CH 30 - #trouble
#trouble
Meredith
Song: “What’s A Little Heartache” by Jason Aldean
My sister and Justin kept dancing. Watching them, I could tell they were deep in conversation. Knowing my sister, she was picking the sexy cowhand’s brain. She had always liked figuring out what made a person tick.
“Meredith?” a man said.
I pulled my eyes away from the dance floor and looked to my left. “Oh my gosh, you’re Luke!”
“Yep.” He shook my hand.
“It’s so nice to meet you finally.”
“You too.”
“I didn’t think you were coming back to Amarillo until later.”
“I told Madison that because I wanted to surprise her by showing up here. Where is she?”
I took a deep breath, concerned that Luke wouldn’t like my answer. “She’s dancing with Justin, one of the ranch’s cowhands.”
Luke immediately looked toward the dance floor. I kept watching him, able to tell when he spotted my sister and Justin. His eyebrows knotted up, his nostrils flared, and the sides of his jaw started popping.
“How many times has she done that?” he asked, looking at me.
“Twice. This is the second song.”
“Alright.” He waved the bartender over.
“What can I get you, man?”
“Three shots of Buffalo Trace.”
“Coming right up.”
Luke’s attention went back to my sister and Justin. He wasn’t happy about them dancing together, although I knew Madison, for certain, meant nothing by it. When Luke got his shots of whiskey, he downed them, not wincing in the least about the strong taste.
“May I say something?” I asked him.
He shrugged. “Yep.”
“I know you’re upset about Madison dancing with Justin.”
“I am.”
“My sister isn’t interested in him. She’s being friendly, is all.”
“He asked her to dance, or did she ask him?”
“He asked her.”
“And they left you sitting here alone.”
“It doesn’t bother me.”
“It bothers me. This whole situation does. How much has Madison had to drink?”
“Two whiskeys.”
“Alright.”
Luke focused on the dance floor again as my sister and the good-looking cowhand with Paul Walker-blue eyes kept dancing to Jason Aldean’s “What’s A Little Heartache.
” The coincidence of the song title and what was currently playing out between Luke, my sister, and Justin made me shake my head. Luke was the only one hurting, though.
The song finally ended. Justin and Madison began making their way back over to the bar. When she saw Luke, she smiled even bigger than she already was and waved at him. He didn’t wave back. He just glared at her.
“Hi, my handsome cowboy!” she said as she neared Luke and me.
He didn’t reply; then Madison reached out to hug him. He grabbed her wrists, stopping her, and let go of her. “What do you think you’re doing?” he asked.
She appeared confused. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t act innocent. You either,” Luke said, staring straight at Justin, standing back. “What do you think you’re doing, dancing with my woman?”
Justin held up his hands. “Luke, I didn’t mean anything by it. I just wanted to dance. Besides you, Madison and Meredith are the only people I know here.”
Luke focused on my sister again, his nostrils flaring. “When you’re in a romantic relationship with a person, some things you just don’t do, like what you’ve done tonight.”
Madison perched her hands on her hips, angry now. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“Bullshit! You wouldn’t have liked coming in here and catching me dancing with another woman.”
“It would all depend on who she is and the situation. You know Justin, and you know me. There is nothing romantic between us. We’re friends.”
“And getting closer by the second. Have fun. I’m out of here.” Luke turned to leave, but Madison grabbed his hand, stopping him. He jerked his hand away. “Don’t touch me again,” he continued, his eyes blazing with anger. My sister’s eyes were too.
“You seriously cannot be this pissed off because I danced with Justin.”
Luke looked at him, back at my sister, turned around, and headed toward the exit. Madison didn’t attempt to stop him again.
“What the hell?” she asked, facing me.
“I don’t know what to say other than I hate this for all three of you.”
“Madison?” Justin said.
“Yeah?”
“I apologize. I didn’t mean to cause trouble here.”
“I know you didn’t, and neither did I.”
“I’m going to have to find another ranch to work at. That’s obvious.”
“Just let things settle. Hopefully, Luke will snap out of this unwarranted jealousy of his and see things for what they are and are not.”
“I think it’s best that I leave. No, I know it’s best.”
“Are you going back to the ranch?”
“I’m going to ride around for a while.”
“Be careful.”
“You too.” Justin looked at me. “Sorry about all of this. I know it isn’t how either of you wanted this night to go.”
“Sometimes, they just do, regardless of intentions.”
Justin walked off. Madison and I looked at each other.
“I can’t believe Luke acted like that,” she said.
“I can.”
“I did nothing wrong.”
“In your eyes, you didn’t.”
“Do you think I was wrong to dance with Justin?”
“No, because I know it was innocent. Luke doesn’t see it that way because he’s a man. He’s in love with you and is territorial. That’s normal, albeit irritating to some women.”
“I don’t mind him being territorial or protective of me. Hell, I appreciate it. What I can’t stand is Luke’s accusatory behavior toward Justin and me, as well as his jealousy. Fucking around on him is something I would never do. I know how it feels and how much it hurts.”
“I know you do. Understand that Luke is an alpha male, the same as Justin. Unfortunately, a situation such as what you’re dealing with now is what happens when two alphas come together.”
Madison sighed, shaking her head. “What am I supposed to do?”
“Give matters a couple of days, let the smoke clear.”