My Girl Book 2

Book 2: Still Holding On

TAG

There’s something about farm work I love. I don’t know if it’s being out with the animals or being in the heat using practically every muscle in my body or the nice cold beer I treat myself to when I get home.

I’m not sure which of the three it is, but it’s probably the beer.

“Tag, are you still out here?” my granny calls out through the barn as I brush my favorite horse, Sid.

“In here,” I call back.

“What on God’s green earth have you been doing all day?” she asks, giving Sid a scratch behind his ears. “You didn’t even come in for lunch.” She tuts, clicking her tongue at me.

“I went for a ride once I finished.” I shrug.

“Well, you better go wash up and come eat your dinner,” she orders.

“There’s no rush,” I tell her as she tries to take the brush out of my hand.

“I thought you were going out with Bugs and James?” Granny frowns.

“Oh shit!” I exclaim, remembering that I was meant to meet the boys at the bar.

“You go inside. I’ll deal with this.” She laughs, shooing me off.

“You’re the best. I love you,” I tell her, kissing the top of her head before sprinting toward Granny’s house.

My dinner is sitting on the table, which I inhale as fast as I can before jumping into the shower.

I change into a clean white T-shirt and chuck a red flannel over top with some jeans before running down the stairs back into the kitchen where Granny is putting away some leftovers.

“Do you want me to stay tonight?” I ask. I’ve always lived with her and Pappy, but when I got married, we moved out to a shitty-ass townhouse.

After we split, well, she left, and I got myself a small one-bedroom place just down the road from Granny.

Half the time I end up staying here, though. Either because I’m tired and can’t be assed driving home or because Granny is lonely. If Pappy was still alive, I wouldn’t stay as often.

Actually, nothing probably would’ve changed.

“And deal with your drunk behind at some ungodly hour? No thanks,” she teases.

“I’ll come pick you up for breakfast, then,” I tell her.

“Let’s do dinner, I’m going out with the ladies for lunch.” She shakes her head. “Be safe, baby.” She smiles and kisses my cheek.

“Always am.” I wink before grabbing my truck keys and running outside.

I love my truck. It’s only five years old, black, sleek, shining. Runs like a fucking dream.

I drive into town and pull up outside James’s bar, Helio’s, grab my old, trusted cowboy hat, and head inside.

The bar is packed as usual for a Friday night. I scan the familiar faces before spotting Bugs and James sitting at the bar.

“Finally! Where the hell have you been?” James exclaims as I slide onto the empty stool next to Bugs.

“Went for a ride after work.” I shrug, looking for Will behind the bar. I see him and Young Mary serving beers as fast as they can.

But what really catches my eye is the new girl standing next to Will. She’s a little blonde with a smokin’ body.

She’s watching intently everything Will is doing and looks like she’s listening to whatever shit he’s saying.

“Who’s the new girl?” I ask, jutting my chin toward her.

“Her name’s Amelia. She’s from New York. A real city girl, also off-limits,” James tells me pointedly.

I roll my eyes at him, it’s not like I’ve been with a woman since Susie left anyway, which everyone in this fucking town knows.

“Will!” James yells, gaining his attention. He looks over at us and smiles, then says something to Amelia before heading toward us.

“Hey, man, how’s Sissy?” Will asks as he grabs three beers and hands them to Amelia, who struggles to pop the caps off.

“She’s great. She’s pregnant again.” I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face at the thought of my cousin.

“Shit, really? That’s what number four?” Bugs whistles.

“Yup. Number four,” I confirm with a big smile.

“I miss Sissy.” Will sighs and takes the bottles off the new girl and opens them easily.

“Tell her next time she’s in town I want to finally meet this fiancé of hers. I’m starting to think he’s not real.” He laughs, grabbing a bottle of whiskey and holding it up.

“Oh, he’s real. The things I’d do to that man,” Mary comments, walking past with a tray of dirty glasses.

“One or two?” Will asks, fake gagging at Mary.

“Two,” we all answer at the same time.

“These boys are simple, beer and whiskey. Offer either and you’ll be fine,” Will tells Amelia before serving the guy next to us.

“Heard from your wife lately?” Bugs asks as I lift my first shot glass to my lips.

“No,” I answer as James punches him in the arm.

“Isn’t it your anniversary today?” he continues. Bugs is a great guy, but he’s as thick as pig shit sometimes.

“Thanks for reminding me,” I mutter, slamming both of my shots back-to-back, almost tempted to grab his too.

I hadn’t actually forgotten it was my and Susie’s six-year anniversary, that’s why I went for a ride and was feeling okay that we hadn’t seen each other for three years. But, of course, Bugs has to put his foot in it.

“Will! Another round!” James yells, slamming his hand on the bar. “You are not stepping foot out of this bar until you can’t walk straight,” he tells me, shaking my shoulders.

“Amelia, stay here. We’re getting our man nice and drunk; he’s not allowed to leave until he can’t stand,” he tells Will and Amelia, who looks like a deer in headlights.

“A-are you sure?” she stutters out.

“Hell yeah, I am!” he answers happily.

“Beer?” she asks, grabbing three more bottles, which she struggles to open yet again.

“I can only have one more. I’ve got work in the morning,” Bugs yells over the music.

“Pussy!” James laughs, telling Amelia to pour more shots.

Bugs stays for another hour drinking coke before he leaves. Two hours after he’s gone, I’m drunk as fuck.

“I can’t drink anymore.” I groan as Amelia pushes another shot glass and beer toward me.

“Can you walk straight?” she asks with a small smile on her lips.

“No.” I shake my head.

“Can you stand?” she asks, leaning her elbows on the bar.

“No,” I repeat.

“Walk to the bathroom and back and I’ll be the judge of that,” she challenges, straightening up.

“You’re bossy,” I tell her.

“Hey, I’m just following boss’s orders,” she replies, holding her hands up.

“You wouldn’t want me to get fired on my first day, would you?” she asks, sticking her bottom lip out the slightest bit, and for the first time in six years, my dick twitches at someone that’s not Susie.

“Fine.” I groan, pushing myself up, confused as to why I’d start feeling horny now. I mean, the girl’s hot, but I’ve seen plenty of hot women since.

I make my way to the bathroom, making sure to make it look like I stumble, then I can stop drinking.

After using the toilet, I head back to the bar, thinking about the last time I was this drunk. It was probably a week before my wedding.

Me and Susie went to some stupid bed-and-breakfast she wanted to visit, but we were both bored out of our minds and drank everything we could find.

I smile at the memory as I sit back on my barstool.

“See. I’m drunk. Can hardly stand.” I smile widely at Amelia who has her eyebrows raised.

“You walked back perfectly fine,” she says, and I throw my head back.

I was so wrapped up in my memories of Susie I forgot to stumble back.

“Just pretend to sip this beer.” She winks, sliding me an already open beer. I smile thankfully at her, making a blush appear on her pale cheeks.

“Shots!” James demands twenty minutes later.

“Where were you?” I ask with a smirk, knowing exactly where he was.

“Just takin’ care of business.” He winks, shoving the shot glass in my hand.

“What’s the time?” I groan, resting my head on the bar what feels like ten hours later.

“Three,” Will answers.

“I’ll just finish up and take you lot home,” he says, making a girl laugh.

I lift my head slightly and see James in the same position as me, except he’s sleeping.

“Wake up, asshole,” I mutter, trying to punch his arm but miss by a mile.

“I haven’t seen you this drunk since Bob’s funeral.” Will chuckles, lifting James’s head, wiping underneath it and dropping it back down not so gently.

“I don’t think I have been this drunk before,” I mutter, pushing my hat back so I can put my forehead on the cool bar.

“How’s Missy?” he asks as he continues cleaning up.

“She wants to castrate Tanner.” I laugh, lifting my head, almost falling out of my seat in surprise when the blonde from earlier stands in front of me.

Our eyes lock, and I notice how beautiful her eyes are. They’re the most beautiful shade of blue; they’re remarkable.

“I’m surprised she hasn’t. That woman wants a wedding,” Will answers.

“Tanner is Sissy’s fiancé; they keep having babies and postponing their wedding,” he explains, standing next to Amelia, breaking our eye contact.

“Who’s Sissy?” she asks, frowning slightly.

“His cousin. Missy is his granny.”

“They don’t live here,” I add before putting my head back down.

“Come on. I’ll take you home,” Will says, tapping the back of my head.

“My truck.” I groan, not wanting to have to walk into town in the morning to pick it up.

“Can you drive?” he asks.

“I’m fucking wasted, of course I can’t.” I frown, looking at him only to realize he’s talking to Amelia.

“She’ll follow us in your truck, and I’ll take her home.” He smirks, knowing I don’t let anyone drive my truck and I’ll have to walk in the morning.

“Fine.” I yawn, chucking my keys onto the bar and trying to stand but stumble.

“Just wait there. I’ll move him first.” Will sighs before yanking James to his feet and wrapping his arm around his neck.

“I can help,” Amelia offers and Will snorts.

“I got this,” I tell them both, managing to get to my feet, using my hands for balance.

“See?” I give them a toothy grin once I’m on my feet.

“Such great skill!” Amelia gasps sarcastically, making me burst out laughing.

I manage to stumble out of the bar to my truck without actually falling on my face.

“See you at yours,” Will calls out, climbing into his truck.

“Which one is yours?” Amelia asks, nodding to the multiple trucks and cars left in the lot. “Wait, let me guess! The red one?” She smiles, pointing at an old shitbox.

“Hell no!” I pull a face and point to mine.

“Whoa, this is nice,” she whispers as we climb in.

“Please don’t crash,” I say to her with pleading eyes.

“I won’t.” She smiles and revs the engine, and I start giving her directions.

I must’ve fallen asleep on the drive because the next thing I know, Amelia is gently shaking my shoulder. I look around and see we’re pulled over on the side of the road.

“I need to know where to go,” she says, nervously biting her lip. I look around and see we’re closer to Granny’s house than mine; she must’ve turned left instead of right.

“Keep going straight. It’s the big house just up there.” I yawn, blinking a few times trying to wake up properly.

“You live here?” she asks in amazement as she pulls up next to Granny’s car.

“It’s Granny’s. I live that way,” I tell her, pointing in the direction we just came from.

“I w-went the wrong way?” she stutters, biting her lip, making me audibly groan.

Why the hell am I suddenly so horny? Must be the alcohol.

“Should’ve turned right.” I shrug.

“I’m really sorry,” she whispers, looking down at her hands.

“Not a big deal,” I tell her, neither of us moving.

“Are you going inside?” she asks, clearing her throat and lifting her head. Her eyes look wet.

“Are you crying?” I ask and automatically put my hand on her cheek, making her flinch.

“Sorry,” I mutter, dropping my hand. “Granny’s going to kill me if I wake her up.” I groan, leaning my head back.

“Are you scared of your granny?” she asks with a smirk.

“You obviously haven’t met my granny yet.” I laugh.

“I can take you home. I don’t mind,” she offers.

“Naw, it’s fine. Come on, we’ll call Will to come here,” I tell her, opening the door and practically falling out.

“Let me help you.” She laughs, coming around and wrapping my arm around her shoulders and her arm around my waist.

I almost laugh at the thought of this tiny woman carrying me up the stairs. I have at least a hundred pounds on her, then there’s the height difference. I’m six foot three; she’d be around five foot three.

I keep my weight off her as we walk toward the house, letting her think she’s helping but also because her arm feels so right around me.

“What key is it?” she asks after we stumble up the porch steps. I look at the keys in her hand for a moment before twisting the handle, and the door opens, surprising her.

“That’s not safe, you know,” she warns as we walk into the dark living room.

“Tag, is that you?” Granny calls out from her downstairs bedroom before the light flicks on.

“Hi, Granny.” I smile shyly at her.

“What’s going on?” she asks, folding her arms and looking at me and Amelia.

“James and Amelia got me drunk,” I tattle, pointing at the top of her head. “Very drunk.” Granny nods before looking at Amelia.

“Amelia, I’m assuming?” she asks, making her drop her arms off me and look scared shitless.

“Yes, I just started at Helio’s and came to drop off.” She pauses, looking at me.

“You don’t know my name.” I burst out laughing, clutching my stomach as I fall onto the sofa.

“I’ll go outside and call Will to pick me up,” she says, biting her lip, making my laughter instantly stop.

“How’d you get here?” Granny asks as I try to kick off my boots, making her roll her eyes and pull them off for me.

“I drove, um—”

“Luke,” I offer, making Granny freeze.

“Luke’s truck. I took a wrong turn and ended up here,” she says, my name sounding so good coming from her mouth.

“He probably told you the wrong way.” Granny snorts. “I’ll call Will. Do you want a cup of tea while you wait?” she asks, making me smile at how awesome my granny is.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to be a bother.”

“She didn’t crash my truck,” I mumble as a blanket falls on top of me. “Hey, Granny?” I ask, opening one eye.

“Yes, baby?” she answers.

“I love you,” I mumble, closing my eyes.

“I love you too, sweetheart,” she replies, kissing my forehead as I drift off to sleep.