Chapter 34 Rust
RUST
I step out of the small police station and the morning sun assaults me like a dagger to my dry eyeballs. A headache throbs through my skull as if to warn me about consumption of alcohol over the age of thirty.
Overall, my sore body doesn’t seem to take kindly to a bar fight followed by a night spent scribbling lyrics and notes on the paper napkin in my pocket. Lying on the hard cot in my cell, I got a couple hours of sleep at best.
A cannonball of curls crashes into my bruised ribs, driving away the cloud of self-pity and exhaustion hanging over me.
“Rust!” Tally squeals into my shirt, her fingers digging into my back.
I’m pretty sure I stink of spilled beer and stale smoke from the honky-tonk, but she doesn’t mind.
I kiss the crown of her head. “Hey Trouble.”
She blinks at me with tired, red-rimmed eyes. I brush over the small bruise on her jaw and she winces.
“Did you get some rest like I told you?” I ask.
“Couldn’t sleep much. I was too pissed off, but I channeled my outrage into a new song.” She takes my hand into both of hers, caressing over my bruised knuckles. “You look like hell.”
“Damn, you sure know how to make a guy feel good about himself.”
“Hey, it adds to your rugged outlaw charm!”
I purse my lips. “Nice save.”
Her gaze catches on the scabbed gash on my brow. “But they could’ve at least cleaned that wound. Did they treat you alright?”
My heart dances. She’s still worried about me. Last night I thought it might’ve been the alcohol and performance adrenaline at work. But even in the sobering morning light, she cares.
A low laugh rumbles through me. “I promise there was no torture involved. And it ain’t like this was my first brawl leading to a stay behind bars. Just my first in a long time.”
“But I shoulda been the one to spend last night in a cell.” She taps her chest. “I slapped Trevor first. I started the fight.”
“Yeah, but you didn’t put him on his ass with one punch and knock out his tooth. Pretty sure his ego took the worst of the blow. He had me arrested cause I humiliated him.”
Tally turns beet-red, shaking with anger. “And what the fuck was he talkin’ about… me makin’ a move on him? That’s insane! He said something about a message from me, too.”
I shrug. “Must be one of those crazy fans who see a singer for the first time and get obsessed, reading into lyrics and shit.”
She lights a cigarette from her purse and her features relax when she takes a deep drag. “Whatever. Fuck. We ain’t stayin’ much longer.”
She puffs out a cloud of smoke and gestures to the parking lot where Yolanda’s glossy red paint shines in the sun.
“I dropped by the pharmacy and stocked up on painkillers. Reckoned if your head is poundin’ like mine, you’ll need some. I packed our stuff at the motel, but I haven’t checked out yet so you can grab a shower if you want.”
“Thanks, Trouble. You’re the best.” I wrap an arm around her shoulder as she offers me her cigarette. Leaning down, I take a mouthful of smoke.
“Let’s leave this town before Trevor gets any more ideas and I gotta kill another man. On purpose this time,” she grumbles.
Somehow, I don’t doubt her.
“Alright, Bubblegum Outlaw. We’ll satisfy your primal craving for crime soon, I promise.”
When we get in the truck, I notice a small wicker basket on the bench seat. A ribbon is tied around the handle and a dish towel covers the top. Curious, I pull it back and find a stack of food containers. A note is taped to the lid of one.
‘From Erin and the Boot Scootin’ Seniors Dance Crew.’
Tally giggles. “Oh right! I forgot. Erin came by the motel earlier to drop this off. She said she texted Mrs. Bloom about your arrest and the ladies wanted to make sure we had food for the road. They all got together bright and early at Mrs. Mullen’s house to cook.”
“That’s really sweet. We oughta thank them.”
“Way ahead of you, Big Guy. Erin gave me Mrs. Bloom’s number and I sent a thank you text for her to read to the others. Apparently, she’s the only one who has a cellphone.”
“The real mystery is how they found out about my jail stint.”
She lifts a shoulder. “Sometimes I swear these small towns have a gossip group chat with everyone in it. But I guess there were enough witnesses in the honky-tonk last night.”
I dig around in the basket and my mouth starts to water. “Do I see homemade biscuit sandwiches there?”
“They’re delicious. I might’ve already tried one. We got breakfast burritos, sausage hash-brown casserole, and fruit salad, too. Erin also added a thermos with coffee and some energy drinks for later.”
I drum on the steering wheel. “Alright, first order of business, breakfast at the motel. Then painkillers and a shower and we’ll hit the road.”
With a full stomach, we kick off the next part of our journey.
Tally sets up the GPS on her phone and promptly falls asleep, her head dropping against my shoulder. If heaven can be found on earth, it’s in the small palm of her hand sleepily searching for mine. It’s in her slow breaths and the hum of wheels on asphalt.
Paradise is right here in the cabin of my old truck.
We cross the state line into Texas, but I don’t wake her. She clearly needs the rest. Even when her phone buzzes on the dash with a text from Erin, she doesn’t flinch.
Minutes later, the screen lights up again, this time with a call. When I read the contact name I see red.
Rex Dalton.
In a mindless rage, I pull over to the shoulder. I grab the phone, not realizing what I’ve done until I’ve already pressed the green button to take the call and Dalton shouts in my ear. Quickly, I turn the volume down.
“I told you to check in with me every day, but I didn’t get a single message from you! Forget what I said about a week. I want you in Cali tonight. You’re getting on the first flight out to LA!”
“You finished?” I hiss.
He lets out a venomous snicker, lowering his voice. “Well, well, if it isn’t Rustin McAllister, the talentless trash from Tally’s past. Didn’t I tell you to stay away from her?”
He doesn’t seem the least bit surprised to hear me or to find out that Tally is with me. That’s weird as hell, but I reckon he’s bluffing.
“Try your intimidation tactics on somebody who cares, asshole,” I growl.
“Calm down, boy. Or are you still torn up about your failed music career?”
A sharp laugh escapes me. I’m itching to remind him of my oath, that I said I’d kill him if he harmed Tally, but I can’t risk her hearing me. She can’t know that Dalton and I made a deal.
“Sticks and stones. This ain’t about me. If you raise your voice at Tally again, I’m gonna be the one catching a plane to pay you a visit,” I bring out.
Tally finally stirs, blinking sleepily. Her eyes widen as she sees her phone in my hand and I give her an apologetic smirk.
Sorry, I mouth.
Me answering the call is wildly inappropriate and it could get us both into deep shit. I’d understand if she was mad as hell, but her shock transforms into a smile.
“You were a distraction back then and you’re nothing but a distraction now, boy,” Dalton hisses. “Last time you stood in my way, I showed you more kindness than you deserved. You won’t get so lucky again.”
I huff. “You don’t know the meaning of the word kindness, dickhead.”
He tuts. “Tell Tally she can continue her pathetic temper tantrum. In the end, I always get what I want. But Rustin… if I were in your position, I’d sleep with one eye open.”
The line goes dead.
I wince as I hand Tally the phone. “I’m sorry. When it rang, I got so angry at the way he treats you. I wasn’t thinking clearly.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “How mad are you?”
“Hmm…” She tilts her head from side to side. “Not at all.”
The tension drops from my shoulders. “Thank fuck.”
“It was cathartic to listen to you tellin’ him off. Nobody ever talks back when Rex flips out. He was overdue to get a taste of his own medicine.”
My gut churns. “How much did you hear?”
“Just the bit where you said you’d pay him a visit if he yells at me again. I was barely awake. What did he want?”
“He said he’s looking forward to seeing you in LA for the concert.”
Tally snorts. “He definitely did not say that.”
“Well, he said you can take the time off he promised, in some not so nice words. And I think he threatened to cause me serious bodily harm.”
Her head jerks. “He what? That’s low, even for Rex.”
If she only knew what the man is truly capable of…
Casually, I pull out into the road. “The old boy is posturing. Trying to prove he still got bite when he’s all bark, you know?”
Tally sighs, brows drawn. She doesn’t seem convinced by me downplaying the situation and to be honest, neither am I. But I don’t want her to worry.
I’m a grown man and I can defend myself. If Dalton wants to come at me, I’ll be ready.
Tally taps away on the phone screen with dizzying speed. “Oh, there’s a message from Erin!”
“Everything alright?”
“Do you remember that talk I had with her about her career? It seems I made an impact. She said I gave her the courage to start over and that she’d be there for me if I ever need help.”
I grin. “You made a new friend.”
“Yep and she likes me for me.” A smile curls her lips as she types out a response. “How long was I asleep?”
“We’re in Texas.”
“Oh my God, I was out forever and I drooled on your sleeve. Sorry! Let me get a tissue.”
I grab her hand before she can reach for her purse. “I don’t mind a little drool. Did you already forget that I had your pussy juices all over my face last night?”
Her blush darkens, bordering on red. My cock twitches. I love flustering her with my dirty talk and seeing her thighs clench cause she can’t help enjoying it.
“But I didn’t mean just the sex,” I add. “Though I ended up in jail, I had the best time performing with you and roughing up the locals together.”
“You had fun even if I always get us in trouble?”
“There’s a reason I call you Trouble, but I love every minute.
Each moment with you is an adventure. It doesn’t matter if we’re lying in the back of my truck stargazing or getting into a bar fight like we’re reckless kids again.
Your thirst for life is contagious, and I’ve forgotten how sweet it can taste. Almost as sweet as your lips.”
I lean over and kiss her.
She twists the phone in her hands. “That’s a relief. I felt guilty for draggin’ you on the road with me. I was worried you might be mad I showed up after a decade and ripped you from your quiet routine.”
“Roots are good and I made a decent life for myself, but I’ve been stationary for too long.” I put a hand on her thigh. “Thank you for dragging this old ship out of the safe harbor into the open sea.”
Her eyes flash with affection. “And I’ve been drifting for too long. Being around you feels like comin’ home… and like home ain’t something I have to run from anymore.” She puts her hand on top of mine. “Thank you for giving me a home to come back to.”
“We still make a damn good team, huh?”
She grins. “We make the best partners in crime.”