Chapter 15
15
JOHNNY
Sliding my belt through the last loop in my jeans, I stare at myself in the bathroom mirror and decide I hate what I’ve done with my hair. It’s too long, and I’ve never liked it tied back. Daisy, on the other hand, thinks it makes me look distinguished, and apparently, that’s what I need to convince Rory to give me more than one date.
I’m not sure she’s right about that, but once my sister gets started, there isn’t much you can do to shut her down. Even as I clamp my buckle into place and shimmy my waistband until it feels just right, she rambles on and on.
“Have you brushed your teeth yet?” she asks, picking up my sweatshirt from its place on the edge of my bed. Sniffing at the collar, she adds, “At least you washed this recently.”
“Do you think I’m a slob, Daisy? Of course I brushed my teeth. Used mouthwash too. Before I brushed.”
She beams at me, popping both of her thumbs up. “That’a boy. You do listen from time to time.”
“Some things are hard not to listen to. Especially when you say them to me every single time we see each other.”
She flashes me a different finger, and I return the gesture before reaching behind my head to tug out the elastic in my hair .
“It’s important information, J.”
I lean forward and brace my pelvis on the bathroom sink while running my fingers through my hair, trying to make it seem like the messy look was on purpose and not because it’s in need of a chop. It doesn’t fucking work. I just look like I haven’t brushed it in a week.
“You’re hopeless. Crouch down and let me help,” Daisy commands, stepping into the bathroom and patting my shoulder.
Lowering myself a couple of inches, I fold my arms along the edge of the vanity and rest my chin atop them as I stare at my reflection. My cheeks are flushed, my freckles too obvious, and my bottom lip still a bit swollen from the hit it took earlier today.
I should have been paying closer attention to my surroundings, but when Aurora stepped onto the porch this afternoon with an old brown Stetson on her head . . . it was a miracle I didn’t do something worse than smack face first into the stable wall. It was Eliza’s—I’d recognize it anywhere—but fuck me, I wished it were mine instead.
All week, I’ve been searching for her everywhere I go, but I’ve been too busy to stop by the house to make small talk or take her lunch like I’m aching to. Eliza’s probably tired of me asking if Rory’s eaten every damn day.
Daisy manipulates my hair with a cool confidence, like she knows exactly how to fix what I’ve done. There’s no point in trying to take notes on what she’s doing. Hairstyling is a skill I simply don’t possess. I’ve never had to worry about it because I wear a hat all day, every day.
“So, you have the beer in the fridge, and the food will be ready in . . .” She checks the time on her smartwatch. “Fifteen minutes. You have cologne, right? Women like men that smell good.”
I lift a brow and stare at her in the mirror. “Yeah, D. I’ve got cologne. Plenty of it, in case you forgot how often you and Jos use cologne as an easy gift for my birthday. ”
She tugs on a strand of my hair. “Cologne isn’t an easy gift if you’re doing it right. We spend at least two hours searching for the perfect smell every time.”
“Well, it might be time to find a different gift idea for this year. I don’t think a guy needs seven bottles of cologne at once.”
“Seven? And you still smell like shit as often as you do? Jesus.”
I rest my forehead on my arm and laugh. “Fuck, aren’t you supposed to be helping hype me up before I go on my date instead of tearing me down?”
“Oh, I’m not tearing you down. You know I love you damn near to death. It’s my job to razz you from time to time. Besides, a bit of teasing builds character. It’s a sister’s job to make sure you don’t turn out to be a conceited asshole. There’s enough of those out there.”
I narrow my eyes on her reflection when I catch her mouth droop into a slight frown. Daisy’s never dated a man and has always been open about preferring women, but that doesn’t mean she can’t still have problems for me to take care of.
“You got somethin’ to tell me?”
The droop disappears. “No, and even if I did, we wouldn’t be talking about it today.” Slapping my back, she straightens and says, “Voilà. While you do need a haircut soon, at least now you don’t look homeless. And don’t you dare put a hat on and ruin all of my work. Leave it at home for one night.”
“Got it. Thank you for coming over and helping. I’m a bit on edge,” I say, forcing out a laugh to try and hide how true that statement actually is. My stomach tightens as nerves play a game of bowling inside of it. “I’m going to head out now. Don’t want to be late.”
And I need a moment alone to puke. Preferably in a back alley with only the raccoons to see.
“I’ll lock up before I leave.”
“You can stay if you want. I’d rather you here than driving on the highway in the dark. ”
She’s the worst damn driver I’ve ever seen. It’s a miracle she passed her driver’s test in high school. The tiny sedan parked outside is the third car she’s had in two years.
“If I stay, you better leave me a beer in the fridge.”
I’m already dipping out of the bathroom and into the kitchen to grab the six-pack I’ve left cooling all day. I set a glass bottle in the fridge beside the jug of half-drank orange juice—no pulp—before nudging the door closed with my hip.
“You drink, you stay, D. Promise me no driving,” I say when she joins me and takes a seat at the small breakfast nook.
And by small, I mean small. There’s only room for two stools, but it’s only me here. The entire cabin is small, but I’ve done a lot to it in the year it’s been mine.
The hardwood throughout the entire house is original. The only thing I did to it was give it a good wax and seal. The wooden beams in the ceiling haven’t been touched, and I left the trim just how it was when the place was built. It’s the walls that needed a bit of TLC. Every single one of them was coated in yellowing, apple-tree-patterned wallpaper. It took two weeks to peel it all off.
With only the master bedroom, a small office/guest room, and a single bathroom with a tub-and-shower combo that I dumped too much money into renovating, there isn’t much space for guests. I’ve never minded that, though. All of my friends have plenty of it to offer up.
“Yes, I promise, you overbearing ape. As long as you promise not to bring Aurora back here tonight.”
I bark a laugh at her crinkled nose. “That won’t be happening anytime soon.”
“No?” she asks, a spark of intrigue appearing in her voice.
“No. And I’m not explaining anything more about it to you. I’m leaving. Thank you for all your help.”
I tug her into a hug, careful to keep the now five-pack of beer out of the way, and kiss the top of her head before heading for the door .
“Have fun, J. And make sure you listen to her. Listening is the most important thing you can do on a first date. Well, that and not being a gross pig.”
I swallow nervously, feeling the back of my neck grow damp. “Yeah, I’ve got it.”
Seeing my hat sitting on the entry table and not reaching for it is a true testament to my control. I’m much more comfortable with it on my head. It gives me some sense of confidence.
Fuck it.
I pick it up, set it on my head, and duck outside before Daisy has a chance to notice. Shaking out my shoulders, I head for my truck. Over and over again, I recite the same confident speech in my mind the entire way to the diner to grab the food I put in an order for during my lunch break.
Fifteen minutes later, I haven’t puked, and the cab of my truck smells like burgers and fries. I worry the milkshakes will be melted with how long I’ve been here stalling. Shit, I’m nervous. More terrified than I’ve ever been for a date.
I want it to go well. Better than well. Fan-fucking-tastic. So good that she can’t help but want to go on another with me. It would be too easy to mess up now, whether from stumbling over my words and saying something stupid or just straying away from my character in hopes of impressing her. I’m sure of myself, but Aurora makes me feel like a young boy with his first crush who’s ready to do anything he can to impress the girl.
It’s ridiculous, considering we’re still just getting to know each other, but I don’t think I really care.
With a swipe of my hand over the back of my neck, I sniff my pits and then turn the truck off. It’s a challenge carrying everything up the sidewalk, but I make it work with a five-pack in one fist, a cardboard tray with two shakes in the other, and a takeout bag tucked beneath my arm. There’s no way I’m asking her to help with something so simple.
“Drop my beer and you’re going to be eating alone, Johnny.”
I grin up at Rory where she stands waiting on the porch. Arms dangling over the railing, she watches me with the tease of a smile. I try not to stumble over the cracked, uneven sidewalk, but she’s so beautiful it’s hard to drop my stare to watch my step.
“I don’t plan on it, darlin’,” I reply.
The wooden steps are rotted and falling apart, so I avoid them completely and lunge up to the porch itself. Turns out my long legs are good for something. Rory is quick to reach for the bag of food slowly slipping from beneath my arm. Once she takes it, I relax a bit.
Unrolling the top of the paper bag and looking inside, she asks, “Burgers and fries?”
“Don’t forget the fifty ketchup packets I asked for or the best milkshakes known to man.”
Her eyes lift, focusing on mine. “That’s a high claim.”
“’Cause it’s the truth, and I can back it up. Do you want to eat out here or inside?”
I leave the option up to her. It was my idea for us to go to her place, and the last thing I want to do is pressure her into thinking I want to go inside for anything other than devouring this food and listening to her speak, even if I’m obviously fucking interested in having a chance for more.
There’s a lot I still have to do to prove myself to her, and I have never been this interested in putting in the work to do exactly that.
Rory darts her stare to the front door and holds it there. I wait with my lips sealed shut as she contemplates what she wants. It’s warm enough outside despite the gloomy day that I wouldn’t mind sitting out here with her. Cherry Peak is a calm town, so we’d have peace and quiet to talk.
“The back porch is better than this one. It’s nicer,” she says.
“Alright. The back porch it is, then.”
Her hair slips over her cheek as she nods, and I’m suddenly grateful my hands are full. If they weren’t, I’d be struggling not to push it behind her ear .
She opens the door, and I glare at the hinges when they creak. Bright light streaming through the windows greets us as we step inside, and she rubs her shoes on the carpet in front of the door before moving through the house. I shut the door behind us before looking around the front room with greedy eyes, trying to take in as much of it as I can while also keeping up with her. My worry for her grows at the sight of the old wood-burning fireplace that’s full of ashes, cracked walls, peeling plaster, and an old yellow plaid couch that looks like it was hauled out of my great-grandmother’s basement.
Aurora’s pace is hurried, and I wonder if that’s so she doesn’t have to show me around the place properly.
I abandon my exploration and focus on her instead. When and if she actually decides to show me around, I don’t want to already know everything.
The back door is in better condition than the front, not creaking when she pushes it open. The place could use a nice screen door in addition to the heavy wooden one. Especially in the summer when a cool early evening breeze is needed to cool the muggy inside these older houses.
“I haven’t put a lot of effort into the house or the backyard, so I know it looks . . .” She crosses her arms and taps her fingers against her bicep. “It’s a work in progress.”
I step outside after her and take a look around the back porch. She wasn’t lying in saying this porch is nicer than the other, but it’s not by much. The wood slats are still chipped and cracked, with what’s left of the stain worn to shit. There aren’t railings along the edges to block the view of deep green grass. It isn’t spotty and dead like the front yard.
Only one single fabric camping chair sits on the porch beside a tiny folding table. The tall wooden fence is uneven along the top and leans onto the neighbour’s property behind the tiny garden shed.
“You can have the chair,” she mutters, drawing my attention right back to her. Cheeks pink, she avoids my eyes .
“No, darlin’, I’m good here.” I drop to my haunches and set the beer and milkshakes on the wood planks before sitting my ass on the edge of the porch. Letting my legs dangle over the grass, I feel my boots brushing the high points of it. “You always take the only chair when you’re around me, okay?”
“Alright,” she says, voice softer than I’ve ever heard it.
But instead of sitting on her chair, she takes a few steps toward me and sits on the porch, her legs swinging beside mine. My chest warms as I smile and reach for two beers, uncapping both before handing her one.
“I assume I have you to thank for the sudden air conditioning in my car?” she asks before taking a sip of her beer.
“So it works? Good. I was worried I’d have to kick some ass at the ranch tomorrow.”
“How did you even get it fixed without me seeing you take it?”
“It was easy. I had the guys tow it to the shop so Brody could fix it up while you were workin’. He got it done in a blink,” I explain.
She’s quiet for a moment before saying, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, darlin’. I like knowing you’re taken care of. Anything else happens to that car, you let me know, yeah?”
“Alright, I will.”
The crinkle of a paper bag fills the night as she sets down her beer and pulls out the giant box of fries and a handful of the packets of ketchup. Brows twitching, she offers them to me, and I take them with a wink.
“I’ve got a thing for condiments. There’s nothing worse than dry food. Give me a squirt of ketchup on damn near anything any day,” I say.
“Anything?”
“To an extent.”
“I knew someone in college who ate ice cream with ketchup.”
I shiver in disgust. “Fuckin’ nasty.”
She nods, handing me a thick burger wrapped in silver foil. “ I’m assuming because this one weighs a million pounds that it’s yours?”
“I haven’t eaten much all day, and Wade had me chasin’ bulls all day.”
“I don’t care what you eat or why you eat it, Johnny. I just know I’d have wasted most of it if you got it for me.”
The clarification wasn’t needed, but it’s damn nice to know she’s thinking about my feelings.
“Poppy told me you weren’t a vegetarian. That’s how I knew—” I jut my chin at the unwrapped burger in her hands. “There’s a possibility she lied to me just to make things awkward for me, though, so if you actually are against eating meat, feel free to toss it. There’s a veggie burger in the bag, too, just in case.”
“You asked Poppy if I was a vegetarian?”
I shrug. “Yeah. The last thing I needed was to ruin my shot with you because I assumed you eat something you don’t.”
“But you still got a backup option.”
I set my hands in my lap, my still-wrapped burger warming my fingers. Swiping my tongue over my lips to wet them, I try to wrangle my words together. She’s already looking at me when I turn my head toward her.
“I’ve got manners in spades, Aurora. Spent a lot of time thinkin’ about how I’d treat a woman I was this interested in. One thing you’ll never have to worry about with me is being treated less than you deserve. And buying a veggie burger as a fail-safe is nowhere close to what I’ve got up my sleeve when it comes to you. Am I bein’ clear here?”
Her throat stretches and strains with a thick swallow. Our gaze holds. “Yeah, you’re crystal clear.”
I take a risk and move my hand to the top of her knee, keeping my touch soft, testing. When she doesn’t jerk her leg away, I give it one single squeeze before removing my touch and starting to remove the foil around my burger.
She watches me take the first bite, those deep blue eyes focused on my mouth as I chew before falling to her own food. I watch her just as seriously, curious for her every reaction to the taste of it.
And when she sinks her teeth into the thick bun and mix of all my favourite toppings before getting to the burger patty, I grow rock-solid in my Wranglers. Her moan is deep and thick. It tugs at my gut and nearly draws up one of my own.
I shove my mouth full of dry fries before I can let one loose.