Chapter 44 Derrick
DERRICK
Irun into Jackson at the Dirty Texas Records office. “Hey, Jackson, how’s things?”
“Good, good, how about you?”
“I’ve just popped in to catch up with Stacey,” I tell him. Just ask him, you’re dying to know. “Um, how did your friend like LA?”
“Who, Charlie?” Jackson chuckles. “It was going to be a long shot, it took me a year to even get him to get on the plane to visit. But he’s thinking about it, depends on if his sister is keen to come too.”
“So, you two served together?”
“We met in recruit school, been close ever since. We both medically discharged at the same time,” Jackson explains.
“Did he get hurt like you?” I’ve heard the stories from Finn and Isla about what happened to Jackson, but they never mentioned anyone else.
“Yeah, he did. Kind of the reason I want him to move out here. As awesome as Montana is, he’s got nothing to keep him occupied, and having an unoccupied mind after something like that can be dangerous.
You know I hire ex-service men in my security firm to help them reintegrate into civilian life.
You sort of feel like you’re living in limbo once you get out, your life was so regimented, you were surrounded by your brothers, and then one day you wake up and they're no longer there. It’s hard to adjust for a lot of people. ”
“Are you worried about him?”
“He’s had a tough time, and I guess …” Jackson rubs the back of his neck nervously, “… I kind of would like him around so I can keep an eye on him.”
Oh. Wow. Jackson’s never been so open with me before.
“He’s lucky to have a friend like you then.”
“I guess. And don’t think I didn’t notice the flirting going on between the two of you.” Jackson raises a brow at me.
“You know I’ll flirt with any handsome man, it doesn’t mean anything.”
“Yeah, but Charlie doesn’t flirt with just anyone.” Jackson smirks.
“Hardly think he was flirting with me.”
Jackson’s eyes narrow on me. “He was. And he asked about you after we left your birthday.”
He did? Why the hell has he not told me this sooner? “And?” I ask him.
“I gave him your socials to check out, but I’m not playing matchmaker.”
“Do you think I’m not good enough for him?” I ask defensively.
“No. Nothing like that. You’re both grown adults, you don’t need me playing wingman. Pretty sure you of all people don’t need my help.” Jackson smirks.
“He lives in Montana. And I’m probably not his type. I mean, the guy looks like he’s as straight as an arrow.” I huff.
“He may look straight, but he most certainly is not. He used to be a good time, I think he would have given you a run for your money in the partying stakes.” Jackson chuckles as if remembering some crazy memory they had together.
“Used to?”
“People change when they come back from war, D. You see things that change you, and sometimes those images are hard to get past.” Oh. “Charlie is a little broken at the moment, and I’m hoping being in LA will fix him,” Jackson confesses.
“You’re a good friend.”
“If Charlie decides to move, um … like …” Jackson rubs his neck again, looking uncomfortable.
“Don’t flirt with him?” I finish for him.
“Does that make me a bad friend?” Jackson asks me.
I shake my head. “No. It makes you a good one. There’s plenty of hot cowboys in LA for me, don’t you worry,” I say, trying to sound upbeat, but inside I’m a little devastated because he’s the first guy I haven’t stopped thinking about in a long time.
But it sounds like the war has messed him up, so maybe it’s for the best. Look at the disaster that was Chance and me.
I don’t need something like that happening again.
“I knew you would understand, D.”
Thanksgiving
We are all at Vanessa and Christian’s place for Thanksgiving this year, and talk has turned to Isla and Finn’s wedding, who now seem to be on board for a Valentine’s wedding, which is great, it gives me something to distract myself from the fact that the hot cowboy has started following me online.
He didn’t think I would notice, but after Jackson told me he had given Charlie my socials, I’ve been religiously stalking my followers until I found him.
Unfortunately, his profile was locked to private, so I couldn’t see a thing until one night I accidentally stalked him, and after one too many glasses of wine, I might have requested a follow.
In the morning, there was a message waiting for me when I woke up.
Charlie: Hey there stargazer.
Cue panic. I thought and overthought every single reply I could make until my brain was frazzled.
Derrick: Hey there cowboy.
Real smooth I know.
Charlie: Guessing you discovered my follow then?
Derrick: I did. It was a nice surprise.
Charlie: It was? Not creepy or weird, especially after I did a kiss and dash on your birthday.
Derrick: Was a birthday highlight, rather unexpected.
Charlie: Was unexpected for me, too, but I just um … well … felt the need to kiss you, for your birthday.
Derrick: It was my only birthday kiss, so thank you.
Charlie: Really? But you’re so …
Derrick: What?
Charlie: Hot.
Derrick: Thank you. I think you’re pretty hot too.
Charlie: You do?
Derrick: Didn’t know I had a cowboy kink till then.
Charlie: Wow. Glad I could have been of service.
We’ve been talking ever since, but over the couple of months, it’s turned from flirty to friendly.
I look forward to his messages every day, it’s a highlight.
We only ever text, there have been no phone calls, no FaceTime.
He’s become a great sounding board to me, maybe because he’s turned Jackson’s job offer down and decided to stay in Montana, I can be real and vulnerable with him because I know I’m never going to run into him, and I think he feels the same way, too.
We’re like pen pals. We’re text pals. And it works.
Jackson’s words keep running through my head, so anytime there is even a semblance of flirting, I kind of shut it down.
I don’t want to lead him on or do anything that could cause his recovery back to civilian life to slip.
What did Isla and Finn say? I was daydreaming. “What do you mean, you’re just going to throw a dart at the map?”
“We can’t decide where to get married,” Finn states.
“What happens if it’s somewhere horrible?”
“Then it’s going to make for an interesting wedding, isn’t it?” Isla laughs.
“I don’t think my heart can handle this stress. Where are your brothers, Finn? I think I need mouth-to-mouth assistance,” I tell him.
Finn ignores my theatrics. “Okay, are you all ready?” The room falls silent.
This could either be epic or a complete failure, but hey, if this is what they want to do then so be it.
I will grit my teeth and wish them well, even if it’s in Timbuktu.
“Do you want to do the honors?” Finn asks Isla, and she shakes her head.
I don’t blame you, girlie, at least this way you can blame him if he picks a shitty destination. Too much pressure.
“Don’t blame me, okay?” Finn tells her.
“Make it good, otherwise …” Isla warns him.
Finn then closes his eyes and holds up the dart. My heart is thundering in my chest, I can’t handle this. Just throw the bloody thing. We all watch in slow motion as the damn dart sails through the air and lands with a thud into the map.
“No way!” I scream in shock.
“Hawaii? I hit Hawaii,” Finn says excitedly. He can’t believe it, none of us can fricken believe it. Isla looks relieved as do their families.
“I can’t believe it.” Isla squeals.
“Thank fuck.” I groan. “Where did it land in Hawaii?”
Finn leans in. “Kauai, it looks like.”
Cool. Never been there.
“Isn’t that where they filmed Jurassic Park or something. It’s all rainforests and waterfalls,” Evan states.
I pull out my phone and start googling Kauai. “Oh, Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed there. And Raiders of the Lost Ark.”
“It looks beautiful,” Vanessa says, looking over my shoulder as we flick through the images.
“This is going to be such a beautiful wedding, Issy,” Sienna says excitedly.
“I’m glad you didn’t hit somewhere shit, because I would have been trying to come up with whatever excuse I could to not come,” Jackson teases his brother. Finn flips him off.
“I had faith.” Isla smirks.
Bullshit, but no one is going to argue with her on that.
“Dessert’s ready,” Christian calls out.