Chapter 8
Eight
Maverick
Why couldn’t I have just left it alone?
What the fuck is wrong with me?
I hear Mabel screaming over and over again in my head as I drive down the long dirt road that’s taking me away from the ranch.
That’s going to be my new nightmare.
As if the pull wasn’t enough, being the main source of my panic attacks.
Her scream’s worse. So much worse.
I pull over in a small layby on the dirt road, my mind running away from itself. I have no idea how long I sit here; I just keep replaying that scream.
Looking at the dashboard, the time reads seven twenty-one. If I remember correctly, Jake told me once his set usually starts around seven-thirty. I’m only minutes away from McCoy’s.
“Fuck it,” I say for the second time tonight as I put the truck in drive, lifting my foot off the brake pedal and onto the gas. I’ve already started the carnage, might as well get the rest over and done with.
Starting with my brother.
Driving along the road, I spy the lit-up sign for McCoy’s shining in the distance. No name, just a pair of neon cowboy boots lighting up the parking lot. That’s new. Cole must have upgraded.
Making a right into the parking lot, the spaces full to the brim.
Wow, I don’t remember it being this crowded.
Of course you don’t, dumbass. You skipped out thirteen years ago.
Shaking my head, I pull away from the thought’s that are invading my mind and see a big enough space at the small corner of the parking lot, hidden away as well as it can be.
Parking the truck, I pull my hood up and over onto my head. I don’t need to be recognised right now.
Hell, I don’t even know if anyone would recognise me anymore, my knowledge on this town is now next to none. The town has sure moved on since I was last here.
I’m here to see Jake sing, hide somewhere in the back and go home with him, that’s all. To hang my head in shame with my brother and my parents. I’ve already created one shit show tonight; I don’t need another.
Stepping inside McCoy’s, I take a good look around.
Damn.
This place really hasn’t changed much.
The Tennessee Titans’ shirts through the years still hang on the deep oak walls. The music star pictures have doubled.
Country music is slowly, and finally, in my opinion, taking the world by storm. About time, too. The only music that’s worth something in my eyes, even after spending my adult life somewhere that doesn’t listen to it.
I hold my hood firm around my face doing my best to keep my blonde curls hidden until I find a dark corner to hide myself away in.
I lift my gaze from the floor and drop my hands down to my sides. I’m about to make my way over to the bar when the feeling of a slight unease hits me.
Looking in front of me must be a hundred, maybe more people are staring at me.
And double fuck!
I recognise every single damn one of them.
My hooded disguise not working as well as I thought it would.
Deciding to take it down, I ignore the constant string of eyes staring back at me.
My head darts in the direction of the bar, scanning the crowd for my brothers face, when my eyes land on Mabel leaning against a bar stool, whiskey in hand.
Her eyes lock with mine, I see the pained look that matches the blood-curdling scream she let out not even an hour ago.
Watching her, I remain routed to the spot as I notice our old friends around her. All of them. Luke, Hope, Iris and my brother, the very man I wanted to run into.
Luckily for me Colter isn’t in sight.
I turn my eyes to look at my brother as I excuse myself through the crowd of people gawping at me. Their curious gazes heating in my cheeks.
Looking back at Mabel, her back now turned to me, I watch her shoot back shot after shot of clear liquid. I’ve all of three guesses to know that’s tequila.
It always was her favourite.
Hope and Iris gawping at me just as much as everyone else is. Luke looks incredibly nervous, turning his face to me, then back at Mabel, who still has her back turned to me.
Jake looks at me with a shit-eating grin on his face, the only smile I’ve seen so far today.
I squeeze my way further through the crowd, placing my hand on others backs to get through towards the bar.
“Well, holy shit. Look what the cat dragged in,” Jake says, slapping my shoulder as I reach my old group of very best friends in the world.
“Hey, bro’.” I return the slap to his shoulder.
I turn back to Luke who looks like he’s starting to realise something, still turning his head between me and my girl.
“Wow. You’re a brave man,” he says, nudging Hope in the side with his elbow. Hope splutters out her drink and nudges him back.
“Hey, guys,” I say sheepishly, running my hand through the back of my hair.
The girls openly glare at me, wide eyed, with deep hurt and betrayal running through them.
Mabel continues to face towards the bar; refusing to even look in my direction.
You could cut the tension with a knife. Suddenly, a loud tapping echo’s through the bar, and Cole stands up at the microphone, making sure it’s working.
“Can y’all hear me?” He shouts, a high-pitched noise piercing through our ears.
“Ouch, sorry about that. Are y’all ready for the man of the hour?” He speaks at a safe distance away from the microphone.
The ever-growing crowd whistle and cheer from every direction. From what I can see, they’re no longer gawping at me, thankfully.
“Apologies guys, but I’m needed,” my brother smirks, pushing past my large frame, hand back on my shoulder.
Watching him wiggle his large frame through the crowd to the small stage located to the side of the bar, I try not to make myself look too uncomfortable.
Even though I’ve never felt so small in my life. I need to attempt to own this sudden barging back into my hometown.
“How y’all doing tonight!?” Jake shouts into the microphone, pulling his guitar strap over his head.
He’s met with even more cheers, including a whistle next to my ear. Iris can still do her famous loud ass whistle with her fingers. I turn my face to look in Mabel’s direction, but yet again she still has her back to me, her attention focused on my brother on the stage.
I keep my eyes firmly on her as another shot of clear liquor goes to the back of her throat. She’s refusing to look at me and even though I don’t blame her, I wish she’d stop throwing down so many shots.
Concern sweeps over me, reminding me of that protective streak I always had when it came to her. Before the cave man exterior can begin to take over, I hear my name.
“Y’all give a hand to my brother, who we all haven’t seen in a while,” my brother raises his bottle of bud to me.
I offer him a subtle nod as faces turn and look at me. Some in amusement, others not so much. Mabel turns her face to me, her eyes swollen and red, yet again, the tears forming once again.
“How about we get the Bennett Brothers back tonight?” Jake howls through the speakers.
Sorry… What?
My head snaps back to my brother’s direction.
Oh no, no, no.
Jake gestures to me to head toward the stage, however I don’t budge. Shaking my head at him with my palms raised, the fear deep in my eyes. I haven’t sung, hell, I haven’t even picked up a guitar in thirteen years.
Times have changed.
“Come on, bro’, one for the road? Just like old times?” Jake winks at me.
Fuck you, Jake.
Feeling the pressure, my feet start moving on their own accord and I head towards the stage where I’m met with some cheer, not as much as my brother had gotten not mere moments before this. Climbing up the small step to the stage, I feel my hands tremble.
Some would call this stage fright; I’d call this pure fear. Leaning into my brothers ear, I ask what he thinks he’s doing.
“Relax, its all-good bro’. Happy to have you home,” he says, placing the microphone in my hand.
Dick.
I scan the crowd and my eyes automatically, as if on instinct find Mabel’s eyes. She is staring at me, deep into my soul, pure anger spread across her face. I wince, knowing I’m the reason her night just turned to utter shit.
Feeling the microphone between my fingers and my palm, I take a gulp to try and soothe the dryness that has now descended in my mouth.
“Your pick, bro’,” my brother says, leaning against his guitar, hunched over on the wooden stool.
Alright, think, Mav'.
Shit, the only song that’s coming to mind is the best I’m going to get right now, but I seriously doubt is going to go down well.
Leaning over to Cole who’s standing to the side of the stage, I say the song that I want to test drive my voice to.
The crowd looks amused; my brother looks like he’s buzzing in his seat.
My old friends look as terrified as me.
Mabel looks ready to commit murder and bury me in the spot that she promised to love me forever in.
With that, the music starts.