Page 49 of The Girl with No Name

CC shoves the driver, and he takes off with us riding in the back. Luna’s wavy hair blows in the wind, illuminated by the moonlight, as we go way too fast down some country roads. “Heavy Eyes” is blasting on the stereo.

From there, things get a bit cloudy. We shoot guns at bottles in the moonlight with some rednecks on some farm in the middle of fucking nowhere. By the end of the night, Dunn and CC have their arms around each other and tears are flowing as they tell hunting stories, remember fallen comrades, and practically blow their lungs out singing “Two Dozen Roses” by Shenandoah.

Toward the end of the night, a live version of some song plays from the janky outdoor speakers, and every single person is belting it out.

“Hey, man, what’s this song?” I ask CC.

“Aw hell, you’re really not a Zach fan, are ya then? Just your friend?”

“Yeah, he kinda dragged me here.”

“Well, now that you’re here, may as well enjoy yourself. You’ve never heard ‘Revival’?” He chuckles and slaps me on theback, grabbing a fifth of Jim Beam. “You’ll learn the words faster if you have one of these, trust me.”

He hands me a shot glass and pours another one for himself.

“Thanks, man.” I take the shot and slam the glass down on the outdoor table, feeling the burn in my throat.

“Aww hell, it’s the least I can do,” CC says. “I feel bad about losing my temper tonight. See, I got my heart broke a couple weeks ago.”

“Shit, I’m sorry, man. Happens to the best of us.”

“No sweat. The whiskey and a night like this with the boys’ll put it right back together. Say, how long have you and your girl been together?” He flicks his chin in Luna’s direction.

“Her? I barely know her,” I say.

“Seriously? Well, you better make moves. Women like her don’t stay single for long. Plus, y’all look like you get on well together.”

“I, uh, have a girlfriend, actually. She lives in California.”

“Oh. You’re from California?”

“No. I’m from Chicago.”

He frowns. “How long has it been like that?”

“For about a year.”

CC’s eyes widen. “Man, shit. I reckon you need another shot if that’s what you got goin’ on.”

He pours me another, and at that point, the night starts to get a little hazy.

But even though the details are a blur, I get the feeling this evening is going to be etched into my memory forever. I haven’t had one like this in ages.

Maybe ever.

And at CC’s insistence, I start to learn the words to “Revival.”

You know what? I’m starting to come around to Zach Bryan’s music.

He’s all right.

11

REED

“SHE DON’T KNOW WHERE JOHN PRINE GREW UP” – REED WALKER

So no regrets about that Friday night.

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