Page 36 of The Player

“I’m aware, Julie. Hurry though, because Bryson looks like he might…” The line goes dead, and I jump out of bed. Why didn’t he call Kaylee?

“He…hello?”

“Kaylee, sorry to bother you, but could you drive over? Bryson and Aaron are in a bit of a pickle, and they called me. Cal said if I come out, he won’t call the police.”

“Goddamn them,” she grumbles, but I hear her getting up. “Yup, I’m going to drive up in the back on the ATV.”

“Thank you.”

Checking in on Lennox, he’s still asleep and I sigh. I really should have told Cal to call the police. Chuckling to myself, I know better. I’ll never leave Bryson and Aaron hanging, even though they deserve it.

Pulling my hair up into a messy bun, I put on a bra under my sleep tank. I slip on a pair of shoes and dash out of the house with my cell phone in one hand and my keys in the other. As I back out of the driveway, I pause for a moment. Kaylee’s headlights shine bright at me as I chastise myself. What am I doing? They aren’t my responsibility. With a heavy sigh, I pull onto the road.

It only takes me seven minutes to get to the bar. If the line of men being handled by the deputies is any sign of what’s going on, I know something happened. Searching for Aaron and Bryson, I see them at the door. Sheriff Cunningham is standing there, pointing his finger at them.

You can do this, Julie. Get out there, get them, and get home. “Good evening, Sheriff Cunningham. I’ve got these two.”

“Oh, no you don’t, Miss Bright.” He looks at me with a stern glare. I smile and stand right next to him.

“And why not?”

Aaron steps closer to me and Bryson smirks. “Because these two caused a fight and are going to lock up.”

“Now, now. If you don’t watch your blood pressure, you’ll be back in the hospital.” Aaron has his arm around my waist and is pulling me into him. A blush creeps up, and I try to not let it short-circuit my brain.

“Besides, you wouldn’t want to throw a war hero in jail, now would you?” I keep my words soft and coaxing. Sheriff Cunningham is a mean man. He hates anyone under the age of forty and isn’t afraid to tell people what he thinks. He’s told me plenty of times how he can’t stand me or my award-winning food.

“You keep these boys out of the bars, and you can take them home. Besides, I’m sure there’s enough of you to go around.”

A gasp leaves me at the insinuation. Aaron is in front of the sheriff before I can defuse the situation. “What did you say, old man?”

“Aaron, please, don’t,” I whisper, and Bryson steps up and takes Aaron by the arm.

“This is not the time or the place for this, brother.” Bryson looks at me with kindness. “We don’t want Julie to have to go down to the station. Come on.”

That seems to get to Aaron, and he steps back. “Don’t you ever speak like that to her again!” Aaron grabs me and holds me to him. His arms around me feel great.

Getting them into the car is easy enough, and I realize they aren’t drunk at all. “Why did you two start the fight?”

I shift into reverse and back out, leaving the bar behind us. Aaron keeps his eyes trained on me but doesn’t offer me any insight into what happened.

“One of Aaron’s old buddies from high school was there and made a nasty comment. Aaron wasn’t having it. He slammed the bastard’s head onto the pool table, and I took my shot. The white ball crushed his nose.”

I nearly swerve at his words. “Jesus. You guys are the same. Even now getting into trouble, and neither of you have been home more than a day.”

“Yeah well, no one talks about my Ju-Ju,” Aaron moodily answers and turns to look out the window. Bryson laughs and looks at me in the rearview mirror. He winks at me. “I mean, I couldn’t let Aaron have all the fun. Besides, what that prick said was out of line.”

“What did he say?”

“You don’t want to know, Ju-Ju. Just get us home, please.” Is he really that upset? Bryson laughs.

“He said that you were a whore and that now that Aaron is around, you’ll be his little slut because they all know how much you crave his dick.”

“Shut up, Bryson.” Aaron sounds lethal, but I’m flattered he would stand up for me. I’m not a whore, of course. I’ve only been with one man, back in college.

“Well, thank you for standing up for my honor.” The car goes quiet as I drive to their family farm. It isn’t strained. There’s nothing to say right now. I know who started the bullshit, and it’s going to be a terrible day for him tomorrow.

We drop off Bryson and head home. It’s surreal to think I’m going home with Aaron. It would be amazing to squeal with happiness that I’ve finally got Aaron where I want him, but this isn’t anything to be happy about. Then again, he stood up for me, which is a win in my book.

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