Chapter 7 #2
Years later, and he still hates every second of it.
The accident took away his independence.
His ability to drive—although there are ways to alter a car, him being on so many types of medication makes it unsafe for him to operate heavy machinery.
It took away his ability to take care of us in the way he was used to.
“How long do you work today?” Mom asks, breaking the tension.
“Until three, but I’m gonna visit Piper after,” I respond. “I’ll be back in time for dinner.”
Dad’s only watched me compete a few times.
Usually if Delilah’s performing in a trick-riding show, he’ll come out to watch us both.
Mom puts his power chair on a rack on the back of the truck and then Dad can ride it around the event.
The biggest obstacle is his agoraphobia, which he developed a few years after his accident.
When the depression worsened, so did his anxiety and his fear of being out in public.
Dad finishes his food in silence before asking Mom to grab his chair. I give Moose my leftovers and then help clean up the kitchen before getting ready for work.
Checking my phone before leaving, I frown when there’s still no response from Mystery Guy. I know he stays busy at work and usually checks in when he can, but I can’t help feeling like maybe I said something wrong.
I also know there’s something wrong with me for even caring that much when I have no clue who this person is besides a few details.
One night, we got talking about our favorite movies and then another time about our top artists. There were a couple moments I was so close to asking him to video chat for a “face reveal,” but then I chickened out.
I don’t want to ruin this little safe space we’ve created where we can chat freely without any expectations. At least until I feel more comfortable about the idea of “meeting” him.
But there’s also this part of me that gets stupid excited to hear from him.
Still, I know it won’t last.
Because like most things in life, good things have to come to an end.
“Harlow, darlin’. So nice to see you.” Mrs. Harper smiles warmly when she walks up to the register with a few shirts and a pair of boots. “How’s your mom and dad?”
“Just fine, thank you for askin’,” I say, although most people know his situation and that he’s anything but fine. “How have you been?”
“My younger sister’s comin’ to visit this weekend and she was supposed to bring her new boyfriend, who looks like a serial killer, and when I told her so, she got all defensive like how could I say that without even meeting him, but I said no offense, and I guess she took offense because now he ain’t comin’. ”
My eyes grow bigger the longer she rambles, but I quietly ring up her items, and once she finally stops to take a breath, I tell her the total.
She continues talking about her sister’s serial-killer-looking boyfriend while she pays with her card and then even after I hand her the receipt.
“Well…good luck. Hope you have a great weekend,” I say, realizing she never even answered my original question and apparently needed to vent to someone who couldn’t run away mid-conversation.
“Thanks, you too.”
She takes her bag and then swiftly exits the store.
Funny enough, I don’t even know who her sister is, but now I’m still curious about what makes her boyfriend look like a murderer.
Once things slow down, I walk around the store to organize the racks. When the bell above the door rings, I glance over to find Magnolia and Noah walking in with their girls.
“Hey!” I greet, then notice Tripp and Waylon walking in behind them.
“Hey, girl,” Magnolia singsongs. “We’re here for the friends and family discount.”
I chuckle. “I gotchu.”
“Nah, I’m here against my will,” Tripp says, standing like a statue next to his brother.
“Me too.” Waylon looks as comfortable as he was when we nearly collided a few weeks ago.
“Why’s that?” I ask.
“We were promised BBQ for lunch,” Tripp replies.
“Yeah, well, we’re makin’ a detour. Deal with it.” Magnolia hands Willow off to him so she can browse.
“We need some cute outfits for the NFR,” Noah adds, moving Poppy to her other hip.
“I’m so jealous! I wish I could go.” I point to the other wall. “We have some cute tops and skirts. Oh, and new boots that’d pair well with ’em.”
“Here, take your niece.” Noah lifts Poppy into Waylon’s arms.
Poppy reaches for his cowboy hat.
“That ain’t gonna fit ya,” Waylon tells her.
She giggles when it covers her eyes.
“She’s playin’ peek-a-boo with you,” I tell him.
“Yeah, she loves stealin’ my stuff. Don’t ya?” He puts the hat back on his head, which looks damn good on him.
“Are you lookin’ for a cute outfit, too?” I tease, leaning against one of the tables.
“Oh yeah, definitely. Though I’m not sure pastels go with my skin tone.” He lifts a shoulder.
I grin at his teasing voice.
“No? I think you’d look stellar in baby pink.”
“Especially with ruffles…” Magnolia returns, holding up a blouse she found.
“I love that. I have it in white!” I exclaim.
“Well, now we can be twinsies.” She smirks, then shows me a jean skirt she found. “I only hope I can squeeze my ass into this.”
Magnolia had Laken only a few months ago, but she’s gorgeous no matter what her body size is.
“I’ll get you a dressin’ room.” I grab the keys and she follows me to the back of the store.
Noah follows with a few items, and I set her up in one, too.
“Just let me know if you need a different size or wanna try on anything else.”
My manager, Ashley, comes over and clocks Waylon.
“You look like a natural with her.” Her over-the-top flirty voice has me cringing. She gets closer to him and playfully tickles Poppy’s tummy.
I roll my eyes when Waylon smiles and comments how he’s the favorite uncle.
Magnolia and Noah show off their outfits before trying on a few more. In the meantime, Ashley’s plastered to Waylon and asks if he’s going out this weekend.
I can’t fault her for being interested in him. The Hollis boys are all good-looking and charming. They’re close in age, which means she’s legal to get into a bar. Unlike me.
Oh, and he didn’t date her sister, so I’m sure that makes her ten times more attractive.
“Most likely if Wilder is,” he tells her.
“It’s cute you two hang out together so much,” Ashley coos.
“Mm-hmm, sure, you could call it that.” Waylon’s tone makes me think he’s not excited about tagging along with his brother.
“Sunny, we gotta get going. Willow’s gettin’ antsy,” Tripp tells Magnolia. His nickname for her is adorable.
“She is or you are?” she counters.
“Both,” he deadpans.
“And we’re hungry,” Waylon adds.
It’s past noon, so I don’t blame them. I wasn’t hungry on my break an hour ago, but I am now since BBQ was mentioned.
“Fine…” Magnolia groans. “But you’re buyin’.”
Noah snorts, carrying her items toward the counter. “Mine, too.”
“I don’t think so,” he tells her. “You got a husband for that.”
I chuckle at their sibling antics and at how serious Noah’s brothers can be. Well, besides Landen and Wilder. Those two love goofing around.
As I ring up their items and bag them, I watch Ashley and Waylon out of the corner of my eye. At one point, she takes his phone and adds her number to his contacts.
“Text me when you guys are out this weekend.”
She’s not even trying to hold back her flirty tone.
“Sure, will do.”
Bringing my attention back to Noah and Magnolia, I hand them their bags with a smile. “You better take photos when y’all are in Vegas.”
“We will,” Magnolia says. “And don’t be surprised if you can hear Noah screamin’ for Ellie all the way from the arena.”
I laugh, only slightly sad I can’t go. Maybe one day.
“Have fun at your lunch,” I call out when they head for the exit.
“Hope to see ya later, Waylon!” Ashley waves.
When they’re out the door, she looks at me with her jaw to the floor. “He is so dang hot.”
“Who?” I play dumb. “Waylon?”
“Uh, yeah! He’s a few years older than me, but I’ve seen him out at The Twisted Bull and was always too nervous to ask him to dance.”
“Oh.”
I walk to the dressing rooms to clean up and she follows, not getting the hint that I don’t want to talk about her crush on him.
“I’m gonna need to find a new outfit myself.”
“I’m surprised your closet ain’t packed with how many clothes from here you must have…”
“I need something hot. Sexy. Jaw-dropping. Something to stand out from all the other girls.”
Perhaps a muzzle.
“Mm-hmm,” I mutter, putting the clothes Noah and Magnolia didn’t want back on the hangers.
“Maybe I’ll stop by Lacey’s for a new push-up bra.”
Oh God. Maybe I should give Delilah a heads-up. Imagine if I told her my manager was coming in to find something to impress her ex-boyfriend.
I chuckle to myself.
“I wonder if they’re into threesomes…”
“Wait, what?” I ask, realizing I stopped listening to her but caught the tail end.
“I know it’s cliché, but twins sharin’ one girl is so hot. I would fold so fast for either one of ’em, but together? I would die a happy woman.”
Please do so this conversation ends.
“Shit, sorry. I shouldn’t be talkin’ about this around you. You’re too sweet and innocent.”
“Innocent? Why do you say that?”
And how would she know? I don’t tell her about my personal life.
“Because you’re young and look too sweet for your own good to be anythin’ but innocent.”
Great. Is that why I can never get out of the friend zone when I do talk to a guy? I must have the word VIRGIN on my forehead.
“Anyway, I’m gonna take my break.” She walks to the backroom, leaving me with four new customers who just walked in.
Instead of getting frustrated, I put all my energy into helping the girls who are looking for cute bachelorette outfits and make a good chunk of commission.
When my shift ends, I check my phone and smile stupidly at the text waiting for me.
Mystery Guy
So maybe Friday nights can be ours?
Harlow
I couldn’t love that idea more.