Chapter 10
MAE
“Can I please tell you how much I needed this?” I asked Jules.
Boots and Brews was just what the doctor ordered. I especially loved the fact that it was a woman-owned bar which was totally different than any in Cedar Falls or even on the lakes.
“It reminds me of that bar we went to in Nashville, off the strip.”
Jules joined me at a hightop I’d scored. Delaney was grabbing new drinks.
“It does. What was the name of that place?”
“Are you kidding? I can’t even remember what I ate for breakfast.”
Jules did have a pretty bad memory, but mine wasn’t much better. “Mason told Pia that the owner’s father ran a honky tonk in Arizona but then she met a guy in Italy whose family runs a local vineyard so they moved here, and Boots and Brews was born.”
“Sounds like a Hallmark movie.”
“Right?”
“What vineyard?”
“Grado Valley.”
“Two vodka sodas and a Surfside.” Delaney passed out the drinks. “How’d you get the table? This place is packed.”
We’d already taken line dancing lessons after each taking a spin on the mechanical bull that was apparently only a few-times-a-year thing. I hadn’t even thought of Mathieu until now.
“It’s a secret talent of mine,” I answered.
“Stalking tables?” Delaney laughed.
“Yep. I have a sixth sense when people are about to abandon.”
“She really does,” Jules verified. “Speaking of Pia, I’m sad she couldn’t come.”
“I know.” Delaney took a sip of her drink. “But I can’t imagine this is a fun scene while preggers.”
“Also, speaking of getting under guys, the dark-haired hottie in a white tee hasn’t taken his eyes off you.” Jules looked in the opposite direction to not be obvious, but I saw who she was talking about.
Disturbingly, an image of Beck popped into my mind.
This guy was good-looking, for sure, but he didn’t compare.
Part of me wanted to tell the girls about the strange vibe I got from him the other night, but I also didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, especially with Delaney being engaged to Parker and all.
I knew better than anyone that the guys talked about everything, including women.
And the last thing I needed, especially given our current work situation, was any strangeness between us.
Never mind the dream I had two nights ago.
“He’s alright,” I said, trying not to sound nonchalant. “Not totally my type.”
“Um, really? What’s your type, exactly?” Delaney asked.
“Beck,” Jules blurted.
I stared at her in horror.
“Looks-wise,” she added. “The opposite of him, personality-wise.”
The two of them laughed, and I breathed a sigh of relief, picking up where Jules left off. “I won’t disagree he’s cute. And actually has a great personality. It’s his dating history and general thoughts on relationships that would make him a terrible boyfriend.”
“Agreed,” both of them said at the same time.
“Okay, so someone who looks and acts like Beck but doesn’t sleep with a new girl every week?” Jules asked. “Got it.”
I swallowed. If Beck still was sleeping with a new girl every week, Delaney would know since they lived at the same place. Part of me wanted to ask but that would be way too suspicious. Also, I really didn’t want the answer.
As the two of them scoped out the bar, I pulled my phone from my jean shorts pocket as it buzzed. Speak of the devil.
How’s Kitchi Falls treating you?
My pulse raced. Bad sign.
So far so good. Line dancing. Bull riding. Can’t go wrong.
Three of you out there breaking hearts, I bet.
Just two of us. Delaney is out of commission, obvs.
Pause.
Obvs. Doesn’t mean she isn’t breaking hearts.
True.
Nothing else came through.
Busy tonight?
Weekend in May? You betcha.
Can’t be too slammed if ur texting me.
Priorities.
Another flutter. What the hell? This was Beck.
“Who you texting?” Jules asked in a sing-song, “innocent” voice.
“Just Beck.”
Delaney was looking at me a little too closely. I put my phone back in my pocket. When another text came through, I didn’t answer and took a sip of my drink instead, pretending to look around. But really, I wondered what he said next.
“Is one of you ladies Delaney?”
The pretty redhead came out of nowhere.
“I am.” Delaney stuck her hand out. “You must be Mazzie.”
“Guilty as charged. Sorry I wasn’t able to greet you guys. I was next door with a friend of mine who just got her first tattoo.”
“I saw that place when we got here,” I said. “I’ve always wanted a tattoo.”
Mazzie smiled at me.
“I’m Delaney’s friend, Mae. And this is Juliette.” For some reason, I always introduced Jules using her full name.
“So nice to meet you guys. And welcome to Boots and Brews.”
“This place is awesome,” Jules said. “We’re having a blast.”
“Good to hear it.” She looked at me. “So if you’ve always wanted one, what’s stopping you?”
It took me a second to focus. A tattoo, right. “Honestly, I’m not sure. Just the permanence of it, I guess. But I even know exactly what I’d get.”
“Tell me,” she said. I immediately liked her.
“Fearless. Down my spine. Dainty but with curves on each side of the word. There was a woman in my pastry class with one that started at the base of her neck and down her spine, and it was so pretty.”
“Fearless. I love that,” Jules said. “I could use a new one. I’d get it on my rib, just below the bra line. I’ve always wanted one there but am a big chicken. I hear it hurts like hell.”
“Let’s do it.” Delaney was looking at us with big wide eyes that said, “Let’s go!” “I’d get the same word to match you guys, right here.” She pointed to her forearm.
“Are you being serious?” I asked.
“Totally.”
Mazzie looked at our drinks. “How long are you guys in town?”
“Just for the night.” Delaney took a sip of her drink.
“Lucas is usually closed in the morning, but he’d absolutely make an exception. If you want, I can take you over there to talk to him. He’s about to close down so we’d have to run over now.”
The three of us looked between us. Clearly Delaney was in. For someone who didn’t have any ink, she seemed pretty sure of herself. Jules would do it for sure. She had four or five already and was due for a new one.
It was completely not me, to do something so permanent impetuously.
On the other hand, I knew exactly what I wanted.
When I first heard the quote, “Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will,” I loved it.
Made it my phone background and tried to remember it when the inevitable doubt monsters peeked out from under my bed.
And the fact that the girls were willing to get matching ones was really cool.
But lately, nothing about my life had gone according to plan, and maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing.
Maybe spontaneity didn’t always mean recklessness.
Maybe it meant saying yes to the life I actually wanted.
I looked at Jules, then Delaney. Their eyes were lit up with the kind of thrill I hadn’t felt in a long time.
Screw it.
“I’m in,” I said, surprising even myself. “Let’s get fearless.”
“I like you ladies already,” Mazzie said, echoing my thoughts. “Take your drinks.”
Each of us grabbed them and followed her from the bar right next door.
I honestly couldn’t believe this was happening.
But aside from that brief hesitation, I wasn’t second-guessing it.
As we walked into Grunt Ink, Mazzie called for the owner in the back room.
Jules and Delaney chatted excitedly, looking at the various pictures on the wall.
For my part, I sank into a leather chair and grabbed my phone, putting the drink on a coffee table.
Finally, I was able to see Beck’s last text.
You’re always #1 Mae Bae.
My heart raced. Impending tattoo and all.
It was the kind of thing he’d said a hundred times. Beck’s nickname for me wasn’t new, and neither was the sentiment. But for some reason, it hit differently tonight. I tried to think of a response.
Since when did you agonize over a response to Beck?
Since tonight.
“I hear we might be interested in getting some tattoos?” a deep voice asked.
Time to go. I stood, heart still pounding, sliding my phone away, like if I waited long enough, maybe I’d figure out why I needed to think about what to text him back.