Meadowlarks (16 page)

             
“Ladies, this is Blaine.” She turns and holds her hand out, like a curator does to a feature at a museum. They gape, and I can't resist grinning my best smile. It’s one I've only been using to get Addy excited, but why not? When in Rome…

             
“Addison Cole, you failed to mention how
hot
of a cowboy he is!” says one of the girls, a beautifully tall woman with black hair and deep brown eyes.

             
“Blaine.” I extend my hand to her, and she grabs it.

             
“Riley. I've heard
so much
about you!”

             
Ah, so this is the infamous best friend.

             
“And I've heard a lot about you, too. It's a pleasure.” I pull my hand back, and the other three brunette girls all introduce themselves in turn. Camille, Zoe, and Leah.

             
Addison hasn't seen her friends in a long time, so I lean in to tell her I'm going to check the place out. I softly trail the tips of my fingers down her spine and stop right before I reach her behind. I kiss her earlobe and bite down gently. I’m making sure the girls don't see what I'm doing, but they see her blush, and I know I'm the one doing all the teasing now.

             
The men's bathroom is as big as my bedroom in Wyoming. Every surface is dark marble, and glass basins serving as sinks sit on top of the counters with polished silver faucets. When I'm finished, I wash my hands and pick up a white hand towel to dry them off.

             
“So, who are you supposed to be?” a voice asks from the doorway, taking me by surprise. I thought I was alone. I look up and see a guy standing there. He’s wearing jeans, a white shirt, black jacket and a tie.

             
“Sorry?” I ask. I have no idea why someone would be asking me who I was—not in the bathroom in Maine, anyway.

             
“I said, w
ho are you supposed to be
?”

             
              “I heard you. I'm Blaine, and who are you?” I toss the towel into a tall basket and walk toward him. Now I want to know what's going on.

             
“So you're the new one, huh? Looks like she's downgraded to redneck in my opinion.”

He stands
in the doorway, looking cocky, and I can feel my chest tighten.

             
“I don't know who you think I am,
friend
. I'd like it if you got out of my way.” I start to walk by him, and he puts his hand out in front of my face, planting it on the wooden frame, stopping me.

Okay, that's it.

              “Listen, you fuck...” I glare at him, and he looks back, smiling like a weasel.

             
“No, you listen,
friend
. My Addy will come to her senses and come back to me, so I'd suggest—”

That's all it
took. Next thing I know I've got him up against the door, my left arm across his chest under his chin, and my right cocked back ready to strike.

             
“Listen to me clearly. I know who you are,
Jacob
, and I know what you did to her,” I hiss through clenched teeth.

             
He's not smiling anymore, and I lean in closely. “Next time you want a fight, I'll show you how it's done, you fuckin' coward.”

             
“Blaine! Ohhhh, shit!” Alex rushes in, and when I look over at him, Jacob swings at me but misses. Alex gets close enough and throws his first up, punching Jacob under his chin, sending him back into the wall. He slides down, his shoes slipping on the marble floor as he tries to get on his feet.

             
“Alex, you little shit! You'll regret this...” Alex knees Jacob in the groin so hard he falls on the floor, holding himself, coughing and swearing.

             
“Stay away from my sister, you piece of shit. I swear to God if you come near her again...” Alex seethes, and I have to stop him from kicking the squirming pile of garbage on the bathroom floor.

“She'll
just fuck you like she fucked me, redneck!” Jacob laughs.

             
I turn, giving him a swift but forceful kick to the stomach, and now Alex is the one holding me back from pounding the shit out of him. “Alex! Just let me go!” I yell, my fists thirsting for blood.

             
The electricity charges through me as Alex and I furiously make our way outside for some air. I can't believe what just happened. When we get out into the cool Maine night, Alex shakes my shoulders with his hands, then steps back and loosens his tie a little.

             
“Holy shit…what the fuck was that?”

             
“He's lucky we didn't kill him…holy shit, Alex!” I'm spinning and tell him I need a drink.

             
Jacob must have composed himself and left because no one is acting like a scene from
Fight Club
just took place in the men's bathroom.               Addison isn't by the bar anymore, and for a moment, I anxiously look for her.

             
“There she is!” Alex reads my mind and points through the crowd on to the dance floor.               She's dancing with her friends, laughing and singing along to the song. She looks so happy and so beautiful. I’m relieved she's okay and hope that she doesn't know Jacob was just here. Alex and I treat ourselves to three shots of Jack Daniels each.

             
“Yee-ouch!” Alex throws his head back and shudders after the third shot.

             
Three songs later the girls all walk over to us, giggling to each other.               Addison wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me. “Baby! Mmm, have you been drinking whiskey?” She pulls back, examining my face.

             
“Yes, ma'am.” I wink and kiss her quickly. As if the moment couldn't get any more perfect, a song comes on that I finally recognize, and I pull her behind me on to the dance floor.

             
During the chorus of
Drunk on You
, I twirl her with my hand. She leans her back into my chest, and I hold her hands in mine, across her front. The moment doesn't last long enough, and a fast-paced Lady Gaga song comes on. I smile and start to walk off the tile floor.

She pouts.
              “Not going to stay for this one?”

             
The other girls start to surround her.

             
“She's all yours, ladies.” I grin and walk back over to the bar where Alex is talking with two young girls, and I have two more shots of whiskey.

             
The girls all say their goodbyes. We leave for Wyoming tomorrow afternoon.

             
“We are going to miss you so much, Cole!” Riley has tears in her eyes, and she hugs Addison tightly. “You take care of my girl, Blaine.”

             
I smile and nod, telling her I have every intention of doing just that.

             
“I think I'm gonna hang around a bit longer with my favourite ladies.” Alex drapes his arms on Riley and Zoe's shoulders, and they laugh. “I'll be home later.” He winks, and they all wave while we leave The Club, my arm protectively around her waist.

             
In the cab back to her parents’ house she's quiet, probably thinking about how she'll miss her friends, I guess. I hope she didn't see Jacob, but I'm sure she would have said something if she did.

“Did you have a good night?” I lean over and kiss her shoulder.

              She looks and me and smiles. “I did; thank you for coming. They all loved you!”

             
“Well, I'm not surprised really,” I say huskily. “Who can resist this?” I wave my hand down my body, showcasing it like an exhibit, and she throws her head back and laughs.

             
“You're too much, and I love you.”

             
“I love you more.” I take her hand in mine and kiss her knuckles.

             
Her parents must be in bed because when we arrive, the house is in darkness except for a small lamp on a table right as soon as you walk in the door. She skips out of her heels, and I pull my boots off. Then I walk over to her and bend her back to kiss her deeply. She quietly giggles, and I feel myself start to harden. I wouldn't disrespect her parents by sleeping with her in their home, but I'm starting to feel like a rule breaker. I stand her back up, our foreheads touching and our eyes closed.

             
“I want you, Blaine. So badly right now.” She breathes quickly, and my body responds. We kiss again, all of my taste buds explode like they're little cherry bombs thrown into a fire. She tastes like lime, coconut and tequila. And, of course, her natural sweetness.

             
“Baby, we can't.” I look upstairs, and she pouts. My insides are clawing at me and it takes every fiber of my being to go upstairs and simply kiss her goodnight in her doorway before heading to my own temporary bedroom.

I sleep in my boxers; well, I don't sleep, actually. I just lie there, staring at the white ceiling, watching the dark blades of the fan
above my head slowly spinning.               The last time I remembered looking at the ticking clock on the nightstand beside the bed, the hands showed three in the morning.

              I feel her sitting on the bed, running her soft fingers on my cheek.               “Wakey, wakey, handsome.” She quietly beckons me out of my slumber.

             
“Hey, baby.” I’m groggy, really regretting drinking last night, especially tossing back all that Jack Daniels. “What time is it?”

             
I see the clock shows eight o’clock. Falling back down on the bed, I cover my face with my arm, not wanting to get out of this comfort.

             
“Have you heard from Alex?” she asks, scrolling with her thumb on the screen of her phone.

             
“No, I thought he was coming home last night.”

             
“Hey, girl, it's me. Do you know what time my brother went home last night? He isn't here, and I'm a little worried. Call me.” She ends the call and looks down at me with a smile.               “Hungry?”

             
I am starving. Actually, I'm ravenous, and the thought of breakfast gets me up and out of bed.

“Mom's making a feast; let's go!” She pulls my arm
, and then steps back to eye me from head to toe. “Well, get dressed first. Then come down.”

I playfully swat her ass when she turns to walk away. She laughs and w
ith a quick kiss she leaves the room, closing the door behind her.

             
When I get downstairs Richard and Lillian are sitting at the round white table in their kitchen. “Good morning!” Lillian says melodically. I smile and say the same to them.

             
“Hope you kids weren't out too late.” Richard looks at me over his newspaper and smiles.

             
“No, sir. We had a good time; thank you again for dinner,” I say politely and sit down beside Lillian, reaching for the pitcher of orange juice.

             
Addison comes into the kitchen, pulling her phone out of the pocket of her jeans. “Riley! Hey…are you kidding me?” She looks at the three of us, smiles and quickly walks back out of the room. I can hear her whispering and giggling, and then she's back.

             
“Mom, this looks delicious!”               She sits down beside her father, quickly kissing his cheek and piling a scoop of scrambled eggs on her square plate. I wonder what Riley said to her, and I look at her quizzically, but she gives nothing away.

             
We talk about going to see the ocean today, before we leave for the airport.               It's just after nine-thirty when Alex walks through the door, still wearing the clothes he had on last night, looking very dishevelled.

             
“Hey guys…”

He doesn't even get his shoes o
ff before Addison pulls his arm and wisps him up the staircase.

             
“Whoa, slow down! My feet aren’t exactly on speaking terms with my brain yet…What's up with you?” he yells in surprise but goes along with her.

             
What’s going on? I'm so confused and really tempted to follow them up there, but if she wanted me to know, I'm sure she'd tell me.

             
Richard looks at me again, this time before sipping from his coffee mug. “Kids,” he says and shrugs his shoulders.

             
              “I'm so happy that Addison has found someone like you,” Lillian trails off, looking out the window, probably thinking about sitting at her daughter's side while after she was beaten by that animal. “She is so happy.”

             
The ocean is everything I expected it to be and so much more. You can’t only smell the salt but taste it in the air, too. The spray feels amazing, and Addison and I walk along the beach hand in hand.

             
“So, are you going to tell me what's going on with Alex?” I swing her arm up high and spin her around.

             
She laughs.               “Well, you're not going to believe it, but when Riley called me back, she said Alex didn't come home because he was with her…”

             
I don't see the big deal until she raises her eyebrows and widens her eyes.

             
“Really?”

             
“Well, he always had a crush on her. You know, older sister's best friend and all,” she says and picks up a stone, throwing it into the water. “I think it was just a one-time thing anyway.”

             
We walk a little longer. I could stay there all day with her, but knowing we have a flight in four hours, we head back to her parents’ house.

*
              *              *

             
Touching down in Wyoming feels good; I'm happy to be home. Jeremiah picks us up from the airport. He tells me all about the whole lot of nothing that has happened in the three days we were gone. He stayed at the ranch to take care of the dogs and the rest of the animals, enjoying not having to work over the weekend, I'm sure.

When we get home,
              Addison and Alex hop out of the truck. I lean over, double-checking they've shut their doors behind them.

             
“Jer?” I flick a small piece of straw off my jeans. “I need you to come with me somewhere.”

             
“Where? What's up?” He looks at me, puzzled.

             
“I want you to help me pick out a ring.”

T
he puzzling look is gone, replaced by a little bit of surprise and a big smile.               “Bro, wow. I don't know the first thing about rings...But I'll come for sure.”

I knew I wanted to marry her months ago, before my accident. With
each passing day, it’s made more clearly that she's the only woman I want.

             
The next day while she's off at work, we give Alex some excuse about having to go into town for an appointment and left him piling wood at the farm.

             
“You know, Jer, I never thought I'd be doing this.” I look over at him and smile. “I'm glad you're coming with me.”

             
We pull up in front of the jewellery store; walking in, I'm sure we look like the odd couple. A blonde dressed immaculately in a black skirt and silk shirt greets us, asking if we would like some help.

             
“Yes, ma'am. I'm looking for a ring, for my girlfriend.” I blush and rub my hand across the back of my neck.

             
“An engagement ring? We have beautiful pieces right over here!” she says and guides us toward a large glass display. The stones twinkle as we approach them, lit up like sparklers.

             
“Do you know what kind of ring you're looking for? The stone, clarity?”

I'm sure she can clearly see she's lost me. I have no idea about rings, and I realize I don't even know what size Addison's finger is.
              “Well, what would do
you
like?” I ask her, since Jeremiah is no help at all—he’s across the room flirting with another associate. A woman is probably a better choice for assistance.

             
“Me? Well...” She scans the rings while holding onto the large string of pearls around her neck, even though I'm sure she's looked at them hundreds of times, she takes her time examining each one.

             
“This one.” She reaches down to unlock the door and slides it open, pulling out a glittering platinum ring. A large square diamond in the center, with three more tiny diamonds on either side.

             
“This is a classic beauty any woman would love to have.” She starts going on about the clarity, setting—and, of course, the price.               I don't care what the cost is. It's perfect, and I can just see it on Addison's beautiful finger.

I ask the blonde to put the ring on; I think her hands are about the same size. The ring fits. After all, we can always get it sized if it's too big or small, right? After she hands me my credit card back, I carefully tuck the box into my
jacket pocket and exhale slowly.

*              *              *

             
It's the middle of September, my thirtieth birthday only a week away. Thirty. Damn, time really does fly. So much has happened my three decades on earth. Most of it happened this past year, and I wouldn't change any of it. No, I'm wrong; I'd change a few things, like my accident. But Addison always says everything happens for a reason, and I know she's right.

             
“What do you want to do for your birthday?” she asks me over dinner, before taking a bite of chicken from her salad.

             
“Well, I don't know. Definitely not something crazy like my Dad's birthday party.” I snort and remember the insanity of the planning, decorating and then the tragic ending to the night.

             
“I was thinking of just having a nice dinner with your family and the boys,” she says, referring to roommates Jeremiah and Alex, who seem to be making their living arrangement really work.

             
“That’d be nice, baby.” I smile and shovel a heaping forkful of chicken and Caesar salad into my own mouth, smiling with packed cheeks.

             
“Mmm, isn't that a sexy sight!” She laughs and raises one eyebrow. “You have a little...” She points at the corner of her own mouth, hinting at me that I've got something on my face.

             
“Let me,” she says and leans across the table, pushing our plates out of the way. Then she reaches me, she slowly licks salad dressing from the corner of my mouth.

             
I instantly forget about food and pull her right across the wooden table top. She squeals, and I sit her down on my lap.

             
“You're everything to me, you know that?” I say as I kiss her nose.

             
“I know. And you're okay in my books, too.” She laughs and runs her fingers tenderly through my hair, looking at her hand while it's moving.

             
I want to ask her right there at the table to marry me and make me even happier than I am now, if it's possible at this moment. But the ring it still in the closet, hidden away for safe keeping.

             
“Want to watch a movie?” she asks.

             
I'm surprised and smile. “You want to watch a movie after what you just did to my face? I can think of other things to do instead...” I trail off, kissing her neck gently.

             
“Blaine! Please? There's one coming on at eight o'clock. Remember that one I told you about a few days ago?”

             
I don't, and feel like an ass.

             
“Oh, yeah. Right. Sorry.” I am sorry but don't tell her I really don't remember.

             
The movie is playing on a regular channel, so it has commercials every ten minutes or so. One commercial break shows a local news channel segment, reporting coverage from a rodeo earlier today in Casper. I don't say anything, and neither does she. We haven't talked about rodeos or even been to one since what happened in July.

             
They show a clip of a young woman weaving through barrels on a buckskin. A few more shots flash on the screen of cowboys on bronc’s and then one of a man thrown from a bull. Then, without warning for the viewer's discretion, they play another clip. Mine.               It's me and Del Mar leaping from the gate with the heading “
July in Cody: Sheridan circuit rider Blaine Blackstock thrown from bull and almost killed
.”

             
I see it for the first time, and Addison gasps, covering her face; it's not the first time she's had to witness it. They play it fast, seconds of me hanging on, Del Mar bucking and kicking, and then I'm airborne. Like Jeremiah said, I looked like a rag doll.

             
I shudder watching myself land, and the camera quickly turns to Del Mar who was running around frantically away from me.               Then, they replay it in slow motion, just in case we missed it the first time; they want all the details clearly embedded in your mind. I'm wide-eyed watching myself fall again. I see me land, I'm on my left side (that explains the bruises), and then
thud!
My head whips down, smacking the ground. I instinctively reach up and touch where the bump once was.

             
I am in too much shock to notice that Addison isn't sitting beside me anymore.               “Addy?” I call her name, but she doesn't answer. Getting up, I see the kitchen door open and I rush out, see her sitting on the steps. She's got her arms wrapped around Luca who is sitting beside her, panting.

             
“Baby? You okay?” I already know the answer; she's not. Frankly, neither am I. You know sometimes in your dream you see yourself from a different point of view, watch yourself from above? Well, that's exactly what this news clip was like—a slow, agonizing dream that thankfully ended without me waking up thrashing and sweaty.