Give Me Something (26 page)

“
Yeah,” I answered before placing my free hand on Nick's shoulder.  “Good night,” I whispered.   His face remained sweet, but a glint in his eye revealed something that I'd wished was gone for good.  I knew that, no matter how much I wanted Nick to change, it was not going to happen over night.  I pushed the looming thought out of my head and went off to bed with the hopes that the boy I used to know was strong enough to knock the other guy out of contention.

Chapter 20

“
Seriously, I feel like Sasquatch punched me in the face,” Brynn said the next day when she finally pulled her self from the depths of the couch cushions.  Her picture-perfect appearance was a bit disheveled as she stumbled into the kitchen.

“
I'm never drinking moonshine again,” Nick agreed, pouring himself a cup of coffee.  “Where's everybody else?” he asked, raking his hand through his hair.

“
They were up with the sun and out the door,” I said, taking a giant bite of the biscuits and gravy Tucker had picked up from the diner.  Unlike me, the Vaughn's and their better halves were definitely morning people.  I still had an imprint on my face from the seam on the pillow I'd buried my face in last night.

“
Country folks can handle their liquor,” Nick intoned and squeezed his temples between his fingers.

“
It's a gift,” Tucker laughed, tossing him a bottle of aspirin.  He'd already showered, cleaned the kitchen, and picked up breakfast by the time the city folks returned to the living. 

“
I'm sure you slept like a baby in that big ol' bed of yours.” Nick joked.

“
I slept in that bed too,” I interjected. “And I still feel like shit.”

“
I'm sure it was better than the couch with the psycho-sleeper.  She elbowed me most of the night,” he confessed as he pointed at Brynn.

“
Whatever, presh,” she said , rolling her eyes.  “I wouldn't have tossed and turned so much if you hadn't kept putting your freezing-ass feet on me.”

“
That couch isn't so bad,” Tucker added as he massaged my shoulders with his skillful hands.  He leaned in and kissed my cheek.  “Right, babe?”

I smirked. “No, I
love
that couch.”

Nick and Brynn were clueless as they argued back and forth about who was the worst to sleep with.

“What's the plan for today?” Tucker asked, ending their bickering.

“
Ugh, nothing,” I answered and shook my head.  “I just want to eat this and crawl back in bed,” I reached up and grabbed one of Tucker's hands, hoping he'd take a hint, toss me over his shoulder, and carry me back to bed.

“
We'll probably head out before too long,” Nick said.  “Don't want to wear out our welcome.”

“
No,” I piped up.  I'd had so much fun last night, much to my surprise, that I didn't want Nick and Brynn to feel like they were unwanted guests.  “You guys should stay.  It's not like there is anything going on back a school.  Right, Tucker?”  He smiled, but I wasn't sure if it was because he felt like he needed to or because he was actually enjoying having them around.  He and Nick seemed to be getting along last night, and just maybe my plan of having them create a relationship was working.

“
Yeah,” he finally added.  “We can take it easy today, then head to the bar later.  There's a band tonight.”

“
If you're sure...” Brynn grinned at the opportunity to experience a real night out in the country.  I'd bent her ear for hours about how much fun I'd had last time I went to the bar.  It wouldn't be fair if she didn't get a chance to go.  Besides, I knew that she'd packed an outfit just for the occasion.

“
Of course,” I insisted between bites.

“
Okay,” she agreed and her face lit up.  “But no moonshine tonight.”  Nick and I shook our heads in unison, as I watched Tucker somewhat uncomfortable chuckle.

$$$

After a day of complete laziness, we all got dressed a ready to go to Vaughn's.  “Kelly dropped these off why you were in the shower,” Tucker said as he came in with a very welcomed surprise.  He sat the red boots down beside the bed.

“
Omigod!” I skipped excitedly over to the bed, sat down on the edge and quickly pulled the boots onto my bare feet.

“
She said you could borrow them,” he laughed.  “But only for the night.” he added.

“
I feel like Cinderella,” I giggled, leaning back and holding my feet up to admire the leather gems in the light, clicking their broad heels together.

“
Not that I'm complaining,” he began, pulling a blue, long-sleeved knit shirt over the white t-shirt he was already wearing,  “but, you might want to put on more than just the boots, buddy.”   I looked down at my near naked body.  The boots were magnificent, but he was right.  The matching bra and panties I'd put on when I got out of the shower might draw some unwanted attention.

“
Fine,” I complained.  “If you insist, I'll get dressed.”  Before I could get two steps from the bed, I felt the smooth touch of his fingers across my bare midsection.

“
Maybe when we get back, we can revisit this wardrobe decision,” he whispered in my ear, almost dropping me to my knees where I stood.

I took a deep breath and cleared my throat, hoping it would hide the pounding of my racing heart. “I think that's a pretty good possibility.”  I walked into the closet with shaky legs and started to look for something that would match the boots.  Of course, in his usual 'take care of Lila' fashion, Tucker had unpacked my suitcase and settled me into the house.

“I'll be out front, when you're ready.” He looked in the mirror and adjusted his collar.  “If I stay in here any longer were going to have to add this dresser to the list,” he laughed, patting his hand on top of the oak chest of drawers.

“
You're incorrigible.”  I pulled a black cami from its hanger and slid it over my head.

“
No,” he added, walking out the door,  “you're irresistible.”

By the time I found the perfect pair of jeans to go with my red and black patterned top and the boots, Brynn, Nick, and Tucker were climbing into Tucker's truck.  True to my original thought, Brynn was decked out in her own pair of boots, a fitted flannel button-up shirt and jeans.  Nick was still all city with his straight-leg chinos and zip-up hoodie over a t-shirt that looked like it had been dragged behind a moving vehicle, but the way Tucker was dressed was my favorite.  I'd seen him grab the blue shirt off the bed and put it on, but it wasn't until I slid into the truck seat next to him that I noticed how it hugged his defined arms and chest in a way that made me want to run my hands over what was underneath it.  The rich color intensified the blue of his eyes.  With a sweet smile, he took my hand in his, settled them on his thigh and drove us toward town.

“Well, look what the cat dragged in!” Kelly sauntered up to the table we'd selected in the back of the bar with a tray of shots in hand. “I was beginning to think the 'shine did you four in.” I grimaced at the thought of drinking again as Kelly set a shot in front of each of us.

“
Not me,” Tucker smirked, grabbing his glass and quickly throwing it back.  “I feel like a million bucks.”  I cursed his ability to handle liquor.

Kelly looked at me, Nick and Brynn.  “Go ahead,” she nodded.  “Best way to get over a hangover is to start drinking again.” 

“Says the bartender,” Nick laughed, holding his shot glass up to the light, examining its contents.

She laughed. “Besides, it's not near as strong as what you drank last night.”  Brynn and I picked up our glasses and shrugged before tossing them back. 

“Ugh,” I choked out as felt the liquor course down my throat.

“
That'll do it,” Nick grunted, setting his empty glass down.

“
Nice boots,” Kelly commented, bumping her hip against my arm.

“
Aren't they?  This super hot bartender let me borrow them.”

“
I think I know her,” she laughed.

Against my better judgment we ordered another round of drinks and it wasn't until the second glass was dry that I started feeling a little better.  As soon as the band kicked up, Brynn started shaking her hips and all but dragged me on to the floor.  After she pouted through two songs, I finally gave in and schlepped it out there.

  I watched from the dance floor as Nick and Tucker started to have what looked like an honest to God conversation. There was even laughter and another shot shared between them.   As I lost myself in the twangy rhythm of the music, I chalked one up to myself for getting the two of them to get along.  Brynn was dancing circles around me and starting to draw the attention of a few of the regulars.  Of course, the fact that she'd tied her flannel shirt up around her waist, letting the low waist band of her jeans leave little to the imagination, didn't help.  I was thankful for the escape when the band finally took a break.  Brynn was a tough act to keep up with, and for once I didn't care about attracting attention from anyone other than the guy I was walking over to.  I fell into Tucker's lap, giving my legs a much needed dancing reprieve.  Leaning in for a quick kiss, I placed my arms around his neck.

“
Somebody's feeling a lot better,” Tucker said as he wrapped his arms around my waist, humming along to the jukebox that was now playing.

“
I am,” I confirmed and motioned for Kelly to bring me another drink.  “I'm just so happy.  We're all having so much fun and you two,” I noted, looking at Tucker and then to Nick, almost losing my balance, “are actually getting along.”

“
We are,” he laughed, tightening his arms around me as not to let me fall on my ass in the crowded bar. 

“
Just for you, Rae.” Nick rocked back in seat before shifting his attention to Brynn, who was slowly starting to succumb to the advances of a local on the dance floor.  When she threw her arms up around his neck, Nick let out a huff and then mumbled something about her being a loose cannon.

I tried to make a concentrated effort to listen to what Nick was saying, but Tucker nuzzled his face into my neck, pulling my attention from the situation. Despite the heat of his breath on my neck and the fire that he always seemed to light low in my belly, a chill ran down my spine when he whispered something that would have made even a porn star blush.  In my buzzed up state, I immediately started picturing us doing the things that were rolling off his lips. 
Oh, those lips. Those magical, talented, mind-numbing...

 
The screech of the metal chair legs across the resin floor pulled my mind from the gutter, but by the time I looked up Nick was already bee-lining across the floor to get Brynn. 
What was she doing dancing with that guy anyway?  Wasn't she with Nick now?
  I didn't know the whole definition of their relationship, but judging by the way Nick was arguing with her, I'd say he thought they were exclusive.  She separated herself from the new guy long enough to wave her arms around and say something that obviously pissed Nick off.  He shook his head and slipped out the back door.

“
I should go check on him.” I pulled myself from Tucker's laps and kissed his cheek.  “I'll be right back,” I stated before he had a chance to tell me to leave it alone. 

I found Nick alone in the frigid air of the beer garden, and I wasn't surprised when I saw the glowing embers on the tip of the cigarette hanging from his lips.  “Lovers' quarrel?” I asked, folding my arms across my check to fight the chill.

“Something like that,” he said, releasing cigarette smoke from his lips.  “She's impossible.” 

“
She's known to be,” I agreed, hoping to break the tension.  “Deep down she wants to be a good person.  I think,” I added with a tilt of my head, wondering if that were actually true.

“
I don't know.  She's just... Brynn.” He flicked the half-smoked cigarette onto the ground and started to take off his sweatshirt.  “Here,” he offered, wrapping it around my shoulders.

“
You didn't even smoke all of that.”  I pulled the hoodie around me, grateful for the added layer of warmth on the cold November night.

“
You don't like it when I smoke,”  he explained as he rubbed his hands up and down my arms. “In case you haven't noticed, I've been trying to change.” 

“
I've noticed,” I said happily.  “It's nice to see you trying, Nick.”

“
So you forgive me?”  He shifted his brown eyes to look like an innocent little puppy begging for affirmation.

“
Yeah,” I answered as I let my head fall to the side and leaned forward for a hug.  “I think you've been great this weekend.  You and Tucker seemed to be making strides.”  He held me for second, letting what used to be my favorite smell in the world, briefly fill my senses.  I wasn't surprised when it left me with nothing but nostalgia.  I had a new favorite scent now.  And even thought Tucker and I were separated by a thick cinderblock wall at that moment, it surrounded me, leaving me with only a faint trace of Nick.