No Turning Back (Full Circle) (27 page)

“True.” 

We continue to dance as the songs bleed through to the next.  Piper excuses herself from the group and makes her way over to the DJ. 
Wonder what she’s up to?
  She walks back smiling and starts dancing again.  Cash and Joe have made their way to the dance floor and waste no time trying to fight over me.  I can’t help but laugh.  It’s a freakin’ Charley sandwich with one in the front and back.  I just decide to go with it.  Piper continues to dance with the girls then the song changes to “Hell on Heels,” and I start freakin’ going crazy.  Both Joe and Cash take a step back as I make my way toward Piper.  We proceed to dance and sing every word together.  The floor has cleared a little, but we don’t care.  That’s our song, and by the end, the Kluft girls are singing along.  When it ends, Piper and I hug each other tight.  She’s so important to my life, and I can’t imagine her not in it.

We all need a drink after the dance party.  I think we might as well put the ‘X’ on our hands to good use.  I look at Piper, and she is thinking the exact same thing.  We walk to the bar and ask the guy for two Bud Lights, pay, and walk back towards the floor.

The remainder of the night is full of hot and sweaty dancing between the girls of Kluft, Cash and me.  Piper has made a few rounds with a guy from each team at Southern- basketball, baseball, golf, and ended with lacrosse…. Joe.

As the night comes to an end, we begin to try to sober up by drinking water while still on the dance floor.  The night at Hank’s ends as usual with “Let’s Get it On.” There are so many hormones flying around this place it’s a wonder half of campus isn’t pregnant.  I look to my right and see that Joe and Piper are dancing like they have been together for years.  My eyes travel back to Cash, and they fall deeper and deeper for a guy that has been my heartbeat since I was four.  He smiles at me with that crooked little grin, pulls me in tight as we move to the music, and brings his lips to mine.  At that moment, I forget that we are at Hank’s, that I’m supposed to be learning to be independent, and think the only thing I want is to move home, work on the farm, and have little Cash babies. 

The song ends, the lights turn up, and people scatter, like when the police show up at an underage party.  I walk back to the Love Machine with sweat dripping from my brow and every other place on my body, but I don’t sweat it because everyone else is the exact same way.  We climb into the van. This time Joe is beside Piper.  I know exactly where this is going.  She’s going to his room tonight.  The ride back to campus is a lot quieter than our ride to Hank’s.  Sarah pulls up to the stoop, and we pile out.  She waves bye as Hayden yells out the window about not doing what she wouldn’t do or something like that.

There are a few people on the stoop, and we decide to hang there for a few minutes to cool off.  After about ten minutes, I’m ready to crash.  I look at Cash, and he reads my mind.  He puts his arm around my waist and tells everyone we will see them in the morning.  I look at Piper who motions to Joe.  I nod. 

Cash and I make our way to my room after I walk up to make sure Misty isn’t around.  I sure would hate to get busted.  I give him the all clear, and we enter my room and turn on the lamp and TV.  I excuse myself to change and wash my face and as much of Hank’s off me as I can.

I return to find Cash cuddled underneath the covers.  I lift them and slide in.  I snuggle close to him because I know tomorrow he will have to go home.  As we watch,
Fast and Furious
, he pulls me tight, kisses my neck, and before I know it the sun is shining in my window. 
I have got to pee.
  I start to move, but my head is pounding.  The kinda hangover that if you take a step it feels like your head is a step behind you?  That’s exactly what’s going on this morning.  I make it to the restroom and return to find a text from Piper.

Piper:  Come open the door.

Me: On way

I struggle to make it down the hall, steps, open the door, and follow the same path back to my room.  When we get back, Cash is up and sliding on his jeans. 

“Mornin,’ Piper.”

I walk to my closet and grab a pair of jeans and long-sleeve shirt.

“Piper wants to go eat before she leaves.  You wanna go, too?” 

“What kinda question is that?  Food is involved.  Yes, I wanna go.  I just hate for us to drive three cars.  Why don’t you see if some of the girls or Joe wants to go?”  He looks right at Piper and her face gets red as a beet.  They totally did something.  I make a note to ask her later.  I text Joe, and he meets us out at the stoop.  Georgia and Caroline are the only ones awake, so they hurry and come along with us.  We take three cars: Piper and Joe, Georgia and Caroline, and Cash and me.  Our breakfast at IHOP is fabulous, but it could definitely be due to the amount of alcohol that I consumed last night. 

After breakfast, we make our way to the parking lot and say our goodbyes.  I hug Piper bye.  She hugs the girls, Cash, and saves Joe for last.  She wants to make sure she saves the best for last.  That is exactly how Piper works.  I look at Cash, and we laugh quietly.  He pulls me into his arms and wraps them around my body.  I feel completely safe and secure.  I glance into those eyes and meet his lips.  We pull apart, and I want to cry.  I don’t want him to go.

“So, Char, you still coming home opening day?”

“I can’t ‘cause of practice, but you better be ready Thanksgiving.  I’m going as soon as I get home that Wednesday, and you better not be in my stand!”  I push my finger into his chest as I say the words.

“I know better than to mess with you and that stand.  I’ll see you soon.  I plan on going to the Livestone meet.”

“You know you don’t have to do that.  But I’d love it if you were there.”  He pulls me into his strong embrace once more before pulling away.  We walk hand in hand as he walks me to Georgia’s car.  He opens the door, I slide in, and he kisses me one last time before turning around and walking to his truck.  As cheesy as it sounds, I hate to see him go, but love to watch him leave. 

Chapter 13: Study Day

The next two weeks are on cruise control. Practice, class, Hank’s, practice, class, and Hank’s.  The meet with Livestone is this week.  Coach, my teammates, and I are pumped beyond words.  The air has the feel of winning each time we are in the pool.  The meet is on Tuesday before Thanksgiving break.  My plan is to leave first thing Wednesday morning; in fact, everything is packed and ready to go home. That deer stand is calling my name, and it has been for a week now. 

Tuesday morning, I go to class and prepare to leave for the meet at noon.  Joe comes by to wish me luck and wants to know if I’m still going to be able to drop him off at the airport on my way. I am, but he just better be ready to go at the break of dawn tomorrow.

We make our way to Livestone, which is about a two-hour drive south.  When we pull into the gym area, I automatically start smiling from ear to ear when I see Cash’s F250.  I try to hide my excitement, but Georgia spots it easily.  She begins to sing, “Charley and Cash sitting in tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g.”  I take my swim bag and toss it at her.  He waves, and I make my way to the locker room.  This meet is no different than the exhibition meet two weeks ago.  In fact, we shaved a tenth of a second off our relay, and my 200 meter backstroke was smoking.  Needless to say, we beat Livestone with no problem.  I honestly think we could have done that in our sleep.  I have no idea why Coach was so worried, but regardless, she’s the happiest I’ve ever seen her.

“Girls, that was unbelievable!  That calls for supper on me tonight.  What y’all want?”

We take a minute to look at each other before answering in unison, “Texas Roadhouse.”

“You got it!  Now get out of those suits and let’s hit the road!”

As I start to walk toward the locker room, I glance down the hallway to see Cash propped against the wall.  I bypass the locker room and walk to him.  Well, more like run.  He meets me with a hug and tells me how proud he is of me.  I tell him the plans of the team.  He doesn’t want to keep me, so he pulls me in tight and gives me a hug before leaving. 

After he leaves, I hurry to the locker room to change.  Most of the team is ready.  I try to hurry, but not before I get the third degree from Tori.  I swear she never quits.  We make our way back to the Southern bus and later pull into the Texas Roadhouse close to campus. Of course, we still request our usual section. 

At supper, we laugh, joke, tell on each other, and even Coach tells a few stories of her own.  This is a family that I am proud to be a part of, but I can’t wait to get back home to my own family.

Me: B ready by 9

Joe: K

Joe is true to his word and is waiting at the Honda at nine.  I put my last minute items in the car, and we make our way to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.

“Hey Squirrel, thanks for the ride to the airport today.  I really just didn’t want to leave the Jeep there.  I wish my flight was earlier, but I’ll take what I can get for twenty bucks.   I know how you feel about the big city.”

“Joe, you know I don’t care as long as I’m not downtown, and the airport is right off 85.”

Once Joe and I hit I-85, it’s smooth sailing.  I crank up the radio and put the Honda in the wind.  Joe enjoys my singing to Blackjack Billy’s “Booze Cruise.” 

“Hillbilly margarita?  Do you really have those?”  Joe asks quizzically.

“You bet we do.  I mean, I don’t drink them, but that’s a common request at Turtle’s from the regulars.”

I approach the exit for the airport and decide to act like I have a little class.  My nerves start to get to me ‘cause I have never been here before and there are signs everywhere.  Where do I go?

“Squirrel, my flight is American Airlines.”  He points to a sign overhead that shows where to drop off.  I make my way to American Airlines’ terminal and drop off Joe.  I put the car in park, and we both step out. Joe grabs his bag from the back seat and places it on the walkway.  He then makes his way to me and gives me a hug.

As he pulls away, he says the words I’ve needed to hear since I drove into this place. “Squirrel, follow the exit terminal signs and then just look for I-85 South.  You’ll be fine.  Oh, and tell Piper I said hey.” 

“Thanks, Joe.  I was a little worried, and of course, I’ll tell her.  You like her, huh?”  He smiles and grabs his bag.  He is totally avoiding the conversation.

“I’ll see you on Sunday around five at the same place, okay.  If the flight is late, I’ll text you before I leave.”

“Got it!  I’ll see ya Sunday.”  I walk back to the driver’s side, look up, and wave bye.   I get back in the Honda and put it in the wind. 

I arrive in Grassy Pond by eleven.  That is enough time to eat lunch, take a ride to check my stand, and relax a few minutes before hunting this afternoon I think to myself.  Tessa, Mom, and Dad are sitting on the front porch when I arrive.  Tessa hands me a Choice Cherry Gold.  That girl knows me like only a sister could.  Dad grabs my bag from the car and takes it to my room, Mom, Tessa, and I make our way to the kitchen and fix grilled cheese sandwiches and vegetable soup for everyone.  Dad comes back down stairs, and we eat as a family.  We talk about school, swimming, Tessa and Dustin, the farm, and hunting.

“Dad, I’m going to the stand this afternoon.   I plan on camping out till the
one
shows his big rack.”

“Char, if you find him, you better not miss.  If anyone takes him down besides me, it better be you and not Cash.”  He winks.

“Got it.”

Tessa and I do the dishes, and she rides with me to check the stand. She’s not as much of a hunter as I am, but she still likes to take part.  She just hates being cold.  I take a minute to text Cash since I was ambushed by family time. 

Me: I’m home :)

Cash: :) I guess I should plan on seeing u at dark?

Me: Yup

Cash: Txt me if u get 1

Me: K oh, and I love u Cash Money!

Cash: I love u 2 Char-coal!

Tessa and I check the stand and make our way back to the house.  I go upstairs and bust out the camo.  It’s pretty chilly out. I make sure I put on my long johns, camo pants, and long-sleeve shirt. I add toasty toes to the bottom of three pairs of socks before sliding on my hunting boots and camo Under Armour jacket.  Since it is so cold out, I grab my gloves and face mask just in case.  I’m not a fan of the cold like Tessa, but I love the thrill of pulling the trigger on a big one!

I walk downstairs into the office for the farm and unlock the gun safe to take out my baby, a Marlin 30/30 stainless steel rifle.  I put in the combinations and pull her from the safe.  She is cool to the touch, but full of fire.  I grab ammunition and put it in the front pocket of my jacket and make my way to my stand by four-wheeler. 

After an hour, I see a doe across the field.  She’s small, so I decide to let her walk.  The sounds of nature consume me.  I hear the wind blowing through the trees, birds chirping, and squirrels running from tree to tree.  In fact, I’ve come to realize that while I’m in the stand I never hear a deer.  I only see them.  They walk on air or something. 

As I survey the field again, I notice movement on the far corner.  It’s another doe running.  Something has definitely put her on the move.  Low and behold I know exactly what.
The one.
  My insides start to shake.  He’s too far right now; if only he’d move within my range.  I hold my breath as I watch the beautiful creature.  I try to count the points.  For what I can see, I think, it’s a twelve pointer, but the spread is massive, at least eighteen inches. 

I continue to try to calm my nerves.   I decide to sing a song in my head, but I can’t keep my eyes off the
one
.  Then I notice that he is moving closer.
Yes!  Yes!  Yes!
  I take my rifle and get into position.  When I am one hundred and fifty percent positive, I look through the scope and squeeze the trigger.  All the air exits my lungs and I see him down on the ground about fifteen yards from where I shot him.

I lower my gun to the ground as my hands are shaking like a drug addict that needs a fix. I take my phone from my pocket and text Cash and Dad.

Me: Got ‘em!

Cash: On the way!

Dad: that’s my girl, see u at the barn

Cash speeds to the stand and helps me load him on the rack of my four-wheeler, but not before I take a few pictures in the field with him.  Cash follows me on his four-wheeler, and Dad has the shop ready to clean him. But I know we have to check him in to the Chevron Big Buck Contest.

“Daddy, you wanna go with me to check him in?”

“It would be an honor, sweet girl.”

Cash, Dad, and I load him on the back of Dad’s truck and make our way to the Chevron. 

“Dang, Charley.  I can’t believe you finally got the
one!
  We were starting to think he was just a legend on the farm,” Gus the owner says.  “Let’s measure this bad boy.” 

I jump on the bed of the truck and move his head where Gus can get the best angle.  “He measures nineteen and a fourth inches.  So far Charley, you got the winner, but season’s not over yet.  Now hold them antlers proud for a photo.”  I do as Gus asks and then we head back to the house to clean him. 

Dad has it ready, but leaves it to Cash and me.  Cash and I spend the next thirty minutes taking care of the
one
.  Once we finish, we clean up and hang out at the barn just for fun.  I walk across the barn to the old stereo equipped with an eight track player and turn the knob to our local country station.   As I walk back across the barn to Cash sitting on a bale of hay messing on his phone and looking hot as hell.  When I get to him, he looks up at me with hunger in his eyes.  He puts his phone in his pocket and stands to meet me.  He takes me by the hand and pulls me into his chest as he places my hair behind my ear. He then looks into my eyes and begins to pull me closer.  I can feel the heat radiating between us as Cash’s lips begin to touch mine.  His lips are soft as velvet, and he continues to kiss me delicately and deeply at the same time.  That’s when I hear someone clearing their throat.  Cutting my eyes to the right I notice my dad standing in the doorway. 
Oh shit!

“Hey Daddy, everything okay?”  I say as my face flushes bright red.  Cash takes a step backwards and puts his hands in his pockets.

“Yes Charley, your mom is baking a cake and needs two eggs.  Y’all got an early mornin’.  You might wanna call it a night.”  He says looking at Cash. 

“Yes, sir.  Charley, I’ll see ya in the morning.  I’m hunting on the north side in the morning.  You going to the same spot?”

“Yeah.” 

Dad walks to get the eggs and nods as he leaves the barn.  Cash and I let out a huge breath.

“Char, I’m so sorry about that.  I thought your dad was gonna kill me!”

“Nah, he just wants to scare the shit outta ya.  I’m his little girl, remember?  Even though he loves you.”  As I elbow him. 

He grabs my arm and pulls me in for a strong and safe hug.  He kisses me on my forehead, the tip of my nose, and finally lands on my lips.

“Guess I better go, I’m sure your dad’s watching the clock.”

“You know he loves you, but we do have an early morning.  Night, Cash Money.”

“Night, Char-coal.”

We walk out to our four-wheelers, call it a night, and Cash goes home.  I walk into the house, grab a drink from the refrigerator, tell Mom and Tess about the
one
, then get ready for bed because I have to be back in the stand in the morning.  I could care less if I see anything because I know I’ve won the Big Buck Contest, but just the idea of being outside in nature keeps calling.  Plus, I’d much rather be out there than cooking in the kitchen for Thanksgiving dinner. 

Around eleven, I decide that I have hidden out as long as possible before being put to work in the kitchen.  My mom has made it well-known that there will be no hunting this afternoon because we will have our family Thanksgiving dinner at our house.  Both sets of my grandparents, aunt, uncle, four cousins, along with Cash’s entire family, come for supper.  It’s the only time we have a formal meal and bring out the good china. Cash’s family has been coming to these meals since I can remember.  When his grandparents were living, they came, too.