Chapter 6
SIX
LANCE
Lainey approaches our table with a tray full of shots. “Thank you so much for coming to see me play! I was so nervous, but I hope I did well?”
Izzy, Katherine, and I all nod, Izzy even claps for a moment. Katherine laughs and stands up to hug Lainey.
“You did amazing, you really do have the talent for Nashville,” Katherine says loudly. Lainey beams and blushes before sitting down. We all take the shots, as much as I hate them. I’ll sip through a cold beer or mixed drink, but shots for some reason are my least favorite. Not sure if it’s because it reminds me of my dad, or just a preference.
Katherine is next to me and her arm presses against mine for a moment as she leans forward. She’s facing Izzy and resuming her conversation about some kind of dance recital that’s happening next weekend.
“Hey,” Lainey says, heading to the chair next to me. I pull it out for her and she takes a seat. “You didn’t tell me to break a leg.”
I shrug. “Figured my text was enough. You did great, by the way.”
Her eyes brighten. “Thanks, Lance. Y’all come together? Didn’t get a chance to see you walk in tonight,” she says, nodding toward Katherine. She’s still deep in conversation with Izzy, so I don’t think they’re paying any attention to either of us.
I shake my head. “No, we just happened to show up at the same time.”
Lainey looks at me, as if she’s wanting to ask a million questions. I can see it in her eyes. She wants to know more. She’s playing damn matchmaker.
All because of that fucking mistletoe.
I lean back in my chair and she continues to stare. “What?” I ask.
“I might actually do it,” she finally says. I cross my arms over my chest and raise a brow.
“Do what?”
She rolls her eyes. “You know, leave Alpine.”
It’s like I’ve been struck by lightning and I sit up. “Now?”
“No, silly,” she laughs, pushing some strands of hair behind her ear, “but very soon. I’m thinking before the summer starts. I’ve got a friend that’s already over there making it huge, and she’s been a big help with processing all of this and taking that first step.”
“Yeah? Do I know her?”
She shakes her head. “No, she’s from Mason Pointe.”
“I meant do I know her music, Lainey.”
A laugh escapes her and that finally gets the Pearson sisters’ attention. “What are y’all talking about?” Katherine speaks up.
Lainey takes a deep breath before telling them about her plans to leave in a few months.
“I think that’s amazing. Please take this in the best way,” Izzy starts, “you are much bigger than this small town. You were amazing up there tonight and I hope more people are able to witness that.”
Lainey blushes. “Thanks, that means a lot.”
Katherine clears her throat and we all look at her. She makes eye contact with me for a split second and I wonder if Izzy or Lainey catch it. “Do it now, whether or not you’re scared.”
“I’m terrified,” Lainey confesses.
“Then do it now while you have that fear,” Katherine says confidently. “It’ll drive you to shoot for things that you wouldn’t think of aiming for. You’ve got us to fall back on to remind you just how great you are.”
“You’re going to make me cry,” Lainey whispers. She reaches her hand over the table and Katherine grabs it. It feels like I’m interrupting a girls night for a moment but then Lainey grabs my hand with her free one. “You’re all so good to me.”
“We barely met,” Katherine laughs.
Lainey sniffles for a moment. Oh, shit. I don’t know how to deal with someone crying. I could barely handle my mom crying. But seeing someone else? It makes me feel uncomfortable and I don’t know how to be there for them. Even with girlfriends I’ve had in the past, I wasn’t the best of support. I want to be, though. I want to be that person that friends or a future partner can lean on in these kinds of situations.
I squeeze her hand for a moment and Lainey glances at me with surprise. “She’s right,” I say. I look at Katherine for a moment and smile at her. It’s like it’s just us for the next two seconds and I bask in it. I turn back to Lainey. “Do it scared. Do it afraid. But make sure that you just do it .”
“Like Nike,” Izzy chimes in. We all turn to her and laugh, not expecting that from her.
“Alright, I will. I’m going to. I can’t wait.” Lainey bites her lip for a moment before letting mine and Katherine’s hands go. “Actually, do you mind if I go call my friend? She was hoping for me to reach out after my set to let her know how it went. I want to tell her that I’m ready for the next step. Nashville.”
“Of course.” Katherine speaks up for us all.
Lainey blows us all kisses before getting up and practically running to the back of the dive bar where employees are able to go.
“I think we just helped a super star in the making,” Izzy says. “We better be in that documentary if she makes one of her life story.”
“Izzy!” Katherine yells. I can’t help but laugh. She turns to me and there are daggers in her eyes.
“What?” I smirk. Her eyes narrow and Izzy shakes her head.
“You know what I mean.” Izzy waves her hand, dismissing her sister.
Katherine rolls her eyes. “I know, but it’s the delivery of your message that I didn’t like.”
“Sorry, mom ,” Izzy teases.
Katherine pinches Izzy’s cheeks.
“Ow!” she yelps.
“Mom is looking down at you right now,” Katherine warns with a point of her finger. Izzy scoots her chair back.
“Jeez, don’t say that. That is crossing a line.”
“Sure,” Katherine retorts.
“I’ll get us a few more drinks,” I finally say, breaking up the sister argument. I get up and they spew off their favorite dive bar drink orders. I take special note of Katherine’s.
Honey cider with extra ice. Usually, they just hand you the can, so I make sure once I get to the bar to ask for that cup of ice. Once I’m back at the table, she perks up when I hand her the cold cider can and a cup of ice.
“Thanks, you didn’t even try to pour it yourself.” It’s not a snarky remark. I can hint at the meaning of it. She didn’t expect me to bring back the cup of ice separate from the drink. She probably assumed I’d pour it myself.
The last thing I’ll ever do is pour a woman’s drink without her seeing it.
“Nope,” I say, popping the p with my lips. Izzy thanks me for her cranberry vodka and we settle back into the table.
The time passes quickly as we talk about nonsense. From memories of high school, to wondering if Camilla and Bennett will ever get married in the next two years, to trying to see how many shots the group of college kids across the bar will try to take. That last one was Izzy’s bet.
So far, they’re on the sixth shot, and I bet eight. Izzy lost at four and Katherine bet nine.
It’s a fun night of feeling like I’m with genuine friends, relaxing and enjoying each other’s company. My phone blows up a few times with clients wanting to know if I can work tomorrow despite it being Sunday and I try to get back to them as cohesively as I can. That’s when I start to chug water versus ordering more beer.
By the time the clock nears 1 a.m., Izzy has already left. It wasn’t planned and I could see the hurt in Katherine’s face when it happened. But Izzy’s girlfriend needed something urgently and came to pick her up.
I’m waiting near the door, watching for the Uber that’s on its way. I offered to call Katherine one as well, but she declined. But now that my Uber is almost here, I wonder if she ever called herself one.
I feel someone behind me and turn to see Katherine there, nudging my back with her shoulder.
“You’re a stiff cowboy.”
“What?” I laugh, finally turning to look at her head on. She’s a bit shorter than me, despite her five-eight frame. She cranes her head upward and I swallow hard. Her green eyes are captivating and there are some hints of amber that I don’t think I’ve noticed before.
I’ve also never been this close to Katherine Pearson as I have this weekend. It’s making my chest tighter at the realization that I’m this close to her. I can smell her sweet perfume and I close my eyes for a brief second, taking it all in.
God, I’m such a loser.
“You’re stiff. Like all muscle-y.” She giggles.
“I work a lot,” I counter.
She shakes her head. “More like workout a lot.”
“That’s what I mean.” I laugh. “Ranch work is hard work. Basically a workout in itself.”
“Throwing bales of hay?”
“Not quite.”
My phone pings and see that my driver is about to pull up. I walk backward toward the entrance and Katherine follows. Once we’re near the front door, I completely forget about that stupid mistletoe.
“Oh, fuck,” I say, uncalled for. Katherine looks up and eyes the mistletoe.
“Are you gonna do it? Are you gonna kiss me, Cowboy?”
The way the words flow out of her pretty mouth so smoothly gives me the confidence to grab her chin with one hand. My phone pings again, my driver is here.
I lean in and she gasps, eyes widening. I don’t dare give her a chance to tease me again and ask if I’m going to kiss her.
I fucking do it.