Walk Me Down (6 page)

The alcohol begins working its magic, allowing me to loosen up and give no fucks. A loud thumpin’ western tune begins to blare through the speakers, reminding me just why I wanted to come here. In the booth behind me, I spot a very large and muscular blonde. We make eye contact, and I nod towards the dance floor. No words are exchanged as he grabs me by the waist dragging me out to the dance floor. 

“Not a good idea,” I hear Wes say.

Clearly, his version of not a good idea is a perfect one to me. The stranger and I dance for a couple of songs. His hands roam all over my body as mine do the same. Even at one point, his lips are grazing the skin on my neck. His lips don’t produce the same sensation or feeling, but I’ve caught Finn watching several times, so I don’t give a fuck at this point.

“Thanks for the dances,” I say, as I finally peel away.

Wes and Scarlett are still at the table talking like two long lost friends. The look each of them hold in their eyes doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know what they both want.

“Three more shots and I’ll pass out in the backseat of my truck and you two can fuck all you want, deal?”

Scarlett tries her best to look shocked by my words, but, deep down, I know she is mentally cheering and hoping the deal is sealed. Wes has a mean poker face.

“Fine, assholes. I’ll get my own shots and then we will leave.”

Making my way to the bar, the music dies down, and I can tell it’s about closing time and last call is about to go down. Voices are clearer as are the words being chattered around. Unfortunately, Kara and her clan of sluts are sitting at a table near the bar, but my desire for more alcohol is stronger than avoiding them.

“Two shots, please.”

“Of what,” the bartender asks.

“I don’t give a fuck,” I slur out.

“Got it.”

“She has a fake leg.” I hear a voice say at Kara’s table.

I wonder if they realize how loud they are talking. Are they trying to be that obvious? Or do they think I’m that dumb? I’ll admit. I try to believe the best in people all the time and give everyone a chance to do right in my eyes, but I’m pretty sure there is no one else in the bar with a prosthetic.

“How do you know?” I hear the next voice.

“Finn’s dad told my momma. He’s so worried that Finn’s going to throw his whole future away for her. I guess he hasn’t been the same since he met her. Fights his dad on everything now. There for a while, Dr. Evans really thought Finn wanted me back and that’s the only reason I came home.”

“But that’s so gross. I mean a fake leg. How can Finn even be attracted to her or that?”

“Can you imagine her in a bikini?”

The bartender finally arrives back with my final shots. “Wes said these are on the house. Have a good night.”

Effortlessly, I down one shot and let the burn of the straight whiskey glide down my throat. The sting of it is nothing compared to what I put out on the line tonight. Nothing. I slam the last one and continue to hear the girls cackling about me in a bikini.

“Enough,” a voice roars.

My head is swimming and swirling so intensely, I can’t manage to look at the person talking or even take another step. I don’t have to look to know it’s Finn.

“Talk about her one more time and I swear you’ll regret ever coming back home, Kara.”

I crumble down onto the barstool, knowing full well I can’t take a step on my own. Scarlett and Wes show up moments later.

“Ready, Tess?” Scarlett asks.

“Yeah,” I reply, as I try to get up.

And quickly realize, there is no way I can stand on my own two feet. Finn and Wes both grab each side of me. Without thinking, I push Finn away.

“Don’t touch me. I mean it. Never again. Never give my heart the hope that you may actually love someone like me.”

Looking past Finn, I stand a little taller on my own with Wes at arm’s reach.

I holler to the table of bitches, “Don’t worry, drunks who have peg legs can walk just fine. Oh, and Kara, Finn loved grabbing it while he fucked my brains out the other night.”

“That’s enough,” Scarlett whispers and takes my hand.

Finn lurches forward to help, but Wes instantly stops him.

“Enough,” Wes warns.

Even through my drunk haze, I see the unspoken brother code spoken and Finn walks away. Walks right back into the crowd he’s supposed to be with. I will not cry. I will not feel. I will go back to the Tess, who never has the chance of being hurt.

“Let’s go,” I say, turning to Wes and Scarlett.

I hear the two whispering behind me and know all too well they are discussing my well-being and I don’t even have enough energy or willpower to fight or argue with them. The last two shots are on fire in my belly and working their magic on my feelings. Numb.

“Who’s driving?” I ask, tossing the keys up in the air.

“I’ll drive you all home. I have a buddy who can come pick me up.”

“Thanks, Wes,” I hear before climbing into the backseat of the truck.

The whole ride home, I sit in a daze, half aware and the other half way too fucking gone to care at all. It takes everything inside me not to giggle at Scarlett’s normal conversation with Wes. I know the girl way too well and know beyond any doubt she’d rather have his dick in her mouth than talk about tomorrow’s weather. It’s easy to get lost in their conversation and the idea of a typical relationship.

“How long are you here for, Scarlett?”

“Just the summer with Tess. Neither of us are one hundred percent sure what we are going to do with our degrees or where we will go.”

“And your degree is in?”

“Accounting.”

“Tessa’s?”

“Nursing.”

“I can see that. She seems like a real genuine person from everything Finn has told me.”

“He talks about her?” Scarlett asks.

“Since the day he met her in our dad’s office. He says he can’t explain it, but there’s something about her.”

“Did he tell you about her leg?”

“I had no idea until tonight. I guarantee you Finn is going batshit crazy right now. As soon as I drop you girls off I’ll go find him.”

“Why?”

“Finn is the family member who has a heart of gold. He wouldn’t talk bad about his worst enemy. That’s why Kara is always leeching around him. Call it a good or a bad quality, but that’s him. There’s two things Finn has always wanted: Granddaddy’s farm and the love of a woman. Finn was only six when we lost our momma. Drives Dad nuts because he’s as genuine as her. Not cutthroat like the Evans’ side.”

The truck comes to a halt and I can tell by the yard lights that we are outside Will and Tommie’s three-car garage.

“Finn’s an ass,” I mumble and make my way out of the truck not stopping to listening to Wes or Scarlett argue with me.

Making my way in the house, I notice Scarlett stays behind in the truck. I crack open the door to Tommie’s room. I don’t want to be alone right now.

“Tommie,” I whisper.

No reply. I grab a pair of her shorts from her top drawer, slide into them and sit on the edge of the bed removing the piece of metal that reminds me daily of the moment I lost my parents.

“Tess,” finally a whisper comes from my sister.

Will bolts straight up in bed. “Everything okay? What’s going on?”

“I don’t want to be alone anymore,” I say through my tears.

Both Tommie and Will are now sitting straight up facing me at the bottom of their bed.

“Are you okay?” Will finally asks.

I just nod in the darkness. The one stream of moonlight is enough light to show my signal of yes, and then I begin to crawl up to my sister just like I did when I was younger.

“Come here, Tess,” she whispers.

I snuggle deep down in between her and Will. The soothing motion of a hand on my hair really makes me lose my self-control and I cry. She undoes my braid and begins to comb my hair out with her fingers and braid it. It’s a nervous habit that Momma passed down.

Finally, I admit out loud what everyone already knows, “I just want to love Finn and be young and carefree. I gave it a shot tonight and it all blew up in my face.”

My words silence the room and begin to control my sobs.

“We love you, Tess, and you will find love one day. Now go to sleep,” Will says.

I giggle at the picture of me snuggled between my sister and her husband. Any other brother in law would have told me to kick rocks and get over my insecurities. Not Will. His love runs that deep for his wife.

“But you do know this really affects our baby making skills with you between us, right?”

We all start to laugh at the comment, and I squeal, “Ewww, TMI.”

The laughter slowly dies out, and I concentrate on Tommie’s hands braiding and unbraiding my hair. In the dark room, I silently wish for a chance of a future with Finn with no drama and insecurities just love, freedom and opportunities to be free.              

“Get up. We’re going to the river.”

“C’mon, bouncy bouncy,” I hear and feel the bed shake.

Pulling the blankets over my head, I hope the two animals in my dreams get the idea and leave. My head is pounding. My mouth is dry as hell, and I’m so freakin’ thirsty. I just want to keep my eyes closed and stay in the dark as long as I can. Damn, I’m thirsty though.

“Tess, up now. Will wants to take the boat out. Let’s roll,” comes a voice, and I know it’s Tommie.

The other voice continues, “Bouncy, bouncy” as Scarlett jumps up and down on the bed.

Only if I could sit straight up and twat twap Scarlett. She’s a bit much to handle hungover.

“Ten minutes,” I hear Will roar and then the very distinct sound of the garage door opening.

Will never fools with times and leaving. His ETA’s are never to be taken lightly. He’s been known to leave Tommie and I then come back with a milkshake flaunting it to us.

“Move it, Tess, I’m not missing this day on the river with our new boat,” Tommie yells, pulling me by my arm.

Scarlett grabs the other, and they both pull me towards the bathroom.

“Sit,” they both demand and push me down on the toilet seat.

“Trash can. Trash can,” I desperately scream.

Tommie barely puts the pale blue bucket in front of my face before last night’s whiskey rushes from my body.

“Jesus, you’re a mess, sis.”

“I know,” I whisper.

Sitting on the toilet, I listen and allow the two to clean me up to a decent state.

“Did you hear anything Scarlett just said?” Tommie asks.

“Yes, I heard it all last night too. Too bad Finn’s so freaking nice with a heart of gold and can’t stand up to Kara. Enough said. Story over.”

“Two minutes,” comes Will’s voice.

The sound of his truck running outside in the driveway is an audio reminder, he’s not screwing around.

“This will have to do,” Scarlett says.

Rising up and still feeling intoxicated with a twinge of dizziness running through my system, I look at myself in the mirror and really puke at the sight of my reflection.

The tiny glimmer of hope I allowed to pool up within me has now vanished. Pale complexion, messy bun, absolutely no makeup or hairspray to be found, just the broken down, hurt vessel that carries me around.

Tommie pulls me by the arm, dragging me downstairs and points to a couple of coolers and signals to the pack them in the truck.

“But I need my sunglasses and my phone,” I try to protest.

“Move. I’m sure there’s an extra pair in the truck.”

“For the love of all things holy. Did you pack a cow?” I complain and bitch, as I roll, drag and kick all the shit out into the garage.

“Look alive, Tess,” Will seems to scream at me.

Cringing, I grab my head and wince at the shooting pain. The glaring sun and reflection off of his black truck doesn’t help matters either. One, I want to die. Two, I’m never ever drinking again. Ever.

Turning towards the house, I decide to sneak back to grab my glasses and my phone, hoping Will may leave me home for the day to recover.

“Not so fast, Tessa,” Will says.

Turning around to look at him, I see him dangling my sunglasses and waving my cell phone in the other. Rat bastard knows me all too well.

“Get your ass in now.”

I snatch my things from Will and call him a few choice words before getting in.

“You have a text, Sunshine,” Will says.

“Haha very funny, asswipe.”

No sooner than I finish my words my phone beeps. A weird sensation courses through my veins because everyone who texts me is now seated in the truck. As in everyone, I mean, Scarlett, Will and Tommie. Looking down, my phone lights up three more times with more texts from the same number.