever do that project again. Not with third grade boys. They painted each other instead of the paper. I was scrubbing paint off the ceiling. It was in my damn ear, Kori. It turned into a war zone.” She groaned, and her explanation of her distraught state only made me laugh harder.
Once I was able to contain my laughter, I wiped the tears that had escaped from my eyes. “Well, Reed invited us to Lucky’s tonight, and from the looks of it, you could use a night out.”
Maria threw her bag into the backseat of her car with a ‘hmph.’ “You have no idea how badly I need a drink.”
“So then it’s settled, tonight we are going out.”
***
The band was already playing when we arrived. There were so many cars, the place was packed. Maria was determined; she was on a mission. “I need to get hammered, girl, let’s get our drink on. I seriously don’t care if I feel like ass in the morning.”
We found Reed behind the bar, mixing drinks, so we snagged two empty stools at the end. I watched him moving around, confident and smooth. He hadn’t yet noticed us, so I took the chance to evaluate his…uh, assets. Reed had the sexiest, most masculine thighs. He had on frayed, faded jeans that had the ability to make my lower stomach ache. The fitted red shirt left very little to the imagination. It contoured to his broad shoulders and muscular chest. He was one very sexy man.
Surveying the bar, I took notice of the fact that I was not the only female appreciating his manliness. Reed ate it up too, winking and chuckling, his every comment dripping with sexual innuendo.
“Hey, hot stuff, whatcha gotta do to get a drink in this joint?” Maria stood up on her bar stool waving a twenty in the air. Reed looked back over his shoulder and shook his head before making his way in our direction.
“Glad you could make it, Mar. I would have missed your attitude.” Reed leaned against the bar and chuckled.
“Yeah, yeah, now where’s my shot?” She threw the twenty down on the bar. “Make it two shots.”
“Bad day?” Reed asked.
“Please don’t get her started again.” I shook my head in fair warning. “She has one goal tonight, and she will be crawling out of here.”
“Well then, I better get you started, babe.” Reed filled three shot glasses and pushed her twenty back toward her. “Keep the green and drink up.”
Someone yelled from the other end of the bar, and Reed made his way down in their direction. Once again I was able to take in the view from a distance. He really was fun to look at. I would not admit it out loud, but he still made my heart race.
The night went on, and Maria wasn’t far from her goal. The more she drank, the louder and mouthier she became. One man asked her to dance, and she asked him if he was packing. The guy looked at her with a questioning stare. When she explained what she meant, I spit my beer across the table, hearing my best friend tell a man that if he doesn’t have more than eight inches, she ain’t interested. She then went on to explain how she needed a man, not a boy. The guy’s face was a little red from embarrassment, and I walked away, leaving her alone to continue her conversation. She was really something else.
Reed sat another beer in front of me on the bar and winked. “You having a good time?” I shrugged. “I wasn’t planning on working all night but Wade called in. His baby is sick.”
“It’s okay, Maria has been more than enough entertainment for one night.” I looked back over my shoulder and pointed in her direction. Reed chuckled, and his gaze met mine once more.
He leaned over the bar to get closer, and I could tell in his eyes he had been drinking a little himself. I could smell the beer on his breath when he spoke. “I’m really glad you came tonight. I missed seeing you this week. You always seem to brighten my day.”
A familiar clink of high heels interrupted my thoughts as they approached from behind me.
Kimberly walked around the edge of the bar and placed her hand on Reed’s arm. “Hey, baby,” she cooed, and I rolled my eyes. I watched as she slid her hand down into the pocket of his jeans and felt around. He looked stunned and shifted his hips backwards.
A few loud whistles followed by catcalls and some vulgar comments filled the bar. I had seen enough and slipped back off the bar stool, taking my beer in hand. I walked off in search of my best friend.
I found Maria grinding in the middle of two not so bad looking men. She had her head rested back against the chest of one man while the other danced in front of her.
When she opened her eyes and saw me standing there, she looked concerned. “Are you okay? What happened?”
“Nothing besides me throwing up a little in my mouth from Kimberly and Reed. It honestly is a very disturbing vision. She just makes my skin crawl.”
Maria grabbed my hand and pulled me closer. “She is a nasty bitch. Dance with me. These two men here are very cuddly.” I couldn’t help but laugh. They looked harmless enough, so I sat my beer down and joined them on the dance floor.
The night came to an end quickly. Maria had sobered up, and I had stopped drinking long ago. We both said our goodbyes to the two men who had kept us company for the last three hours. Mark and Burt were cousins and both complete gentlemen. It was nice to be able to dance with men who didn’t expect you to go home with them.
I made a quick stop in the bathroom, and then I found Maria at the bar waiting for me. Reed was at the other end of the bar, flirting with a pretty brunette. I felt a pinch within my stomach at the sight, but tucked it away as quickly as it came on. I had no say-so in his life. It didn’t make it any easier to watch, but it was true.
“You ready to get out of here?” I asked Maria as I grabbed my keys out of my purse.
She followed my line of sight, and her face fell slightly. “Hey, asshole, we’re leaving. Make sure you wrap it up tight, wouldn’t want you catching something.”
She never waited for him to respond, she grabbed my elbow and led me to the exit. Just as I was opening my car door, I felt him approach. I spun around to face him, and he looked worried.
“I’m not taking anyone home with me. We were just talking.” Reed’s hand skimmed over my arm.
“Why are you telling me this? It’s really none of my business. Have a good night.” I smiled reassuringly and crawled in my car.
The situation had taken an uncomfortable turn, and I just needed to leave.